In the last two devotionals, we have been looking at helps for the season of Zion’s troubles (the suffering of the church). (Please see the last devotional if you want a summary).
If the successes of the church were based upon our own efforts, then we would have reason to despair. Why is it that so many Christians live as though that were the case? Is it really Christ that they serve, or have they made the church simply about their own interests? In other words, have such people made the church into something to be run apart from Christ? As if it had no King? If this were true, then the continuance of the church truly rests on your shoulders. Yet, your efforts, Christian, are not what lends strength and power to the church. If that were the case, then the church would have died long ago. Rather, all power rests in the hand of God, and it is He who wills and moves heaven and earth to preserve it. Yes, even we are His tools. We are not isolated from His acts of power, but are just one channel through which it flows. And so Flavel said,
5.) Believe that how low soever the church be plunged under the waters of adversity, she shall assuredly rise again. Fear not; for as surely as Christ arose the third day, notwithstanding the seal and watch upon him; so surely Zion shall arise out of all her troubles, and lift up her victorious head over all her enemies. There is no reason to fear the ruin of that people who thrive by their losses and multiply by being diminished. Be not too hasty to bury the church before she is dead; stay till Christ has tried his skill, before you give her up for lost. The bush may be all in a flame, but shall never be consumed; and that because of the good will of Him that dwelleth in it.
We have recorded for us in the Bible the proof of our victory: Christ’s resurrection from the dead. And that is the guarantee of His return as King, our own resurrection unto perfection, and everlasting bliss. We can already see how things will end. God, in His might, already declared the end from the beginning. And He can see it presently from eternity (time is not a thing that limits Him). So, we ought to live in light of our victory, even if we die a martyr’s death. Such a death can only serve to multiply our heavenly reward! It cannot take anything away. How can this truth be anything but encouraging, emboldening us to serve Him with our whole heart? There is not even the possibility of defeat! Strive onward, church, to your King! Build each other up, keeping your hearts on Him, and fulfill your duty.
6.) Remember the instances of God’s care and tenderness over his people in former difficulties. For above eighteen hundred years the Christian church has been in affliction, and yet it is not consumed; many a wave of persecution has gone over it, yet it is not drowned; many devices have been formed against it, hitherto none of them has prospered. This is not the first time that Hamans and Ahithophels have plotted its ruin; that a Herod has stretched out his hand to vex it; still it has been preserved from, supported under, or delivered out of all its troubles. Is it not as dear to God as ever? Is he not as able to save it now as formerly? Though we know not whence deliverance should arise, “yet the Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations.”
We have many examples in church history of how God cared for the church through hardship and trial. Many emperors have sought to destroy the church, only to find that, in seeking to extinguish it, it has only gained strength. Likewise, the Bible records many of these times. Haman hated the Jews because he hated Mordecai. He wanted to wipe out all the Jews in the empire, and was given permission to do so by his king. Yet, Mordecai saw God’s hand in raising Esther to the position of queen. He said, “If you keep silent at this time, liberation and deliverance will come to the Jewish people from another place, but you and your father’s house will be destroyed. Who knows, perhaps you have come to your royal position for such a time as this” (Esther 4:14). He did not presume to know God’s will, but she was the instrument of their salvation. Ahithophel was a renowned advisor to David who later defected to his son, Absalom. David knew that Ahithophel’s wisdom would lead to his destruction, if it was followed, so he sent a loyal advisor to counteract Ahithophel’s advice. David trusted in God, and he was delivered. The generational line to Christ was to be through Solomon and not Absalom. So, God protected them both. Even Christ’s deliverance from Herod is miraculous. Regardless of what faced the church (both in the Old Testament and the New Testament), God protected it. Even now, God’s eye is on the church for her protection.
7.) If you can derive no comfort from any of these considerations, try to draw some out of your very trouble. Surely this trouble of yours is a good evidence of your integrity. Union is the ground of sympathy: if you had not some rich adventure in that ship, you would not tremble as you do when it is in danger. Beside this frame of spirit may afford you this consolation, that if you are so sensible of Zion’s trouble, Jesus Christ is much more sensible of and solicitous about it than you can be; and he will have an eye of favor upon them that mourn for it.
Flavel’s words call to mind the book of Lamentations. In our day and age, this is a biblical book so often looked over. Yet, it contains a yearning to see Zion flourish in God’s ways. It is a book about desiring to see God glorified through His people. Jeremiah, the author of Lamentations, is known as the weeping prophet. He lived during the time when Jerusalem and the Jewish temple were destroyed in 586 B.C. If there was ever a time it could have appeared God abandoned the church, it was then. Yet, rather than despairing, Jeremiah trusted in Yahveh’s promises of steadfast love:
Because of the Lord’s faithful love we do not perish, for His mercies never end. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness! I say: The Lord is my portion, therefore I will put my hope in Him. The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the person who seeks Him. It is good to wait quietly for deliverance from the Lord. . . . Who is there who speaks and it happens, unless the Lord has ordained it? Do not both adversity and good come from the mouth of the Most High? . . . . Let us search out and examine our ways, and turn back to the Lord. Let us lift up our hearts and our hands to God in heaven (Lam. 3:22-26, 37-38, 40-41)
Jeremiah knew that, despite the sins of Israel that led to their destruction, God would not abandon or abolish His covenant with them. To put this into perspective, we have so many more advantages than the Old Testament church! If they could put their hope and trust in God in such dire circumstances, how can we not also trust in Him? Every member of the invisible church (the truly saved) has their sin forgiven, reversing the curse of sin. Every member has Christ’s obedience, meaning that when Yahveh looks upon us, He sees the obedience of Christ. And every member has the Holy Spirit, securing our salvation and ensuring that we grow towards the right path regardless of persecution. The Old Testament Church had none of these things, but they still hoped and trusted in God! And God had proven faithful! How can we the church, having such abundant grace even beyond what they had, not trust in God in the hardest of times?
Yes, mourn for the wickedness found in the professing church. Strive to work and pray for God’s glory to be manifested in the true church. As the church, pursue God’s ends despite opposition, and He will bless us exceedingly. Don’t lament for what men see on the outside, but mourn and yearn for changed and growing hearts: hearts that do not compromise or capitulate to the world around them; hearts that seek first God’s kingdom and righteousness; and hearts that are courageous in their pursuit of God, even in times of hardship and persecution. Church, Christ wrote the Beatitudes for you. It was written with keeping the heart in mind, being promises for you and what you are to strive for. These are blessings for the true church, persevering in keeping the heart even in the worst sort of persecution:
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you (Matt. 5:3-12).
These are the things promised to the church by Christ; blessings for those persevering in keeping the heart. Look carefully at the list. Everything that we could possibly hope for the church is right there! For those already in Christ, these promises ought to be your hope, and keeping the heart your action. Much blessing comes through Zion’s troubles, and especially so when we focus on keeping the heart. Yahveh is watching over His church, and He will never let anything happen to it other than what He ordains for its good.
Next time we will be looking at season four: danger and public distraction.