From Daniel Webber's "William Carey and The Missionary Vision" (Edinburgh: Banner of Truth Trust, 2005), 49-50:
There was also in his [Carey's] character a firm commitment to what a former generation would have described as his duty, some thing we fear that is largely lost on a generation that has probably had things far too comfortable for its own good, and the good of others. For Carey, however, this commitment to duty meant that when things got incredibly tough, and the disappointments and sorrows were multiplying, there was no talk of giving up. His sense of obligation to the task in hand held him. He believed in hard work and expected that the way would be difficult. And yet even this outlook was borne of a genuine realism, rather than a pessimistic or depressive disposition. The only success he sought was that he should be faithful to God and the work entrusted to him; the only failure that he shunned was that of not doing what needed to be done. Indeed, much of his own attitude is revealed in a letter written to another son in 1808. William Jr. was but twenty years old, newly-wed, and posted to a remote area well-known for its gangs of violent robbers and wild animals. He had been gored by a buffalo and wrote to his father asking for permission to return to Serampore. Among other things, his father's reply contained the following admonition:
I ought, however, to say that I think there is much guilt in your fears. You and Mary will be a thousand times more safe in committing yourselves to God in the way of duty than in neglecting obvious duty to take care of yourselves.
His own commitment to duty and his great confidence in God were, of course, rooted in his conviction that God was sovereign over all things. This was not only so when things seemed to run in his favour, but when providence seemed against him. This is nowhere seen more clearly than in his response to the devastating fire to which we have already referred, and which undid so much of his work; some of it irreplaceable. In a letter to Dr Ryland he states:
The Lord has smitten us, he had a right to do so, and we deserve his corrections. I wish to submit to His sovereign will, nay cordially to acquiesce therein, and to examine myself rigidly to see what in me has contributed to this evil.
This same attitude is evident again when as a sixty-two year-old he found himself offering the following advice to a young missionary just commencing his labours:
Remember three things. First, that it is your duty to preach the Gospel to every creature; second, remember that God has declared that His word shall accomplish that for which it is sent; third, that He can as easily remove the present seemingly formidable obstacles as we can move the smallest particles of dust.
This is the kind of Christian that is needed in every walk of like, but particularly so on the mission field.
From John Piper's "Don't Waste Your Life" (Wheaton: Crossway, 2007), 87-90:
TO BECOME A CHRISTIAN WAS TO RISK YOUR LIFE
The first three centuries of the Christian church set the pattern of growth under threat. Stephen Neill, in his History of Christian Missions, wrote, “Undoubtedly, Christians under the Roman Empire had no legal right to existence, and were liable to the utmost stringency of the law. . . . Every Christian knew that sooner or later he might have to testify to his faith at the cost of his life.”3 Might. There’s the risk. It was always there. Maybe we will be killed for being Christians. Maybe we won’t. It is a risk. That was normal. And to become a Christian under those circumstances was right.
It is costly to follow Christ. There is risk everywhere. But ... this very risk is the means by which the value of Christ shines more brightly.
HOW TO WASTE FORTY YEARS AND THOUSANDS OF LIVES
But what happens when the people of God do not escape from the beguiling enchantment of security? What happens if they try to live their lives in the mirage of safety? The answer is wasted lives. Do you remember the time it happened?
It had been less than three years since the people of Israel came out of Egypt by the power of God. Now they were on the borders of the Promised Land. The Lord said to Moses, “Send men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the people of Israel” (Numbers 13:2). So Moses sent Caleb, Joshua, and ten other men. After forty days they returned with a huge cluster of grapes hung on a pole between two men. Caleb issued the hope-filled call to his people: “Let us go up at once and occupy it, for we are well able to overcome it” (Numbers 13:30). But the others said, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we are” (v. 31).
Caleb was unable to explode the myth of safety. The people were gripped by the beguiling enchantment of security—the notion that there is a sheltered way of life apart from the path of God-exalting obedience. They murmured against Moses and Aaron and decided to go back to Egypt—the great mirage of safety.
Joshua tried to free them from their stupor.
The land, which we passed through to spy it out, is an exceedingly good land. If the Lord delights in us, he will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land that flows with milk and honey. Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not fear the people of the land, for they are bread for us. Their protection is removed from them, and the Lord is with us; do not fear them. (Numbers 14:7-9)
But not even Joshua could explode the myth of safety. The people were drunk in a dreamworld of security. And they tried to stone Caleb and Joshua. The result was thousands of wasted lives and wasted years. It was clearly wrong not to take the risk of battling the giants in the land of Canaan. Oh, how much is wasted when we do not risk for the cause of God!
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
Risk is right. And the reason is not because God promises success to all our ventures in his cause. There is no promise that every effort for the cause of God will succeed, at least not in the short run...
And now what about you? Are you caught in the enchantment of security, paralyzed from taking any risks for the cause of God? Or have you been freed by the power of the Holy Spirit from the mirage of Egyptian safety and comfort? Do you men ever say with Joab, “For the sake of the name, I’ll try it! And
may the Lord do what seems good to him”? Do you women ever say with Esther, “For the sake of Christ, I’ll try it! And if I perish, I perish”?
Our Example & Our Equipping: The Obedient Son ~ What Kind of Children Are We?
John 12:27 “Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name." Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.”
The obedience the Lord Jesus Christ exhibited is the very same type of obedience our Father expects of all His children: whole-hearted obedience that is committed to duty and presses on in spite of the risk. Though we all know deep down the greater risk is walking in disobedience to the commandments of the Lord! As William Carey said, we will be a thousand times more safe in committing [ourselves] to God in the way of duty!
"How can I obey like Jesus?!" you ask.
Impossible with us, but possible with Him!
Jesus' life isn't just our example – Jesus' life is our equipping – because the very same Holy Spirit who indwelt Jesus has come to dwell in all believers: the life of God has come to dwell in the souls of men – this is the wondrous mystery of the Christian life!
Along with each of His commandments, our Father never fails to provide the equipping necessary for us to obey. He is not a hard taskmaster! He is our Father; we are His children. With His Son, will He not freely give us all things? He is for us! O, may He write that truth more and more deeply in our hearts! God's desire for us is our sanctification, which blesses and honors Him and glorifies His name before the nations.
Through the new birth, each one of us is a new creation in Christ, given a new heart with new affections and desires, and through the indwelling Holy Spirit we have the power to walk in obedience to God's commands (though we must continue to ask for that blessed power ~ Luke 11:13) and be careful not to grieve, quench or limit the Holy Spirit of God.
Philippians 2:12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
14 Do all things without grumbling or questioning, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.
- Does your life (your thoughts, words and deeds, your decision making, your relationships, your use of time, resources, etc.) show growing evidence of God's Holy Spirit at work in you to will and to do of God's good pleasure – or do you continue to insist on living for your own pleasure? (A note here: If you're a Christian who is really living for God's good pleasure, that life is the ultimate pleasure, the abundant life Jesus came to give!)
- Do you continue to be paralyzed by fear, doubt and worry in what you know you should do – or are you increasingly constrained by God's love to step out in faith and trusting obedience?
- Do you shrink away from duty and commitment to Christ's cause – or do you joyfully enlist and delight to do the Father's will as Christ did?
- Has the vision of God's eternal and all-surpassing glory begun to capture your heart – or do you remain enslaved to the fleeting and vain promises of earthly relationships, riches, stature and security?
- What fills your heart: fear of risking (which is all rooted in self-absorption/self-protection/self-preservation) – or the flaming desire to do whatever it takes so the knowledge of the glory of God is spread across the earth as the waters cover the sea?
- How does your life compare to that of the obedient Son, the Lord Jesus Christ?
Many of us count it a blessing and privilege that we are able to call out, "Abba, Father" to our heavenly Father – and well we should!
Romans 8:14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”
Each of us who is born again should appreciate that glorious privilege, because through the cross of Christ, God did for us what we could not do: He made a way for helpless and powerless sinners to be declared not guilty and righteous and stand before Him unashamed – He translated us from the kingdom of darkness to the Kingdom of His Son – He gave us the power to become His children! Hallelujah!
HOWEVER – as believers in Christ, as children of God, we also have other privileges:
- to live no longer according to the flesh but the Spirit
Let's return to those verses from Romans 8, but this time let's look at them in their context:
12 So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
And then, read these words from the apostle Paul in Philippians 1:
29 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake...
If you a believer in Christ, you are called to suffer for Christ.
if you are a joint heir with Christ, you are called to suffer with Christ.
If you are in the Spirit, you are called to live no longer according to the flesh.
In other words, as believers in Christ, as joint heirs with Christ and as those filled with the Spirit of Christ, our lives should be looking more and more like that of the obedient Son:
John 12:27 “Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name." Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.”
By Christ's life dwelling in us, may we continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the obedient Son of God, so we might say to our Father (without grumbling or disputing):
What shall we say? 'Father, save us from this hour?' But for this purpose we have come to this hour. Father, glorify Your name!
"Who Is on the Lord's Side"
Francis Havergal, 1877
Who is on the Lord’s side? Who will serve the King?
Who will be His helpers, other lives to bring?
Who will leave the world’s side? Who will face the foe?
Who is on the Lord’s side? Who for Him will go?
By Thy call of mercy, by Thy grace divine,
We are on the Lord’s side—Savior, we are Thine!
Not for weight of glory, nor for crown and palm,
Enter we the army, raise the warrior psalm;
But for love that claimeth lives for whom He died:
He whom Jesus nameth must be on His side.
By Thy love constraining, by Thy grace divine,
We are on the Lord’s side—Savior, we are Thine!
Jesus, Thou hast bought us, not with gold or gem,
But with Thine own life blood, for Thy diadem;
With Thy blessing filling each who comes to Thee,
Thou hast made us willing, Thou hast made us free.
By Thy grand redemption, by Thy grace divine,
We are on the Lord’s side—Savior, we are Thine!
Fierce may be the conflict, strong may be the foe,
But the King’s own army none can overthrow;
’Round His standard ranging, victory is secure,
For His truth unchanging makes the triumph sure.
Joyfully enlisting, by Thy grace divine,
We are on the Lord’s side—Savior, we are Thine!
Chosen to be soldiers, in an alien land,
Chosen, called, and faithful, for our Captain’s band,
In the service royal, let us not grow cold;
Let us be right loyal, noble, true and bold.
Master, Thou wilt keep us, by Thy grace divine,
Always on the Lord’s side—Savior, always Thine!
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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.
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