Mystery of Providence - Chapter Seven

The Work of Sanctification

Having lived in England for five years, I may be one of the few American readers to understand the footnote appearing at the end of this chapter, on page 108. The section looks like this:

Does not the providence of which this day* calls us to celebrate the memory, show the great regard God has for His people? O if not so, why were we not given up ‘as a prey to their teeth?’ ‘If it had not been the Lord who was on our side,’ then wicked men, compared to fire, water, wild beasts, ‘had swallowed us up quick’ (Ps. 124). O blessed be God for that teeming providence that has already brought forth more than seventy years liberty and peace to the Church of God. I suggest concerning this providence that you do by it as the Jews by their Purim (Esth. 9. 27, 28), and the rather, because we seem now to be as near danger by the same enemy as ever since that time. If such a mercy as this is forgotten, God may say: ‘I will deliver you no more’ (Judges 10. 13).

*Preached November 5.

Non-British readers may be saying "So, what's so important about November 5th?" November 5th, commonly known as "Guy Fawkes Day" commemorates the foiled Gunpowder Plot that attempted to destroy both English government and the English Protestant Reformation in one blow in 1605. I remember the bonfires, revelry, and the burning of the "Guys" during my youth in England, but paid little attention at the time to the historic significance of this event. Flavel points to God's providence in the uncovering of this plot and the more than seventy years liberty and peace to the Church of God that had been the result.

On a personal note, this was a difficult chapter. While I recognize the reality of sanctification in my life I realize just how deficient I continue to be. Each day I recognize my sin and rebellion, coupled with my total inability to please God in my flesh. The corruption of the heart shows itself in raising up great expectations to ourselves from the creature, and planning abundance of felicity and contentment from some promising and hopeful enjoyments we have in the world. (pg. 104)

Yet, my sense of filth and sin is in many ways the result of God's work within me. The things that I once ignored, rationalized, or even cultivated are now seen for what they truly are. The work of sanctification allows me to see myself for what I really am. I am not yet what I ought to be, but thanks be to God that I am no longer what I used to be.

And now let us consider and marvel that ever this great and blessed God should be so much concerned, as you have heard He is in all His providences, about such vile, despicable worms as we are! He does not need us, but is perfectly blessed and happy in Himself without us. We can add nothing to Him: ‘Can a man be profitable unto God?’ (Job 22. 2). No, the holiest of men add nothing to Him; yet, see how great account He makes of us. For does not His eternal electing love show the dear account He made of us (Eph. 1. 4, 5)? How ancient, how free, and how astonishing is this act of grace! This is that design which all providences are in pursuit of, and will not rest till they have executed. (pg. 107)

Let us consider, and let us marvel.

Mystery of Providence - Chapter Six

Preservation of the Saints from Evil

A further great advantage and mercy the saints receive from the hand of Providence is in their preservation from the snares and temptations of sin, by its preventing care over them. That Providence wards off many a deadly stroke of temptation and many a mortal thrust which Satan makes at our souls is a truth as manifest as the light that shines. This is included in that promise: God 'will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it' (1 Cor. 10. 13). (pg. 90)

In 1983 I left hearth and home after being reassigned by the US Army to the Republic of Korea. I was not happy to leave wife, children, and the comforts of the familiar. I was aware of the challenges of once again living in the barracks with fellow soldiers, but my imagination was not fertile enough at that time to know all of the evils into which young men, far away from home, can fall.

Honestly, prior to this time I had gone through a spiritual dry spell. In order to provide for my family I had been working a second job which required me to work on Sunday mornings. At first I would send the family off to church in the morning and join them later for evening worship, After a few months I would be too tired to do even this. My Bible Study and prayer life had faltered, and I was in a sorry state.

Yet, I knew that I would not be able to face a year (which eventually turned into 14 months) of separation from my family without Divine assistance. As I pondered my orders I began to pray. Over a period of weeks I began to see my spiritual house return to order. Then I began to pray that God would give me Christian companions and a witness to my fellow soldiers.

Arriving in country I soon discovered that my unit was comprised of 2/3 Korean soldiers (KATUSA) and that as a result I would be rooming with two Koreans. My first thought was that God had granted the second half of my prayer, and that I would be able to share Christ with them. As I tossed my duffle bag on a bed my two roommates entered the room. They asked me: "Are you a Christian?" to which I answered in the affirmative. Then one of them followed up with: "Do you read your Bible regularly and pray?" Once again I told them that I did. They then embraced me with these words: "Praise God! We were afraid that we would have a godless heathen American as our new roommate!"

I was soon to discover that the vast majority of KATUSA in that unit were Christians, mainly Presbyterians. The post chapel remained unlocked 24 hours a day to allow round the clock prayer meetings. Korean Christians could teach all of us something about prayer.

The only "fly in the ointment" was the presence of the American GI. Many of them felt that since they were no longer "in the world" that this meant that they could live in the most depraved fashion. For example, one Saturday morning around 1:00 AM, I had a knock on my door. It was a fellow soldier who wondered if I had time to talk with him. We made our way to a pot of coffee where he poured out his heart to me, wondering what advice I might give him. During his time away from home he had quit writing his wife, had cut off most of her allotment, and had begun to keep a girlfriend in "the ville". He was ready to go home, and wondered how he should approach his wife. My only advice was for him to confess his sins and beg for her mercy. What is doubly sad is the fact that he was one of the guys who appeared normal, and who had not "let it all hang out" like many others.

It was God's Providence that placed me into an accountability situation with my roommates. It was God's Providence that provided me with other Christian companions including several Missionaries. It was during this time that I felt God's call to leave the Army and enroll at SWBTS. It was God's Providence that my NCOIC took interest in me and showed me how to complete my undergraduate work while in Korea, so as to be eligible for enrollment in seminary. From beginning to end I was, and continue to be, in His care.

Walk therefore suitably to this obligation of Providence also. And see that you thankfully own it. Do not impute your escapes from sin to accidents, or to your own watchfulness or wisdom. (pg. 93-94)

Mystery of Providence - Chapter Five

Family Affairs

In 1986 I was a student at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Ft. Worth, Texas. My wife Barbara's father was in poor health in El Paso, Texas. Because we knew that we might need to travel quickly across the state due to his condition we purchased the first new car of our marriage.

On a Saturday morning while driving to participate in the intercessory prayer ministry of our church I was rear ended by a semi-truck, causing significant damage to the car, and putting me in a neck brace in considerable pain. Early the next morning, on Sunday, we received word that Barbara's father had died.

We went to church that morning with heavy hearts, and requested prayer for guidance and that God would direct our paths. A member of the Sunday School class that I taught offered us the use of a vehicle, and several members of the church put money in our hands, somewhere around $200, knowing that we would incur some expenses. We were truly grateful for these expressions of love, but were totally unprepared for what happened next.

One of the ministers on staff approached me, and placed a note in my hand. Contained on that note was the phone number of a travel agent. He told me that an unnamed church member wanted to pay for us to fly to El Paso for the funeral, and that all I had to do was call the travel agent for tickets for Barbara, our two children, and myself. I asked him whether he would like the cash that I had been given to help reimburse the cost of these tickets, but was told that this was not necessary, and that we would probably have need for those funds.

As I look back at that week I am continually in awe at the way that God worked out that situation for his glory and for our benefit. It was painful enough to endure a short plane flight due to the pain in my neck, and I don't think that I would have well endured a 12 hour road trip. The funds that we were given helped to make up the shortfall to our budget that we would have experienced until I was able to return to work and receive some insurance funds. We were able to attend the funeral and grieve with family members. To this day I do not know who paid for our tickets, but I am thankful, both to them and to God, for their generosity.

You know the promises God has made to His people: ‘The young lions do lack and suffer hunger, but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing’ (Ps. 34. 10). And have you not also seen the constant performance of it? Cannot you give the same answer, if the same question were propounded to you, which the disciples did: ‘When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye anything? and they said, Nothing’ (Luke 22. 35)? Can you not with Jacob call him ‘the God which fed me all my life long’? (Gen. 48. 15). Surely ‘he hath given meat unto them that fear him; he will ever be mindful of his covenant’ (Ps. 111. 5). (pg. 85)

Yes, time after time, we can give the same answer.

Mystery of Providence - Chapter Four

Our Employment

What a blessing it is to perform work fitting to your inclinations and your abilities. How satisfying to work in a vocation that not only provides for your needs but also suits your sensibilities.

In this chapter Flavel reminds us of the work of God's Providence in fitting us for, and placing us in, our vocations. As he ends the chapter he writes:

Be well satisfied in that station and employment in which Providence has placed you, and do not so much as wish yourself in another. ‘Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called’ (1 Cor. 7. 20). Providence is wiser than you, and you may be confident it has suited all things better to your eternal good than you could do had you been left to your own option. (pg. 80)

As I read these words I recounted my career and all of the steps leading up to it. Even though I had attempted to "abide in the same calling" I, like many of my peers, discover that I have not had a single career path, but a succession of careers. I can honestly state that I have not been seeking a career change when one occurred, but have often had them forced upon me.

When I graduated from Seminary in 1989, and was led to the church that I now pastor, I was informed that it would be a bi-vocational position. Recognize that at that point I didn't even know how to spell "bi-vocational" let alone know what it entailed. I spent the first year serving as a substitute teacher. At the end of that year a position opened up, but the needs of the business soon directed me into another set of responsibilities, and then another. I remember feeling very content with my job, and felt that I had finally "arrived". Yet, one day my boss called me to his office in Santa Fe, and informed me that he was giving me a new assignment, one that would have me commuting 130 miles each day to that city. When I objected I was told that either I accept this new assignment or terminate my employment. How disappointed I was as I saw 3 hours of my work day evaporate in driving. In the course of this assignment my duties changed to those of more responsibility, and then I found that my skills were no longer needed in my department. Yet, another department desired my services and the experience that I had obtained in this assignment, and I soon found myself performing similar duties in a new setting. After nine years of commuting I was reassigned to a place of work within seven miles of home. I now found that I had regained a large portion of my week, in addition to performing duties that are well suited to my skill set and which provide both a decent living and job satisfaction.

Will this situation continue? Probably not. In fact, I will be eligible for retirement from my job in less than four years, and will then see in which direction God wants me to proceed.

What lies ahead? Only God in His wisdom knows, but I am assured that His Providence will lead me in the proper direction.

Mystery of Providence - Chapter Three

The Work of Conversion

How surprising was the mercy which Providence performed for you in that day! Providence had a design upon you for your eternal good, which you did not understand. The time of mercy was now fully come; the decree was now ready to bring forth that mercy, with which it had gone big from eternity, and its gracious design must be executed by the hand of Providence, so far as concerned the external means and instruments. How aptly did it cause all things to fall in with that design, though you did not know the meaning of it? (pg. 72)

In this chapter we find John Flavel, that consummate pastor, relating instances of God's Providence in bringing men and women to faith in Christ. How my heart rejoiced as he tells us of the many and varied ways that God directs the paths of His children into His presence.

At the beginning of the chapter he offers a bit of a disclaimer and warning. There are some, like myself, who can pinpoint the time of our awakening. There are others, like my wife, Barbara, who have no such memory of a specific time of conversion, even though it is real and enduring. Both are the products of God's Providence, both are valid experiences, and both are to be cherished.

In my wife's case, she grew up in the bosom of a Godly and worshiping family. Spiritual duties were attended with care, and the nurture and admonition of the Lord was a part of daily life. During her early childhood, and with the encouragement of Mom, Dad, and older brothers, she felt a sense of her sin and her need for salvation. She trusted in Christ in her early years, and has remained faithful to this day. She cannot pinpoint an exact time of her conversion, but it is a real and enduring fact in her life. God's Providence placed her in an environment in which the new birth could take place.

There was a considerable contrast in my case. While my parents were loving and nurturing (Thanks Dad for caring enough to devote time to scouts, school projects, and family vacations even while battling alcoholism.) there was very little spiritual direction. We would occasionally attend military chapels, but there was no attention to the worship of God as a part of our lives.

I was not a "bad kid" but I had no time for God. I remember reading from The Communist Manifesto at age 15, and thinking that there was ample evidence for religion being "the opiate of the masses". During the summer following my 16th birthday I had a part-time summer job with the city Recreation Department. A co-worker who was considerably smaller than me (I was already imposing in physical size) kept trying to tell me about Jesus. I was usually able to squelch the discussion quickly. On July 24, 1972 he came to me and tried to reopen the conversation. My rebuke was something to the effect of "You say the name 'Jesus' again, and I am going to ..." He asked me if I would "examine the claims of Christ", and handed me a little yellow booklet entitled The Four Spiritual Laws. Cracking it open I noticed that it contained various Bible references. Since "everyone knows that the Bible is full of errors", I decided to take up his challenge, relishing the thought of decimating his faith the following day.

Since I had to have a Bible in order to carry out my plan, and since the only Bible in our house was a monster family Bible covered with a layer of dust, and because I didn't want anyone to think that I had gone crazy by using that Bible, I came up with "Plan B". I went to the local Rexall drug store, and purchased a $2 paperback Bible from the book rack. I put the yellow tract in the same brown paper bag, and hid both under my mattress at home. After dinner I excused myself from my family, retired to my room, locked and checked the door, and proceeded in my plan to destroy Christianity and religion.

I opened the tract, and the first verse that I encountered was John 3:16. I needed to use the index at the front of the Bible to find John, and then, in order to discover the "errors" decided to read chapters 2-4 of John's Gospel. Hmmm, I didn't discover any "errors" there. Next was John 10:10, so I read John 9-11. This wasn't working out like I intended. After reading Romans 2-4 (Romans 3:23) I abandoned my plan, and as I continued to read the tract I realized that I was faced with a dilemma.

I now knew that I could either toss the Bible and tract in the trash and try to avoid my co-worker's questions for the rest of the summer, or I could place my trust in Jesus Christ as my only Savior from sin. I hadn't found any "errors" in the Bible, but the Bible had certainly uncovered "errors" in me. I was deeply convicted of my sins, and feared the judgment of God's wrath that I deserved. I remember falling on my knees and asking God to forgive me and save me. While I didn't know the word "repentance" at the time, I truly believe that this is what God wrought in my life at approximately 10:00 PM Mountain Daylight Time on July 24th, 1972. His Providence directed that evening and all of the events leading up to it, and allowed His grace to convert a wicked sinner into His kingdom.

How proud I was at the beginning of that evening. How humbled I was at the end of it. And yet, I knew, I truly knew, that I was changed forever.

The next day my co-worker very sheepishly asked me if I had looked at the tract. I replied "yes". He then, very carefully, asked me what I thought of it. When I told him that I had been converted his astonished response was: "You are kidding!!!". (Sometimes Christians have a hard time believing that God saves sinners.)

Note that it had to be Providence that worked this miracle. First, how many of us would consider it to be an effective witness to place a copy of The Four Spiritual Laws in a belligerent person's hands and ask them to "examine the claims of Christ"? How many of us would know that the recipient's pride would lead them to take up the challenge, even if for all the wrong reasons? How many of us truly believe that God can work His miracle of salvation using the weakest of means?

So, in conclusion, we see God at work saving people within the context of a Christian family, and we see God saving people all alone in their bedroom while trying to disprove the claims of Christ. We see God at work in orchestrating our lives for His glory, and we see him using us as the means, often very tiny means, to bring others into His kingdom.

O, therefore, set a special mark upon that Providence that set you in the way of this mercy. It has performed that for you which all the ministers on earth and angels in heaven could never have performed. This is a mercy that puts weight and value into the smallest circumstance that relates to it. (pg. 74)