Richard Baxter: Present afflictions and enjoyments

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.

Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters — one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” Matthew 17:4

“Our rest is our heaven; and where we take our rest, there we make our heaven. And wouldst thou have but such a heaven as this? It is seeking rest where it is not to be found. Your labor will be lost; and if you proceed, your soul’s eternal rest too. Our rest is only in the full obtaining of our ultimate end. But that is not to be expected in this life; neither is rest, therefore, to be expected here…

Should a traveller take up his rest in the way? No; because his home is his journey’s end. When you have all that creatures and means can afford, have you that you believed, prayed, suffered for? I think you dare not say so. We are like little children strayed from home, and God is now bringing us home, and we are ready to turn into any house, stay and play with every thing in our way, and sit down on every green bank, and much ado there is to get us home.

We are also in the midst of our labors and dangers; and is there any resting here? What painful duties lie upon our hands! to our brethren, to our own souls, and to God; and what an arduous work, in respect to each of these, doth lie before
us! And can we rest in the midst of all our labors? Indeed, we may rest on earth, as the ark is said to have “rested in the midst of Jordan” — a short and small rest; or as Abraham desired the “angels to turn in and rest themselves” in his tent, where they would have been loth to have taken up their dwelling.

Should Israel have fixed their rest in the wilderness, among serpents, and enemies, and weariness and famine? Should Noah have made the ark his home, and have been loth to come forth when the waters were assuaged? Should the mariner choose
his dwelling on the sea, and settle his rest in the midst of rocks, and sands, and raging tempests? Should a soldier rest in the thickest of his enemies? And are not Christians such travelers, such mariners, such soldiers?

Have you not fears within and troubles without? Are we not in continual dangers? We cannot eat, drink, sleep, labor, pray, hear, converse, but in the midst of snares; and shall we sit down and rest here? O Christian, follow thy work, look to thy dangers, hold on to the end, win the field, and come off the ground before thou think of a settled rest. Whenever thou talkest of a rest on earth, it is like Peter on the mount, “thou knowest not what thou sayest.”

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,” 113-114.

After preaching in English and then in a second service with Russian translation at Revival Baptist Church in Vancouver, Washington, I resume my travels. I fly back home to Denver. Join me.

I don’t mean get on the same plane with me. I mean get out of your comfort zone and serve. Don’t set up a shelter on the proverbial mountain with Jesus, Moses, and Elijah. This world is not your home.

But we like to spend time with God. We love to soak in the stories of Moses and Elijah. But time with them has a purpose: to empower us for mission. Get out there and serve. Follow thy work.

“Our rest is only in the full obtaining of our ultimate end.”

Then [Jesus] said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’

“Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’

“But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.” Luke 12:15-21

“It is the way to cause God either to deny the mercies we ask, or to take from us those we enjoy, or at least imbitter them to us. God is nowhere so jealous as here. If you had a servant whom your wife loved better than yourself, would you not take it ill of such a wife, and rid your house of such a servant? So, if the Lord see you begin to settle in the world, and say, “Here I will rest,” no wonder if he soon, in his jealousy, unsettle you.

If he love you, no wonder if he take that from you with which he sees you are destroying yourself. It hath long been my observation of many, that when they have attempted great works, and have just finished them or have aimed at great things in the world, and have just obtained them; or have lived in much trouble, and have just overcome it; and begin to look on their condition with content, and rest in it; they are then usually near to death or ruin.

When a man is once at this language, “Soul, take thy ease,” the next news usually is, “Thou fool, this night,” or this month, or this year, “thy soul shall be required, and then whose shall these things be?” What house is there where this fool dwelleth not? Let you and I consider whether it be not our own case.”

Richard Baxter (1615-1691) in The Saints’ Everlasting Rest (Grand Rapids: CCEL), Excerpt from Ch. 7 “The Necessity of Diligently Seeking the Saints Rest, 113.

The time to rest is not now.

Don’t get me wrong. In Washington State, on Whidbey Island, between some great meetings, I took a nap yesterday afternoon. I am all about self care. That’s not the focus of Baxter’s remarks or mine.

As saints we will enter everlasting rest. But, if you are alive and reading this, that day is not now!

Daily, we get to attempt “great works” with the ability and resources available to us. I will speak at a missions conference for 20 Russian and English speaking youth in Tacoma this morning, and then to 80 people at a leadership dinner tonight in Vancouver.

I will rally them to pursue great works!

I want you to do the same thing. And with Baxter, I would add these words. “What house is there where this fool dwelleth not? Let you and I consider whether it be not our own case.”

It is not your job to determine when your work is done. Leave that decision to God.

Dr. Michael Cherenkov and I have had and indescribably meaningful time yesterday on Whidbey Island with Rob, Bev, and Jessie Martin. Now we have great works to pursue in service to groups.

Meanwhile my wife flies to Pennsylvania to facilitate a retreat. God be with her. What about you?

“Hath God set before us such a glorious prize as the saints’ rest, and made us capable of such inconceivable happiness? Why, then, do not all the children of this kingdom exert themselves more to help others to the enjoyment of it? Alas! how little are poor souls about us beholden to most of us! We see the glory of the kingdom, and they do not; we see the misery of those that are out of it, and they do not; we see some wandering quite out of the way, and know, if they hold on, they can never come there; and they themselves discern it not. And yet we will not seriously show them their danger and error, and help to bring them into the way, that they may live. Alas! how few Christians are there to be found who set themselves with all their might to save souls! No thanks to us if heaven be not empty, and if the souls of our brethren perish not for ever.”

Richard Baxter (1615-1691) in The Saints’ Everlasting Rest (Grand Rapids: CCEL), Excerpt from Ch. 7 “The Necessity of Diligently Seeking the Saints Rest, 95.

Few things stir my passion for spreading the gospel and advancing Christian mission than spending time with people like Rob Martin and Michael Cherenkov. I am with these two GTP board members on Whidbey Island, near Seattle.

In our time we have focused on how the work of GTP is writing a new story in countries. Helping ministries go from surviving to thriving so more people populate heaven. That’s what our work is all about.

How are you applying yourself? Did today’s post stir you to get more involved in helping people miss the misery and make it to glory. I am thinking about that this week as my aunt went home to be with the Lord.

Let’s give all we are and all we have to making known the inconceivable happiness of heaven and pointing people to the enjoyment not of the things of this world but of that blessed place. You won’t regret it.

I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. Revelation 3:15-16

“On the whole, if Christians would have comforts that will not deceive them, let them make it the great labor of their lives to grow in grace, to strengthen and advance the interest of Christ in their souls, and to weaken and subdue the interest of the flesh. Deceive not yourselves with a persuasion that Christ hath done all, and left you nothing to do. To overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil, and, in order to that, to stand always armed upon our watch, and valiantly and patiently to fight it out, is of great importance to our assurance and salvation. Indeed, it is so great a part of our baptismal obligations, that he who performeth it not is no more than a nominal Christian.”

Richard Baxter (1615-1691) in The Saints’ Everlasting Rest (Grand Rapids: CCEL), Excerpt from Ch. 7 “The Necessity of Diligently Seeking the Saints Rest, 74.

As we examine our hearts and fast during Lent, we subdue the interests of the flesh and learn to apply more labor toward growing in grace and avoiding the path of the nominal Christian.

Baxter makes a keen point. Don’t miss it. While Christ accomplished our salvation on the cross, he has not “left us nothing to do.” He has given us power, authority, and a command to do His work.

We need not wonder what Christ thinks of nominal living which lacks generous deeds. He has told us in His letter to the church in Laodicea, in today’s Scripture. He wants to spit us out.

Let us learn in Lent to apply great labor to overcoming instead of assimilating to the world, mortifying rather than serving the desires of the flesh, and watching out for and avoding being deceived by the devil.

Why? For Jesus there is really no such thing as nominal or a Christian in name only. He wants to see the actions that match anything we say we believe. God help us get in gear during Lent.

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in Him.” Lamentations 3:22-24

“All our lives have been filled with mercies. God hath mercifully poured out upon us the riches of sea and land, of heaven and earth. We are fed and clothed with mercy. We have mercies within and without. To number them, is to count the stars or the sands of the seashore. If there be any difference betwixt hell and earth, yea, or heaven and earth, then certainly we have received mercy. If the blood of the Son of God be mercy, then we are engaged to God by mercy. Shall God think nothing too much nor to good for us; and shall we think all too much that we do for him? When I compare my slow and unprofitable life with the frequent and wonderful mercies received, it shames me, it silences me, and leaves me inexcusable.”

Richard Baxter (1615-1691) in The Saints’ Everlasting Rest (Grand Rapids: CCEL), Excerpt from Ch. 7 “The Necessity of Diligently Seeking the Saints Rest, 74.

As I focus more time and attention to prayer in my observance of Lent this year, I notice more mercies of God. To ponder them further, I realize mercy means I don’t get what I deserve.

The world bombards me with messages about entitlement and tells me that I deserve this or that.

God’s Word tells me instead that our generous God shows steadfast love toward me and showers mercies daily. No wonder Jeremiah said, “The Lord is my portion.” That means, with God’s mercies, I have everything I need.

Let’s lean into how this shapes our generosity during and after Lent.

If you start your day giving thanks in prayer for God’s mercies, it fills you with gratitude. That’s the proverbial fuel for generous living, giving, serving, and loving.

Then if proceed through our day knowing that God clothes and showers us with mercies, it means we lack nothing. That dismantles the greatest barrier to generosity: fear of lacking.

Then as our day ends and we reflect on the frequent and wonderful mercies, it dispels the entitlement mindset.

See how reflection on mercies shapes our generosity. It’s what I am learning in real-time and I pray it blesses you.

If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters — yes, even their own life — such a person cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:26

“If we love our friend, we love his company; his presence is comfortable, his absence is painful; when he comes to us, we entertain him with gladness; when he dies, we mourn, and usually over-mourn. To be separated from a faithful friend, is like the rending of a member from our body. And would not our desires after God be such, if we really loved him? Nay, should it not be much more than such, as he is, above all friends, most lovely?

May the Lord teach us to look closely to our hearts, and take heed of self-deceit in this point!

Whatever we pretend, if we love either father, mother, husband, wife, child, friend, wealth, or life itself, more than Christ, we are yet “none of his” sincere “disciples.” When it comes to the trial, the question will not be, Who hath preached most, or heard most, or talked most? but, who hath loved most? Christ will not take sermons, prayers, fastings; no, nor the “giving our goods,” nor the “burning our bodies,” instead of love.”

Richard Baxter (1615-1691) in The Saints’ Everlasting Rest (Grand Rapids: CCEL), Excerpt from Ch. 7 “The Necessity of Diligently Seeking the Saints Rest, 117.

What do you love most? Be careful how you answer the question. Baxter would say that your actions reveal your answer. Look closely at your heart and take heed of self-deceit.

God’s desire is not that we be known for our hate of those closest to us. He wants us to love Him more than the people we love most dearly on earth. When we do it actually enhances our love for these people.

But we can’t put them first. It’s something we learn as we give, pray, and fast. We learn to attach first and foremost in love to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

As we practice the giving of goods, prayer, and fasting this Lent, let’s keep the goal of these practices in view. They aim to deepen our love relationship with Christ.

Any other purpose emerges as simply a waste of time and needless sacrifice. God does not need our money, prayers, or fasts. We need to share money, pray, and set aside our desires.

When we do these things it draws our hearts closer to Him.

What I mean, brothers and sisters, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they do not; those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away. 1 Corinthians 7:29-31

“Even the godly themselves are too lazy seekers of their everlasting rest. Alas! what a disproportion is there between our light and heat, our profession and prosecution! Who makes such haste as if it were for heaven? How still we stand! How idly we work! How we talk, and jest, and trifle away our time! How deceitfully we perform the work of God! How we hear, as if we heard not! And pray, as if we prayed not! And examine, and meditate, and reprove sin, as if we did it not! And enjoy Christ, as if we enjoyed him not! as if we had learned to use the things of heaven as the apostle teacheth us to “use the things of the world!”

What a frozen stupidity has benumbed us! We are dying, and we know it, and yet we stir not; we are at the door of eternal happiness or misery, and yet we perceive it not; death knocks, and we hear it not; God and Christ call and cry to us, “Today, if ye will hear my voice, harden not your hearts; work while it is day, for the night cometh, when none can work.” Now ply your business, labor for your lives, lay out all your strength and time now or never! and yet we stir no more than if we were half asleep.

Richard Baxter (1615-1691) in The Saints’ Everlasting Rest (Grand Rapids: CCEL), Excerpt from Ch. 7 “The Necessity of Diligently Seeking the Saints Rest, 71.

I’ve shifted from one Puritan voice to another: from Thomas Watson to Richard Baxter. I am finding that the Puritans really leaned into the idea of “examine” so I will be reading them for a few months.

And I shot the new header photo at Bear Creek yesterday morning shortly after sunrise. Sammy and Emily, my son and daughter-in-law, have two dogs so we enjoyed the view and the trek together.

The biggest challenge for me spending half my time in the undeveloped world and half in the developed world is summed up in today’s post which employs a record number of exclamation points.

The undeveloped world is riddled with poverty and corruption. There, I find great joy helping multiply faithful stewards and bringing standards and structure to churches and ministries so they flourish with local support.

The people in these majority world settings literally struggle to survive. They have few luxuries, lack many basic necessities, and demonstrate an unexpected willingness to share their food and resources.

Then I return to the West. People have lost focus on the value of Christ and the relevance of His teachings for bringing life, help, and hope. In the words of Baxter, all I see is frozen stupidity. Frozen stupidity has benumbed us.

God forgive us. May this Lent be a season of rekindling the fire of the gospel of Jesus Christ in each of us. Through giving, prayer, and fasting, may we heat up the flames of our faith. Hear my prayer Lord.

The LORD is good to all; He has compassion on all He has made. Psalm 145:9

“The transactions of Providence are not seen clearly at first; the painter at the first makes but a rough draft of his picture — first a hand, then an eye; but when he hath filled up every part and laid on his colors, it is beautiful to behold. We who live in this age of the Church see but a rough draft of God’s providence, but when we reach heaven, and see all the lineaments of God’s providence drawn out and completed, all will be perfection and wisdom and mercy – kindness and love will seal the whole.”

Thomas Watson in Puritan Gems; or, Wise and Holy Saying of the Rev. Thomas Watson, Anglican Minister. edited and arranged by the Rev. John Adey (London: Snow and Ward, 1850) 115.

Watson keenly describes God’s generosity to all He has made as the transactions and lineaments of a painter. Each brush stroke may not seem to have a purpose, but when taken together, a masterpiece comes into view.

This teaches us that our generosity should appear likewise. It appears not as one grandiose action but as a long series of small acts done with great care, love, and intentionality.

The transactions and the lineaments take shape as imitating the compassion and care of God. What little things can you do today to show God’s generosity as part of a longer term plan?

Today marks the first of seven feast days of Lent. It means we can break whatever fast we have chosen and enjoy a feast giving thanks to God for His providence and care toward us.

When we see provision through the lens of providence, it does more than remind us that God owns everything. It shows us how loving and caring He is and how loving and caring He desires us to act toward others.

Today also marks my son’s 29th birthday. The transactions and lineaments of his life illustrate a fine young man of God whose generosity and compassion reflects our Lord Jesus Christ. I love you Samuel David Hoag.

Remember this and consider; recall it to mind, you transgressors; remember the former things of old, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like me, declaring the outcome from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, “My purpose shall stand, and I will fulfill my intention,” Isaiah 46:8-10

“God’s providence is greatly to be observed; but we are not to make it the rule of our actions: “Whoso is wise will
observe these things.” It is good to observe providence, but we must not make it our rule to walk by: providence should be to the Christian as his diary, but not his Bible.”

Thomas Watson in Puritan Gems; or, Wise and Holy Saying of the Rev. Thomas Watson, Anglican Minister. edited and arranged by the Rev. John Adey (London: Snow and Ward, 1850) 116.

Having returned home from Pakistan and pondering the many ways I saw God work – protecting, supplying, guiding, and providing – I have providence on my mind. Today’s post helps us rightly understand it.

Providence is what we notice or observe between God and us. It gives confidence to our generous living for sure. God provided a little snow last night as his creation needs moisture here. I see this when I look outside.

Maybe for you, where you live, you see sun grow crops, or rain water fields. It’s God’s generous providence.

And Watson makes a keen distinction between the terms ‘diary’ and ‘Bible’ in today’s reading. We can recount in a diary what we see God do. We can read in the Bible who God is and how He promises to work.

Do you have a diary such as this. Get one. Maybe start that during Lent. I have a diary that I started when GTP started. I put prayers relying on God’s promises and I post moments when I have witnessed God’s providence.

Generous giving flows our trust in God’s promises and our observations of God’s providence. I pray you rely on the former and recount the latter to help you grow in the grace of giving.