Shadow of the Almighty

This evening I resumed reading Shadow of the Almighty, which I had left off reading last year and never got back to finishing. It is a biography of Jim Elliot, largely comprised of his journal entries and copies of correspondence. Jim's writings are honest, personal, passionate and compelling; he truly was seeking a soldout life and it is a convicting, yet inspiring read. I would encourage everyone especially young people to read it, and would like to quote a section dated from October 24th - 29th 1949.

October 24: I see the value of Christian biography tonight, as I have been reading Brainerd's Diary much today. It stirs me up much to pray and wonder at my nonchalance while I have not power from God. I have considered Hebrews 13:7 just now, regarding the remembrance of certain ones who spake the word of God, 'consider the outcome of their life, and imitate their faith.' I recall now the challenge of Goforth's Life and By My Spirit, read in the summer of 1947, the encouragment of Hudson Taylor's Spiritual Secret, and The Growth of a Soul. There are incidents which instruct me now from the reading of J. G. Paton's biography, read last winter. And now this fresh Spirit-quickened history of Brainerd. O Lord, let me be granted grace to 'imitate their faith.'
October 27: "Enjoyed much sweetness"(as he puts it) in the reading of the last months of Brainerd's life. How consonant are his thoughts to my own regarding the 'true and false religion of this late day.' Saw, in reading him, the value of these notations, and was much encouraged to think of a life of godliness in the light of an early death.
October 28: One of the great blessings of heaven is the appreciation of heaven on earth. He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.
October 29: On reading a letter to Bert from Wilfred Tidmarsh I responded to a simple urge to offer myself for the work there in Ecuador. This morning it struck me as quite a presumptuous action and I covenanted with the Lord quietly that I would not post the letter unless I had some definite word from Himself. It seems the situation he is in demands that he abandon the Indian work among the Quichuas, because of his wife's health.
Later: after reading in Ephesians 4, 5, and 6, the words 'redeeming the time' struck me. The marginal reading encouraged me even more, 'buying up the opportunity.' And when I turned to the Greek I had certainty that I should mail the letter.


Those are truly striking passages - note the progression. David Brainerd was a missionary among the American Indians and died of illness before he was thirty. Reading a biography on him, Elliot was impressed, influenced, and encouraged to continue in the life of godliness. In light of this he penned what is likely his most well-known quote; the following day he wrote of a strong desire to go to Ecuador. Looking back and knowing what he could not have known then makes for a very intriguing and powerful text to ponder. Elliot's words came from a heart of love and devotion to his Father which was built upon the abundant grace given him through Christ. This enabled him to later on give what he couldn't keep to gain that which he could not lose. His was not a wasted life.

To Live is Christ

"For me to live is Christ and to die is gain."

As Christians we're here for only one purpose - to glorify God. John Piper likes to say 'God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.' We need to find our only peace and satisfaction in God and live to serve Him, not out of a sense of duty,but out of love for Him and thankfulness for what He has done in our lives. I urge you not to waste your life. Don't be distracted by money, a new car, or the newest fashions. 1 John says that if anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in them. Our love for God as Christians should over-ride any attraction the world offers. We should learn to say with Paul that we count everything as rubbish compared to knowing Christ. Then, as He becomes our treasure and delight, we can through our joy, share Him with others by telling them the good news of the gospel.

Love in action

What is love? Love is not an emotion. Love is not that walking on air feeling. Love does not grow cold or wear out. Love does not betray. Love is not consumed with self. Love seeks the good of the other person at all times. Love is forgiving in response to attack. Love is patient. Love returns good for evil. Love rejoices when others are blessed, even at the expense of self. Love is gentle in the face of harshness. Love knows not pride. Love gives and gives again, but asks no reward. Love is of God and only those who know Him can truly be loving.
In all this I have only described love in action. It is a choice, a conscious choice that goes entirely against human nature. In and of ourselves we do not know how to love, nor can we live it out. Only through God's grace are we able to demonstrate true love. Why? Simply because love is foundationally self-sacrificing, but we are entirely self-seeking. We are consumed with self and desire only to satisfy our own wants. Often something that appears loving on the surface is in actuality done through pride or in order to gain something in return.
The world and culture around us knows nothing of genuine love. All too often infatuation or romantic feelings are interpreted to be the real thing. Couples get married because they believe themselves to be in love, yet in a few short months or years that feeling wears off and there is no foundation of true love to stand on. The result is misery and, more often than not, divorce. Most of the crumbling marriages we see today would be saved if husband and wife would only give of themselves to each other in sacrificial love. However as was previously noted, humans do not have the capacity in and of themselves to show true love. This can only find it's source in God Himself.
The clearest picture of true love in action is seen in God's plan of redemption for mankind. God is holy, full of justice and mercy, and the personification of pure love itself. Mankind in it's wretchedness and gross rebellion, it's hatred of God and all things good, falls far short of God's righteous measure. There was nothing in us of beauty or worth. Nothing in the least that would draw the smile of a pure and holy God. And so when God, for the sake of His glory, reached down to us through the death of His only Son, He showed true love in all it's beauty. Self-sacrificing, seeking no reward, showing mercy and compassion in the face of anger and rebellion - truly this is astounding! Our response to such mercy should be humble repentance and belief.
Further, God's grace continues to reveal itself in the life of the Christian. Through the power of the Holy Spirit living in and sanctifying them, the believer learns to act out true love. When a Christian responds with forgiveness and kindness to a persecutor, they are daily putting into practice the agape love their Father teaches them. We see this also in the care and compassion for fellow brothers and sisters in Christ; through giving of time, prayer and resources for their blessing. And at the core of evangelism is found a deep heart of love for the souls of the unrepentant. It is by compassion born of God, that believers willingly give up even their very lives so that they might spread the Gospel of repentance and forgiveness of sins. All this is done not through human ability or will, but only by God's grace changing hearts and empowering them to live with love and godliness.
Truly, love is of God and no other.

"Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loves is born of God, and knows God. He that loves not, knows not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Here is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another." 1 John 4:7-11