It’s a wonderful blessing to be here again. Yesterday I had lab at nine o’clock, maths in the afternoon, and my evening seminar—like what I would call a “normal” Monday. Why normal? I don’t know, but it feels good to be here again.
I’m having some trouble though. The Lord has lifted me into a new stage of my life. I don’t feel ready to do what needs to be done, but I must do it. Everything inside wants to be overseas tomorrow preaching the gospel, but how can I ever presume to undertake such great work for God overseas if I cannot walk in that faith here? Last semester was a time of preparation and concentration on my work, and this one ahead is a new time. (No worries, Mum, I won’t stop concentrating on my work.) It’s a time for preaching the gospel.
As intellectually open as St. John’s College may be, it is a bit hostile toward anyone or anything that advertises the truth of God. In one way (I generalize, at the risk of others thinking me an arrogant man), their intellectual openness is a great hindrance to their spiritual growth. I’m not suggesting that one needs a narrow-minded view of the world to be considered faithful, but instead that there are so many fallacies of philosophy clouding their eyes. As Teiresias the prophet said to Oedipus,
I’m having some trouble though. The Lord has lifted me into a new stage of my life. I don’t feel ready to do what needs to be done, but I must do it. Everything inside wants to be overseas tomorrow preaching the gospel, but how can I ever presume to undertake such great work for God overseas if I cannot walk in that faith here? Last semester was a time of preparation and concentration on my work, and this one ahead is a new time. (No worries, Mum, I won’t stop concentrating on my work.) It’s a time for preaching the gospel.
As intellectually open as St. John’s College may be, it is a bit hostile toward anyone or anything that advertises the truth of God. In one way (I generalize, at the risk of others thinking me an arrogant man), their intellectual openness is a great hindrance to their spiritual growth. I’m not suggesting that one needs a narrow-minded view of the world to be considered faithful, but instead that there are so many fallacies of philosophy clouding their eyes. As Teiresias the prophet said to Oedipus,
Thou hast eyes
Yet see’st not in what misery thou art fallen.SOPHOCLES, Oedipus the King
Most of the students here have a thick veil pulled over their faces. Their intellectualism is to them a sort of narrow-mindedness. “The word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (I Corinthians 1:18 NASB) and “a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised” (2:14). But really “the foolishness of God is wiser than men” (1:25).
I don’t look down on this generation or on this school. I strongly believe this is one of the soundest colleges in the nation. The depravity here is no greater than anywhere. But people need the gospel. I need the gospel.
I need the Lord to come and take away the veils that I’ve let build up over my face and look upon the true glory of God. I need the words of God to flow into me and out of me, like a stream of living water. “The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” (Revelation 19:10).
To any Christians out there, say a prayer for me and for the students of St. John’s College. We need the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The Christians here, myself especially, need the courage and strength to stand as “fools for Christ’s sake” (I Corinthians 4:10). Here it seems I have gained some reputation for wisdom, I’m told, though it’s not one deserved. Now I will be seen for the fool that I am. But at least I know whose fool I am.
Jesus is my Lord, who was born as a helpless baby under the Law as we are under the Law. In a world that thought its righteousness was found in its ordinances and sacrifices, He proclaimed the gospel—that is, that God has come to deliver us from the evil one, to forgive our sins, to justify us according to the Law, to sanctify us with His Spirit, and to restore us to our destined place before the throne of God as servants, priests, children, and princes in the kingdom of heaven. Jesus, who lived without sin and transgression, died on a cross as the atoning sacrifice to satisfy the wrath of God built up against the sins of mankind and our transgression of the Law. And He rose again from the dead with the keys of death and Hades, which He has overcome and will judge in the final day. He was born under the Law and died under the Law, but He was reborn above the Law; all who follow Jesus have followed Him to the grave and are considered dead to sin and the Law, but alive in Christ by the Spirit of God, no longer under the Law but under grace so we may receive adoption as children of God. Jesus is for us the outpouring of mercy and grace—mercy because the judgment we deserve has been withheld, and grace because the power and peace and blessing we don’t deserve has been freely given. This is my Lord, the One who sits at the right hand of the Father in heaven waiting to return to His creation and finally redeem those who have become faithful and true by the Spirit of God.
I don’t look down on this generation or on this school. I strongly believe this is one of the soundest colleges in the nation. The depravity here is no greater than anywhere. But people need the gospel. I need the gospel.
I need the Lord to come and take away the veils that I’ve let build up over my face and look upon the true glory of God. I need the words of God to flow into me and out of me, like a stream of living water. “The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” (Revelation 19:10).
To any Christians out there, say a prayer for me and for the students of St. John’s College. We need the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The Christians here, myself especially, need the courage and strength to stand as “fools for Christ’s sake” (I Corinthians 4:10). Here it seems I have gained some reputation for wisdom, I’m told, though it’s not one deserved. Now I will be seen for the fool that I am. But at least I know whose fool I am.
Jesus is my Lord, who was born as a helpless baby under the Law as we are under the Law. In a world that thought its righteousness was found in its ordinances and sacrifices, He proclaimed the gospel—that is, that God has come to deliver us from the evil one, to forgive our sins, to justify us according to the Law, to sanctify us with His Spirit, and to restore us to our destined place before the throne of God as servants, priests, children, and princes in the kingdom of heaven. Jesus, who lived without sin and transgression, died on a cross as the atoning sacrifice to satisfy the wrath of God built up against the sins of mankind and our transgression of the Law. And He rose again from the dead with the keys of death and Hades, which He has overcome and will judge in the final day. He was born under the Law and died under the Law, but He was reborn above the Law; all who follow Jesus have followed Him to the grave and are considered dead to sin and the Law, but alive in Christ by the Spirit of God, no longer under the Law but under grace so we may receive adoption as children of God. Jesus is for us the outpouring of mercy and grace—mercy because the judgment we deserve has been withheld, and grace because the power and peace and blessing we don’t deserve has been freely given. This is my Lord, the One who sits at the right hand of the Father in heaven waiting to return to His creation and finally redeem those who have become faithful and true by the Spirit of God.
1 comment:
Rock n' roll, pip. Rock n' roll. I feel you on the sense that there is a dark undertone of hatred here towards anything to do with the gospel. We need to pray hard.
Post a Comment