The Preciousness of Time (Part 10)

Here is the last entry of "The Preciousness of Time" from one of Jonathan Edwards's sermons. Enjoy!
"3. Improve well your time of leisure from worldly business. Many persons have a great deal of such time, and all have some. If men be disposed to it, such time may be improved to great advantage. When we are most nature, a happy opportunity for the soul is afforded. Therefore spend not such opportunities unprofitably, nor in such a manner that you will not be able to give a good account thereof to God. Waste them not away wholly in unprofitable visits, or useless diversions or amusements. Diversion should be used only in subserviency to business. So much, and no more, should be used, as doth most fit the mind and body for the work of our general and particular callings.

You have need to improve every talent, advantage, and opportunity, to your utmost, while time lasts; for it will soon be said concerning you, according to the oath of the angel, in Rev. x. 5, 6. ‘And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer.’"

Jesus Christ Encourages Me!

I’ve had the immense privilege of being encouraged by many brothers and sisters in Christ, particularly from those who attend Pillar Bible Church. They have encouraged me in numerous ways through gifts, laughter, ministry, words of wisdom, etc. For all that they’ve done for me and continue to minister to me, I will forever be in debt. But I must admit that I find my greatest encouragement when I am reminded of what Christ has done for sinners like me and how He is both the source and sustainer of my soul, thereby making it not merely a possibility but a reality that I persevere before God in the face of this world. You see, it’s no revelation that I am a BIG sinner, with particular struggles and many weaknesses (too embarrassing to list and too many to mention). I feel like a failure everyday. I am reminded of mistakes and sins in the past that I’ve repented of. I am tempted to think wrong thoughts of God. The devil both accuses and tempts me left and right. On top of it all, my flesh yearns for godlessness. This is not a special case, however, as I’m sure that you the reader can testify to this all so well. At times like this God providentially leads me to read of Christ, His love, His mercy, His sacrifice, His sufficiency, and His faithfulness to me. This is why I am learning to love Jesus Christ more and more as days go by. This is why I lean on Him and find my greatest encouragement. J.C. Ryle writes (geared towards young men and women without Christ but just as relevant even for those already in Christ):
"Do you want to consult friends? He is the best friend: ‘a friend who sticks closer than a brother’ (Proverbs 18:24). Do you feel unworthy because of your sins? Do not fear: His blood cleanses from all sin. He says, ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool’ (Isaiah 1:18). Do you feel weak, and unable to follow Him? Do not fear: He will give you the power to become sons of God. He will give you the Holy Spirit to live in you, and seal you for His own; He will give you a new heart, and He will put a new spirit within you. Are you troubled or beset with a strange bent to evil? Do not fear: there is no evil spirit that Jesus cannot cast out, there is no disease of soul that He cannot heal. Do you feel doubts and fears? Throw them aside: ‘Come to Me,’ He says; ‘whoever comes to me I will never drive away.’ He knows very well the heart of a young man. He knows your trials and your temptations, your difficulties and your foes. In the days of His flesh He was like yours--a young man at Nazareth. He knows by experience a young man's mind. He can understand the feeling of your temptations--because He Himself suffered when He was tempted. Surely you will be without excuse if you turn away from such a Savior and Friend as this."
Nothing encourages like Jesus Christ. This is why it is good to be a believer though it may be challenging and difficult at times.

Shall We Pray for Church Growth or Church Health?

Unfortunately, yet unsurprisingly, the natural man’s ideology of “the bigger the better,” whether it is with regards to one’s bank account, car, house, etc., is ordinary even within the church. It reminds me of a young woman’s emphasis on her externality and consequent pursuit to alter her body via surgical procedures all in order to get noticed more; a young man’s likewise emphasis on his externality and consequent pursuit to consume hormone elevating drugs all in order to attain the biggest muscles that his body can possibly hold. The church, and I am using that word loosely (as loosely as the term “evangelical” has become), deems such lifestyle as arising out misdirected goals that only proves to be futile. Ironically, the church is not guiltless of similar misdirection and futility. Just as a young woman or man’s new look does not equate to true health, or true beauty for that matter, many in the church fail to recognize that their bigness (numerically) does not necessarily equate to Christ-honoring healthiness. Yet, that seems to be the focus of many (I don’t know how many times people have asked me about how many people we have in our church, but I don’t ever recall being asked if we preach Christ and Him crucified). Perhaps, if we focus more on the healthiness of the church, God will see fit to bless it with health and beyond, even numerically. After all, does not God always bless abundantly? Does not God always give more than what we can ask, think, or receive? Did Jesus Christ not promise to build His church (Matthew 16:18)? Here is what Pastor Mark Dever has to say, to which I agree wholeheartedly:
"It is tempting to think that we should just pray that God would make our churches bigger. But what we’re really after is health, not just size. Churches can be incredibly unhealthy even when they’re big. A small, healthy church is better than a big, unhealthy church. That’s right. A bigger church isn’t always a better church. It may make us look better as leaders, but size doesn’t always indicate health (as so many of our bodies attest!). So it makes sense to stop and ask yourself: What are your motives for praying as you do for your church? When we gather as a group of elders, we need to be praying not just that God would make our church bodies bigger, but that He would make them healthier."
-Mark Dever, The Deliberate Church, p.177
We have enough numerically gigantic churches, but as always are lacking in healthy churches. This is not to imply that churches shouldn’t grow in size, but simply that we ought to constantly keep our emphasis in check and pray accordingly!

This Does NOT Suck!

My previous post was properly entitled, “This Sucks!” Well, today’s post is properly entitled, “This Does NOT Suck!” Why? Because Christ’s death makes the following a reality:
"Although the words of personal invitation spoken by Christ do have promises or rest, and power to become children of God, and partaking of the water of life, it is helpful to make explicit just what Christ promises to those who come to him in repentance and faith. The primary thing that is promised in the gospel message is the promise of forgiveness of sins and eternal life with God. ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life’ (John 3:16). And in Peter’s preaching of the gospel he says, ‘Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out’ (Acts 3:19; cf. 2:38).
Coupled with the promise of forgiveness and eternal life should be an assurance that Christ will accept all who come to him in sincere repentance and faith seeking salvation: ‘Him who comes to me I will not cast out’ (John 6:37)."

This Sucks!

As an avid fan of the San Antonio Spurs, I must say that "it sucks!" Tim Duncan has been playing with bad knees and now Manu is out for the rest of the season, including the playoffs (Read It Here!). I hate to say it but things are looking worse and worse for the Spurs. Perhaps, the Spurs should have made the trade for Vince Carter, which would have been very interesting. But be that as it may, I will still root for them and not jump ship like some who have done, are doing, and will do. They can still win it, at least I am hoping!

The Preciousness of Time (Part 9)

I didn't post on this series for some time now, but here is the second to the final one. Enjoy!
"2. Be especially careful to improve those parts of time which are most precious. Though all time is very precious, yet some parts are more previous than others; as, particularly, holy time is more precious than common time. Such time is of great advantage for our everlasting welfare; therefore, above all, improve your Sabbaths, and especially the time of public worship, which is the most precious part. Lose it not neither in sleep, or in carelessness, inattention, and wandering imaginations. How sottish are they who waste away, not only their common, but holy time, yea the very season of attendance on the holy ordinances of God!—The time of youth is precious, on many accounts. Therefore, if you be in the enjoyment of this time, take heed that you improve it. Let not the precious days and years of youth slip away without improvement. A time of the strivings of God’s Spirit is more precious than other time. Then God is near; and we are directed, in Isa . lv. 6. ‘To seek the Lord while he may be found, and to call upon him while he is near.’ Such especially is an accepted time, and a day of salvation; 2 Cor. vi. 2. ‘I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in a day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.’"

Your Most Worthwhile Life Now!

I don't think that one can have his or her best life now. But I do agree that when properly understood in light of the Word of God, and of course, by the regenerate, one should realize that he or she can actually have the most worthwhile life now for one reason (or should I say one being): GOD! God gives life to all (in the material sense), but in giving a new life to the elect (in the spiritual sense) He also grants them a worthwhile life to live. J.I. Packer notes:
"What makes life worthwhile is having a big enough objective, something which catches our imagination and lays hold of our allegiance; and this the Christian has in a way that no other person has. For what higher, more exalted, and more compelling goal can there be than to know God?"