At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” Job 1:20-21
“We are not yet come to our resting place. Doth it remain? How great, then, is our sin and folly to seek and expect it here! Where shall we find the Christian that deserves not this reproof? We would all have continual prosperity, because it is easy and pleasing to the flesh but we consider not the unreasonableness of such desires. And when we enjoy convenient houses, goods, lands, and revenues, or the necessary means God hath appointed for our spiritual good, we seek rest in these enjoyments. Whether we are in an afflicted or prosperous state, it is apparent we exceedingly make the creature our rest. Do we not desire earthly enjoyments more violently, when we want them, than we desire God himself? Do we not delight more in the possession of them, than in the enjoyment of God? And if we lose them, doth it not trouble us more than our loss of God? Is it not enough that they are refreshing helps in our way to heaven, but they must also be made our heaven itself? Christian reader, I would as willingly make thee sensible of this sin, as of any sin in the world, if I knew how to do it; for the Lord’s great controversy with us is in this point. In order to this, I most earnestly beseech thee to consider the reasonableness of present afflictions, and the unreasonableness of resting in present enjoyments, as also of our unwillingness to die that we may possess eternal rest.”
Richard Baxter (1615-1691) in The Saints’ Everlasting Rest (Grand Rapids: CCEL), Excerpt from Ch. 10 “The saint’s rest is not to be expected on earth,” 113.
I am really liking reading the Puritan thinkers. It’s like they purify our thinking.
Seriously, the Bible teaches us to count it all joy when we face trials. I don’t hear Christians echoing this. But notice when Job lost everything, he fell to the ground in worship.
Again, I must admit, my aunt died this week so my mind is pondering the promise of eternal life. And so I return to these words of Baxter.
“I most earnestly beseech thee to consider the reasonableness of present afflictions, and the unreasonableness of resting in present enjoyments, as also of our unwillingness to die that we may possess eternal rest.”
Consider the gifts of present afflictions. They remind us that this is not our home. They alert us to our need for God. They keep us humble. I could list so many more.
Now think about the unreasonableness of resting in present enjoyments. Material possessions end up in the trash. Pleasures are fleeting.
And when we try to rest in them or hold onto them, satisfaction alludes us.
Baxter concludes by announcing our unwillingness to die. Again, think of Paul who expressed an eagerness to meet the Lord. But most people focus on preserving life, longevity, and comfort.
So what’s my point today in the second week of Lent? Choose a new course than the vast majority of people (including Christians).
Don’t seek rest in “convenient houses, goods, lands, and revenues, or the necessary means God hath appointed for our spiritual good.”
Use these things with simplicity so you can practice rich generosity. And have a Happy St. Patrick’s Day remembering the saint that spread the gospel across Ireland in the 5th century.
He did this while welcoming present afflictions, by not resting in present enjoyments, by demonstrating a willingness to die. He not only entered eternal rest. He became a legend for doing it.
What if we all followed His example? Imagine the impact worldwide.