A Living Death

In all things, we are told, we must remember that we are dead, and our life is hid with Christ in God (Col 3:3). Thinking this way results in some specific attitude changes – seeking those things which are above, setting affections on things above, not things of the earth, mortifying our members which are upon the earth. In short, living as if we are dead, but alive, yet not I, but Christ living in me.

Jonathan Edwards reflected this idea in the resolutions listed below. The eighth resolution addresses this idea indirectly --- Edwards saw himself as he really was… a living death.

Resolved, to act, in all respects, both speaking and doing, as if nobody
had been so vile as I, and as if I had committed the same sins, or had the same
infirmities or failings as others; and that I will let the knowledge of their
failings promote nothing but shame in myself, and prove only an occasion of my
confessing my own sins and misery to God.

Keeping the cause of his condition at the forefront of his mind, he also kept the reality of his condition at the center. Think of it… what will the day of your death be like? Edwards determined to be prepared at all times for that day.

Resolved, to think much on all occasions of my own dying, and of the common
circumstances which attend death.

If I can imagine my own death, and can see how justly God should remove me from this life, then any suffering I endure in this life will be seen as deserved, though far short of my true deserts. Since God would be justified to send me to hell, it is not hard to think of the torments of hell. Many Christians resolve to be always conscious of the torments of hell in order to be more zealous for souls. But Edwards used this vision for a different purpose. Consider his tenth resolution:

Resolved, when I feel pain, to think of the pains of martyrdom, and of hell.

If I die daily to self, then my suffering works greater glory for the Lord, and I can rejoice in my weaknesses, my sorrows, my sufferings.

With Eternity’s Values in View

The next set of Jonathan Edward’s resolutions demonstrate his insistence on living life as if the details matter, as if God is watching everything we do, as if there is something important beyond today. These resolutions bring to mind our instructions to redeem the time because the days are evil, to do all to the glory of God, down to our eating and drinking, in short, to live life with eternity’s values in view.

Once again, I want to recommend these resolutions to you as the best way to keep an eye heavenward.

Resolved, Never to do any manner of thing, whether in soul or body, less or more, but what tends to the glory of God; nor be, nor suffer it, if I can possibly avoid it.

Resolved, Never to lose one moment of time, but to improve it in the most profitable way I possibly can.

Resolved, To live with all my might while I do live.

Resolved, Never to do anything which I should be afraid to do, if it were the last hour of my life.

New Designs

Early in 1723, Jonathan Edwards wrote out seventy resolutions by which he determined to live his life. Last week, we looked at the first of those resolutions, which was as follows:

Resolved, That I will do whatsoever I think to be most to the glory of God and my own good, profit, and pleasure, in the whole of my duration, without any consideration of the time, whether now, or never so many myriads of ages hence. Resolved, to do whatever I think to be my duty, and most for the good of mankind in general. Resolved so to do, whatever difficulties I meet with, how many soever, and how great soever.

Edward’s second and third resolutions refer back to this first resolution. They are as follows:

Resolved, To be continually endeavoring to find out some new contrivance and invention to promote the forementioned things.

Resolved, If ever I shall fall and grow dull, so as to neglect to keep any part of these resolutions, to repent of all I can remember, when I come to myself again.

Edwards determined to do all to the glory of God (I Cor. 10:31). And with that Scriptural determination in mind, he then determined to strive with all his might to glorify God, and to repent whenever he fell short.

I recommend these resolutions for several reasons. First, God created us for Himself and for His pleasure (Col. 1:16 and Rev. 4:11), and therefore we fulfill our life’s purpose only inasmuch as we please God. So, our first and best resolution is to seek God’s glory in everything.

Secondly, since our highest calling is to please God, we should always strive to find new designs, new plans, new ways for accomplishing this purpose. This effort itself pleases and glorifies God.

And thirdly, whenever we slacken from our efforts to give God glory, whenever our efforts fall short of diligence, we are in sin, and we must repent. And such repentance also pleases God, giving Him glory. May we so strive to fulfill our "chief end."

Let it Snow!

We are in the midst of my "dream" winter... snow upon snow upon snow. This morning when I roused myself from under the cover, close to a foot had blanketed the ground, and more than a few hours worth hovered between space and earth. I found myself faced with a decision --- to cancel school, or not to cancel school. I took the high road. Which is why I find myself typing this right now.

Schools in our area rarely cancel for weather. Utah snow is unique amongst the species of snows that visit the earth. In the midwest, a snow like we are getting at the moment would shut down the entire state. But Utah snow is "powder snow" - it freezes before it lands, making it very light and fluffy, and perfect for skiing. It can still be treacherous, but not nearly as treacherous as the icy stuff people get in points east. So, snow does not send everybody scrambling into their cellars here as it does in, say, Terre Haute. Plus, we are a bit more used to getting it.

But today has me scratching my head. Of all days that you would think schools would cancel for snow, today would be the most likely. To be honest, I can't figure out why our area schools are still in session. After getting about an eight inch dump before 7:00 this morning, the snow has not slackened a bit. Nor is it supposed to until after noon. Since 7:00 this morning, we have received probably another six to eight inches of snow. Even though many walk to school in our city, I would think the schools would cancel.

Forgive my wondering out loud, but I have a theory to test --- maybe you can help me test it. I think schools stay open because the officials don't want 30,000 juveniles running the streets while their parents are at work. Schools have become as much about day care and babysitting as they have about education. Could that be the reason why, in such severe weather, our institutions of lower learning remain in operation when it is dangerous to be on the road?

Resolutions

In January of 1723, Jonathan Edwards, one of America’s greatest preachers, wrote a list of 70 resolutions by which he determined to live his life. He determined to review this list regularly, searching for where he fell short, finding where he could improve. Judging by the end of this great man’s life, we can be sure that he did, in fact, live by these standards.

Rather than list all 70 at once for you, I will be listing, over the course of the next few weeks, a handful of these resolutions at a time, along with some commentary. Let it be said from the start that I will not be in full agreement with each and every resolution, but in general I agree with what Edwards set out to do.

It is important that we grow into the habit of examining our actions in the light of God’s Word, searching for sinful actions or attitudes, and striving to improve ourselves and our usefulness for the glory of our God. For this reason, I would encourage you to follow Mr. Edward’s godly example, setting down determinations and resolutions for your own life.

For starters, I will simply recommend Mr. Edward’s first resolution as a most excellent course of action in the life of any Christian.

Resolved, That I will do whatsoever I think to be most to the glory of God and my own good, profit, and pleasure, in the whole of my duration, without any consideration of the time, whether now, or never so many myriads of ages hence. Resolved, to do whatever I think to be my duty, and most for the good of mankind in general. Resolved so to do, whatever difficulties I meet with, how many soever, and how great soever.