MAY 8: Persevere in Serving the Lord

Steve Smartt is pastor of Moultrie Baptist Church in St. Augustine.

Respected scholar and Christian apologist, C.S. Lewis was quoted with this bold statement of religious conviction in “Credenda Agenda.” He said, “An open mind in questions that are not ultimate is useful. But an open mind about ultimate foundations either of theoretical or practical reason is idiocy. If a man’s mind is open on these things let his mouth at least be shut.”

In an age of postmodern ecumenical pluralism, the politically correct teachers of the felt-need gospels must shudder at such statements of absolute resolve. Their consumer gospel is one of gracious prosperity satisfying the mentality of the neo-church that is breeding a weak, if not fake, salvation.

John Stott told the story of how David Hume, an eighteenth century British philosopher who rejected historic Christianity, once met a friend hurrying along a London street and asked where he was going. The friend said he was off to hear George Whitfield, a devout proponent of orthodox truth, preach. “But surely you don’t believe what Whitfield preaches do you?” said Hume. To which the friend replied, “No, I don’t, but he does.”

This testimony of Whitfield’s unashamed confidence speaks of the same type of resolve we must have in the face of opposition to the Gospel message. “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Cor 1:18).

Jeremiah had this type of resolve as he faced the false accusations of desertion and the punishment that followed (37:13b-17). Still, though standing wrongfully accused, but with a secret audience of the king, he did not back down from what he knew to be true. Instead, he boldly reaffirmed the prophecy of judgment, not out of stubborn tenacity, but because it was true. Even though he had been arrested for treason and persecuted, Jeremiah stood firm with no compromise to God’s Word.

Have you ever been annoyed by a buzzing or a rattling in your car that just won’t go away? That’s what Jeremiah was to the officials of Judah. Instead of giving in to their abuses and quieting his “noise,” he continued to persist in his declarations of prophecy that called the people to caution and repentance (38:3-6). In contrast, King Zedekiah yielded to the pressures of those who, by persecuting him, wanted to silence Jeremiah’s words. Zedekiah wavered in comfort. Jeremiah stood firm despite persecution.

No matter how much we want to modify God’s Word to fit our needs (or in the case of Jeremiah, to save our necks), His truth is unchanging, and in the context of the world, it carries an unpopular message. Jeremiah, however, consistently delivered the Lord’s Word. When the king inquired again, the proclamation remained the same. “If you will surrender… then your life will be spared...” (38:17-18).

This is the only message that can bring hope to a dying world; that is the pure blood of the sinless Christ which was spilled on behalf of fallen man who will otherwise stand condemned through eternity for his sin. No amount of pastoral creativity or “purpose-driven” method can substitute for this singular message of submission to grace.

Athanasius, the early bishop of Alexandria, stoutly opposed the teachings of Arius, who declared that Christ was not the eternal Son of God but a subordinate being. He was ridiculed and exiled, then finally summoned before the emperor Theodosius to cease his opposition to the Arian heresy. Scolding him, the emperor asked, “Do you not realize that all the world is against you?” Steadfastly, Athanasius answered, “Then I am against all the world.” Friends, let us persevere against the world that they might see the truth.