In this devotional we are finishing up season 8: the season of great trials. We already looked at three helps: (1) think of how lowly you truly are that you may approach God in truth and faithfulness; (2) cultivate godly communion with God as the psalmist in Psalm 119, which can then weather you against surprise and great trials; and (3) recognize that when you are not cultivating a growing communion with God, then you are cultivating wickedness (divided loyalty): there is no neutral ground. Flavel continues with the next help:
4. Consider how desirable it is for a Christian to overcome his evil propensities. How much more present happiness it affords; how much better it is in every respect to mortify and subdue unholy feelings, than to give way to them. When upon your deathbed you come calmly to review your life, how comfortable will it be to reflect on the conquest which you have made over the depraved feelings of your heart. It was a memorable saying of Valantinian the emperor, when he was about to die: “Amongst all my conquests, there is but one that now comforts me.” Being asked what that was, he answered, “I have overcome my worst enemy, my own sinful heart!”
The greatest victory that a person can ever have—yes, a victory that even carries through into death—is a heart kept after God! The true quality of our life depends on it; the measure of glory manifested for God is based upon it; the effectiveness of our lives for others is dependent on it; the measure of our heavenly reward is bound-up in it; and our usefulness for God’s kingdom, the church, and every other aspect of life is bound up in our faithfulness to Christ in keeping our heart on God. Those are the stakes. If you are truly in Christ, then this will also be the desire of your own heart. We can take nothing with us except for what is imperishable: that which survives the flames of God’s consuming fire. The wicked get burned up with this fire, showing nothing of lasting value. But the Christian will have all the trueness of his faithfulness exposed as through fire. Everything else will forever be burned away. What will this fire reveal about you?
5. Shame yourself, by contemplating the character of those who have been most eminent for meekness and submission. Above all, compare your temper with the Spirit of Christ. “Learn of me,” saith he, “for I am meek and lowly.” It is said of Calvin and Ursin, though both of choleric natures, that they had so imbibed and cultivated the meekness of Christ as not to litter an unbecoming word under the greatest provocations. And even many of the heathens have manifested great moderation and forbearance under their severest afflictions. Is it not a shame and a reproach that you should be outdone by them?
We have the tendency to lower the bar to the lowest common denominator: to that which is comfortable, making us appear to be somewhat higher than others, but not high enough to disturb or wake us to growing our hearts. This is the philosophy of nominalism: those who believe that they can confess Christ and then live like the world. Yet, this overlooks a crucial detail: we are not measured against the world or our neighbors, but against God’s own perfect and absolute holiness! In light of God’s own holiness, even the holiest of saints will appear filthy and be in need of God’s cleansing and ongoing grace. Yet, how much less are we when even compared with them? Realizing our state exposes our shame: our true state without God’s grace shows us to be as nothing. Yet, His grace is the only reason why God looks at us at all—He sees Christ! Regardless of our growth in holiness (keeping our heart on God), we will never be where we long to be in this life. Yet, this is what God calls us to, and this is the use of His grace for us. And indeed, we are growing in this faithfulness, and hence growing His delight in our lives. But we should never be tempted (or dare) to compare our holiness to anyone other than God. Any other comparison invites wickedness. So, let Christ be your model and comparison, shunning any comparison to another within you.
6. Avoid every thing which is calculated to irritate your feelings. It is true spiritual valor to keep as far as we can out of sin’s way. If you can but avoid the excitements to impetuous and rebellious feelings, or check them in their first beginnings, you will have but little to fear. The first workings of common sins are comparatively weak, they gain their strength by degrees; but in times of trial the motions of sin are strongest at first, the unsubdued temper breaks out suddenly and violently. But if you resolutely withstand it at first, it will yield and give you the victory.
Flavel is not using the word “feelings” here (or in his other uses) the same as we would use it. It reflects an older usage. The word “feelings” is being used as a person’s whole disposition and way of being influenced from their heart. So, when someone’s feelings are “irritated” (“roused”), this refers to our being tempted to do evil. Flavel is cautioning us to avoid all things that tempt you to evil, and therefore against keeping your heart on God. This requires knowing where you are vulnerable and making sure that you avoid it, especially when in great trials. In great trials you will likely be more vulnerable to some sins than at other times. Find out what these are and avoid them! And then you can be more faithful to God in the season of great trials.
Next time we will start season 9: the season of temptation.