April 1, 2010

• Are you preparing to face death? Or are you a fool?

  Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones [ML-J] had pastored at Westminster Chapel, London, for thirty years. In 1968, at the age of sixty-eight, the Doctor was taken ill and had surgery to remove an obstruction to his colon due to cancer; he ended up living almost an additional thirteen years.
  
  Several months after his surgery, the Doctor reflected on his experience at the Westminster Fraternal (a regular gathering of pastors for mutual edification and encouragement). In his biography of ML-J, Iain Murray explains that until the time of the operation Dr. Lloyd-Jones

  had known remarkable health and would have found it difficult to visualize what illness would mean. From the experience of the past months he [ML-J] said:

  I think I know now 'the peace of God which passeth all understanding'. Peace is a very real thing and I was given that in a way I shall never forget as long as I live. Negatively, I have to confess I wondered afterwards why I did not feel as Paul, desiring to depart and to be with Christ. It wasn't that I was craving to live, but looking back on it, there was a lack there. I knew I was going to get well. It seems to me I should have known something of that other aspect, facing death in the spirit of expectation. I regard it as a deficiency. Our relationship to the Lord should make it otherwise.

  Murray continues:

  He [ML-J] spoke solemnly of the folly of waiting for illness to happen to us before we give it thought, rather we should always be preparing for such a time. And one way to do that is to see that we love God with all our strength while we are well, for when illness comes we shall have no strength and be 'so weak we cannot even read, not even the Scriptures'. Strength must be used now and reserves laid up for the day of trial.
  
  

  Our danger is to be victims of our routine – you get carried on by the momentum of the work until suddenly pulled up as Edmund Burke was by the death of an opponent in an election at Bristol when he was brought to say, 'What shadows we are, what shadows we pursue'. We tend to exaggerate things which in the end are not vital, allowing ourselves to be moved overmuch. In the light of eternity we see things at their real value.

  –Iain Murray's "David Martyn Lloyd-Jones: Volume Two," Banner of Truth Trust (Edinburgh: 1990. 602-603)

  * * *

  A few questions based on the excerpt above...

  If you are not currently in the day of trial, how might you better use your time today to prepare for the day of trial?
  Do you ever give death a thought?
  Are you preparing for death?
  Are you loving God with all your strength while you are well?
  Are you using strength now and storing up reserves for the day of trial?

  If you are currently in the day of trial, how were you storing up reserves to prepare?
  What, if anything, might you have done differently?

  Have you become a victim of your routine?
  Are you getting carried on by the momentum of the work?
  Are you exaggerating things which in the end are not vital, or do you see things in the light of eternity?

  A few additional questions...

  For what are you ambitious? Do you have a holy ambition?
  What are you seeking? Are you seeking first God's Kingdom and His righteousness?
  Is your mind set on things on the earth or on things above?
  Is Christ your first Love?

   

  Luke 12:13  Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” 14  But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?” 15  And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” 16  And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, 17  and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ 18  And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19  And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.’ 20  But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ 21  So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

  
  TwinBarnstars by Royalbroil
  cc-by-sa 3.0

  Matthew 25:1  “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2  Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3  For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 4  but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5  As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. 6  But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ 7  Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. 8  And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9  But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ 10  And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. 11  Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ 12  But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13  Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour."

  
  The Wise and Foolish Virgins from the Rossano Gospels
  
  

  Are you more concerned with earthly treasures and pursuits than heavenly ones?
  Are you foolish or wise?

  May God open the eyes of our hearts so we see things in the light of eternity.

  ---

  Related posts:

  • thoughts on necessity (Richard Baxter, myself)
  • another sunrise . . . another sunset
  • Father, don't let me waste my life
  • what's your price? (Bible reading - Matthew 26:14-16)
  • "You can have me" (Sidewalk Prophets) (Does He have you?)
  • Are you getting up into the high mountain or have you become lukewarm?
  • a valentine from the broken-hearted Bridegroom
  • Neck check (Bible reading: Nehemiah 3)
  • Are You Working on the Wall? (redemption, spiritual gifts, the glory of God, joy & holy ambition)
  • "Let us rise up and build" - one Body, many gifts & the love, Gospel & glory of God (Nehemiah 3)
  • Nehemiah stationed the people (Nehemiah 4:13)
  • Are you robbing God? Where is God telling you to "Rise and go!" for the joy of others?
  • using my talent (Bible reading - Matthew 25)
  • a story of God and mammon: "the Lord's Calf" from Martyn Lloyd-Jones
  • my ministry & your attitude toward the Word of God
  • My posts on Kingdom-Obsessed People
    

  Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

  • 6:12 PM
  • 7 Comments