In The World
"I pray not that Thou shouldst take them out of the world."
John 17:15
It is a sweet and blessed event which will occur to all believers in God's own time -the going home to be with Jesus. In a few more years the Lord's soldiers, who are now fighting "the good fight of faith," will have done with conflict, and have entered into the joy of their Lord. But although Christ prays that His people may eventually be with Him where He is, He does not ask that they may be taken at once away from this world to heaven. He wishes them to stay here. Yet how frequently does the wearied pilgrim put up the prayer, "O that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away and be at rest;" but Christ does not pray like that, He leaves us in His Father's hands, until, like shocks of corn fully ripe, we shall each be gathered into our Master's garner. Jesus does not plead for our instant removal by death, for to abide in the flesh is needful for others if not profitable for ourselves. He asks that we may be kept from evil, but he never asks for us to be admitted to the inheritance in glory till we are of full age.
Christians often want to die when they have any trouble. Ask them why, and they tell you, "Because we would be with the Lord." We fear it is not so much because they are longing to be with the Lord, as because they desire to get rid of their troubles; else they would feel the same wish to die at other times when not under the pressure of trial. They want to go home, not so much for the Saviour's company, as to be at rest. Now it is quite right to desire to depart if we can do it in the same spirit that Paul did, because to be with Christ is far better, but the wish to escape from trouble is a selfish one. Rather let your care and wish be to glorify God by your life here as long as He pleases, even though it be in the midst of toil, and conflict, and suffering, and leave Him to say when "it is enough".
Spurgeon, Morning and Evening Devotions May 2nd (Morning)
Satan often tempts people to chase after their ideals restlessly. Those who listen to Satan are deceived (and indeed deceive themselves) into thinking there is some terrible aspect of their lives -if they just had something else, or if they could just be free of their lives- then all would be well. The most restless pursuit of anything is suicide.
Yet, to be with God in the next life is certainly something to long for. The martyrs of the faith have met their end hoping to be with God, and this is lovely and becoming of faith. The difference is that those who have faith are not trying to escape from anything. If a man truly possesses faith he will not restlessly wish to be somewhere else or someone else because he is at rest knowing it is fine and acceptable to leave his lot as God sees fit.
When Christ imparts life to those who call on him, he does not just give them an eternal life that begins after they die. The life Christ gives begins as soon as a man or a woman receives it. The life that comes from Christ is not a matter of resisting or finding death ... it is a matter of finding Christ. Those who know him in life will also know him in death.
Labels: Bible Reflection, Death
4 Comments:
I'm not a Calvinist but the best preachers I've ever set under were Calvinist as Spurgeon was. Their focus on God's Soveriegnty is uplifting as we hear or read what God can do rather than putting the entire burden upon us by focusing mostly upon what our response to God should be.
I know that I used to think of the Rapture as an escape hatch; then I became more aware of the scriptures which teach that I am in Christ and He in me. I don't need to be raptured to be with Christ, He is with me at all times. When life is too much to bear all I have to do is turn to Him and receive the comfort and encouragement that I need to endure.
Another thought that came to mind when reading this was that eternity has no beginning as well as no end. Those of us who are predestined in Chirst also have no beginning but have always belonged to Jesus. The day of our Salvation is not the beginning of eternity but eternity's revelation as Jesus reveals Himself to us.
That was a surprisingly nice read from Spurgeon. I've noticed that there are some Christians that exceedingly crave security in their life and religion. Eternal security achieved through a strict regimen, a fully spelled out eschatology that leaves nothing to mystery, the need for complete doctrinal purity, fear of heresy or people with different opinions, and as Spurgeon pointed out the desire for heaven whenever life gets tough.
It's quite refreshing to read about the early Christians, who were not terrified of ambiguity or suffering, but rather embraced it.
Hi JoyIndestructible,
The leaders of the reformation seemed to have a lot of clarity into what our inner needs are versus the mere symptoms. I can still remember my freshmen year of highschool thinking that Luther must have faced some compelling proofs that directed him into the ministry and my shock at learning that he became certain of his calling while fearing for his life in a thunderstorm. Now I see clearly how the motives which may seem like the least of concerns are actually the most important.
Your view on predestination reminds me a lot of the way Paul describes it -as an encouragement for believers. However you look at it, God had the ones He chose in His plans all along. Thanks again for sharing, JoyIndestructible.
Hi Tim,
I'm glad you found Spurgeon's words uplifting. People definitely chase after signs and assurances, I can say that first hand. The scary thing is that anything can happen and it is God's right to do anything. One can easily feel alarmed and worried in this realization, but if one has faith it is also possible to know that this 'unsearchableness' about how God acts is the greatest security a person can know in this life.
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