If Only They Knew...

Reading today in my human development textbook* on the decisions that agonize parents of abnormal children I was stirred by the powerful nature of our world's blindness to the truth of the Creator.
In the case study, a couple is discussing the implications of having a baby with Down syndrome...

"It's not as though we're deciding whether or not to have a baby. We're deciding what kind of baby we're willing to accept. If it's perfect in every way, we keep it. If it doesn't fit the right specifications, whoosh! Out it goes."...

John was looking more and more confused. "Martha, why are you on this soapbox? What's your point?"

"My point is," I said, "that I'm trying to get you to tell me what you tink constitutes a 'defective' baby. What about...oh, I don't know, a hyperactive baby? Or an ugly one?"

"They can't test for those things and --"

"Well, what if they could?" I said. "Medicine can do all kinds of magical tricks these days. Pretty soon we're going to be aborting babies because they have the gene for alcoholism, or homosexuality, or manic depression...."

"Look," he said, "I know I can't always see things from your perspective. And I'm sorry about that. But the way I see it, if a baby is going to be deformed or something, abortion is a way to keep everyone from suffering - especially the baby. It's like shooting a horse that's broken its leg.... A lame horse dies slowly you know?...It dies in terrible pain. And it can't run anymore. So it can't enjoy life even if it doesn't die. Horses live to run; that's what they do. If a baby is born not being able to do what other people do, I think it's better not to prolong its suffering."

"And what is it," I said softly..."what is it that people do? What do we live to do, the way a horse lives to run?"

What do we live to do? If only they knew! This is why we share the gospel with people: they do not know what they were made to do -"to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever". To not know that God is our Maker, that sin destroys our ability fulfill our God-given purpose, that the cross and resurrection of Christ restores us to our God-glorifying destiny - to not know these things is an unspeakable tragedy. Without the gospel, life is meaningless. Without the gospel, we cannot see a hope or divine purpose in the gift of an abnormal child. Without the gospel, we will slaughter unwanted babies, and never know why it makes us feel bad. Without the gospel, we are in a wretched darkness that does not end when this life ends.

How sweet, then, is the light that God causes to dawn on darkened hearts, to give us "the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God"(2 Cor. 4:4, ESV) , who restores that image in us, and who will work all things in our life for good. How sweet it is. If only they knew.


*The Developing Person Through the Life Span by Kathleen Stass Berger, 7th ed.

"They love Thee little, if at all, who do not fear Thee much..."

This morning I was listening to Sinclair Ferguson preach on the fear of the Lord, and heard him read this lovely poem by F. W. Faber:

My fear of Thee, O Lord, exults
Like life within my veins,
A fear which tightly claims to be
One of love's sacred pains.

There is no joy the soul can meet
Upon life's various road
Like the sweet fear that sits and shrinks
Under the eye of God.

Oh, Thou art greatly to be feared,
Thou art so prompt to bless!
The dread to miss such love as Thine
Makes fear but love's excess.

But fear is love, and love is fear,
And in and out they move;
But fear is an intenser joy
Than mere unfrightened love.

They love Thee little, if at all,
Who do not fear Thee much;
If love is Thine attraction, Lord!
Fear is Thy very touch.

—F. W. Faber

The Chaseur in the Forest
Caspar David Friedrich

I've just finished a lovely book - James Good's Famous Women of the Reformed Church. The final chapter - the only one about an American woman, was on Mrs. Thomas Doremus, a woman who gave herself to constant industry for the advancement of God's kingdom.

There were two secrets to her wonderful life, personal consecration and untiring activity. Thus when the Woman's Missionary Society met at her house and she was asked if this or that could be done, her reply was "All I have is the Lord's" For her to live was Christ.

Her activity was as great as her consecration. Her favorite text was, "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might." As her health was generally delicate and she suffered for many years from pulmonary troubles, she often said "I do today for fear tomorrow will never come."

"Well, here is her epitaph, written 1800 years ago by St. Paul, 'Well reported of for good works, she hath brought up children, she hath lodged strangers, she hath washed the saints' feet, she hath relieved the afflicted, she hath diligently followed every good work.'"

Reading about such zealous lives inspires me to more diligent and faithful service in the kingdom. I want this to be said of me! Soli Deo gloria!

"God is the best Master.

'There is no God like thee, in heaven above, or on the earth beneath, who keepest covenant and mercy with thy servants...there hath not failed one word of all his good promise' (1 Kings 8:23,56)

In our wants, he relieves us,
in our weakness, he pities us...

He waits on his servants. Was there ever such a Master?
'...He shall gird himself, and make them sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them' (Luke12:37)

When we are sick, he makes our bed:
'Thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness' (Ps 41:3)

He holds our head when we are fainting.

Other masters may forget their servants, and cast them off when they are old, but God will not: 'Thou art my servant: O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of me' (Isa. 44:21)

It is a slander to say, 'God is a hard Master'.

- Thomas Watson, The Godly Man's Picture

"Let it never be said that the Church of God has no feeling of patriotism for the Holy City, for the Heavenly Land and for her glorious King enthroned above. To us, Christian patriotism means love to the Church of God, for-

“There our best friends, our kindred dwell,

There God our Savior reigns.”

Let us have loyalty, by all means; but, chiefly, loyalty to Christ. Let us have true patriotism; but, especially that patriotism which consists in love to “the land of the living” of which Christ is the one King and Ruler.

- C. H. Spurgeon

"Thanks to God for my Redeemer" - and before I could thank him for more, I saw that there are a million worlds of good bound up in this - this one lovely, majestic, mighty and merciful Person, without whom I would have no good thing.

Thanks to Him who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, who surely will also with Him, freely give us all things.

Thanks to the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.

Thanks to the righteous Servant who makes me to be accounted righteous, bearing my iniquities.

Thanks to Him who is determined that I will not perish, who will pursue me with goodness and mercy all the days of my life, and will take me to dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Thanks to Him who stands at the door and knocks, wanting to come in and eat with me - him and me? yes - God and sinner - reconciled, eating food together. He is that gracious.

Oh, my Redeemer...enough for me.

"I say to the Lord, 'You are my Lord;
I have no good apart from you.'"
- Psalm 16:2, ESV

Some fresh glory just got spilled on the air. The sun is happily sweeping it up with a crisp autumn breeze, but is not succeeding in making anything more tidy - just scattering fragrant leafy light all over the place. I think that it isn't trying very hard, but it's okay. We like glory.