Written by: April J. Buchanan
“The great cheat that the devil and antichrist delude the world withal, it is to make them continue in the form of any duty, the form of preaching, of hearing, or praying, &c.” — John Bunyan, I Will Pray With The Spirit And The Understanding Also
Pacing myself through this little book has been most beneficial. Reading old writers often has a way of showing us the many differences between them and us today. I love so much of the old language. I am unashamed to incorporate pieces of it into my own writings sometimes, as if it were a comfort to sit with them and let their influence be made upon my own penmanship. Though, in doing so, I am well aware of my own deficiencies, the beauty of that old language flows not merely from my pen but from my heart. It is really quite beautiful.
As I read their words and often ponder them, I am also made aware of something else. Hmm, shall I reflect here upon that word? Aware. Don’t we now live in a time of raising awareness? Much to our dismay. I’m not so sure it is all so beneficial, and often it seems to serve the purpose of drawing attention to self. When everything is brought to our attention, I wonder if anything truly has our attention anymore.
The more aware we become, perhaps the more pride finds a home in our hearts as we consider ourselves more empathetic, wiser, and more tolerant. We may find ourselves busier, knowing more about things we need not know while neglecting those things that are better. But perhaps some will say that I am simply unaware and lack empathy because I suggest we may be too aware. Yet our awareness does not always lead to fruitful sympathy and compassion. It may instead become a distraction, taking up forms and shadows whereby we boast and grow proud rather than learn and abide in those more fruitful works wrought within us and evidenced without.
So then, perhaps I’ll not raise awareness but draw us back to some of those faithful old paths and the beauties found there, as my reflections so often draw me back. In doing so, I am reminded of how different the times in which they lived were, the battles they faced, these pilgrims who walked before us, just as others shall come behind us, should our Lord tarry.
What then shall my pen today, my prayers, my studying, my works and thoughts, say concerning those things that set us apart from those in the past and those not yet born? I know not what the future holds, save the things for which God has made known, but I can see more clearly the differences between our time and theirs. They could not see or know how different the world would be for us. They wrote and prayed, studied and lived in obedience to God and with sincerity, as led by the Spirit in their day. In this, we may be encouraged. Though much has changed in our world and things look so different, we may know that God has not changed. There has been much progress, and at the same time, much more awareness of moral depravity around the world, made more visible to us than ever before. Men increase in wickedness and celebrate it. Yet just as God faithfully preserved those before us, so He is faithful to us today and to those who come tomorrow.
I speak not as the saints before me, though I do love their language. Looking back, I can see things for which we may learn from them, much we can put into practice, and likewise, things they perhaps could not see where they had erred, but which we can now see more clearly.
To say such things stirs up pride in men’s hearts, making them think those before us were but fools and profoundly ignorant, and that we are so much wiser than they. So speaks the proud heart, unacquainted with his Bible and having distanced himself from those who came before him, thinking they have nothing to teach him. He shows himself to be the fool he thinks them to be. For if he read of them, he would find exceedingly more to humble him than to correct in them.
Let my heart take counsel among the saints of old through their writings and teachings preserved for us today. Not as the Roman Catholics would pray to “saints,” or follow their own wicked practices after the counsel of dead men by doing those very things God hates and prohibits, necromancy and the like. No! I mean no such thing. Pray not to the dead or for the dead. Seek no counsel by talking to the dead. Oh, what folly.
Their works remain. Take up their writings and teachings. Read them. Test them against God’s Word. Pray that the Spirit may give us understanding, and as their words prove sound, may they show us our own need of such instruction and that we may benefit from it. There we may find encouragement, wisdom, and much to humble us, making our own world a little smaller and God’s love, faithfulness, wisdom, power, and promises exceedingly greater.
As I ponder Bunyan’s words today, which have little by little been taken up but much worked in my heart, along with other things, I am reminded of the enemy’s great work in distracting the saints. Though he cannot rob us of our justified standing before God in Christ, he can tempt us to become disheartened and distracted, even by otherwise good things. He can tempt us to allow our prayers, study, and good works to become mere forms rather than expressions of sincere hearts.
We are so quick to produce something new and never satisfied that perhaps we fail to appreciate real maturity and real growth, and those things that truly glorify God. Be satisfied in Him, and be honest in our evaluation of ourselves before God. Be careful not to boast too quickly, for where we may be quick to say we are not like other men, we may find ourselves worse than they, for pride is always at our door.
It is often said that men stand on the shoulders of those who came before them. I fear this is often said in pride, as men think themselves better than they are. If truly examined, they may well find that they have little root and not much strength when tested.
Consider the woman in the kitchen learning recipes passed down through generations, or the old, faithful paths whose memory fades as new forms arise to replace them, yet whose reality remains. Another comes along, takes them up again, and restores their beauty. These are but earthly illustrations of something exceedingly more beautiful. Let us be careful that we take not up forms and shadows, thinking ourselves to be doing more for God than those before us, only to find that their works remained, their love was sincere, born of the Spirit, and their labors preserved, while ours prove good for today and pass away tomorrow.
Better a little with sincerity and truth, done in the Spirit, than much with a heart taking up forms and shadows and resting upon one’s own strength.
Remember the Lord.
Grace to you all.
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