Sword & Trowel 2017: Issue 1
and daughter have suddenly become less preoccupied with their own af- fairs, and have become naturally helpful, and the apostle writes, ‘Here- by we know that we are of the truth.’
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We have reviewed some of the apostle’s evidences of a work of grace, all of which help us combat doubts about salvation. But we must end where we began, with the exhortation at the end of 1 John 5.13 – ‘… that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God’. If God has worked in our hearts, we have a duty, an obligation and privilege to actively believe. Our assignment from God is to exercise faith, and to trust him and live for him. A sporting illustration
may help. There was a young man in our
congregation years ago who went off to a university renowned for sport. It was not his subject, but he found eve- ry opportunity to excel in his chosen game, and I can imagine that he put all his vigour, pace and expertise into it. But being home during a vacation he confessed to me, ‘I am a complete failure in the Christian life. I just do not get anywhere. I have not accom- plished anything. Where do I start?’ I replied along these lines: Spiritu-
ally, it is as if you have gone on to the fi eld of play, the whistle has blown and everything has burst into action, with players rushing about all around you. But you have remained stock still. You are just standing, while team mates shout at you – ‘Get on with it! Do this, do that.’ Peo- ple also shout at you from the touchline. But you just stand there, thinking to yourself, most strangely – ‘Was I picked for this team? Am I even here? Is this really happening?’ This would never happen in
the real world on the fi eld of play. It would be bizarre. But it is precisely what sometimes happens in the spiritual life. Am I really called? Am I truly converted? Am I in this family of God’s people? And while we muse, we remain motionless. The most profound advice we can give is what is shouted from the other players – ‘Get on with
The burden falls from Christian’s back in Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress.
page 14 The Dissolving of Doubts
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