“The Bible was written in tears, and to tears
it yields its best treasures.”
— A. W. Tozer
Christians are often asking
themselves what it takes to convert non-Christians. As Christian people, we are
interested in this because our Lord tells us it is intrinsic to our purpose—to
evangelise and propagate knowledge of the Gospel, in order that its life-saving
and life-giving message can be received into the hearts of nonbelievers. It is
inherent to the great commission (Matthew 28:18-20).
The longer we are in the Kingdom,
the more we may possibly forget, however, the pre-requisite circumstances
needed in order for nonbelievers to clamour for faith.
We may forget that the true convert
to Christ has, in that moment recognised, then, and for all time hopefully,
their sin and their need of God—that Christ made a way for their sins to be
forgiven. Most likely their felt need of God has highlighted their sin and
their inability, when they are honest, to live truly without grace. Most true
converts learn these things in tears. It was their most life-changing
experience.
Tears and the Moment of True Conversion
What leads up to the moment of
repentance—to turn back from the old life, and turn to God—is tears; desperation; a vanquished
spirit. No one comes to God lightly; but if they do, there is generally no true
conversion—where the Holy Spirit finds seating in the heart.
Generally people come to God
because life hasn’t worked their own way.
Others come to faith in God
because of familial introduction. Their family lives this way. Their conversion
may be more intellectual, and considered thoughtfully over a longer time
period.
But the moment of true conversion
is a moment of true transformation in the heart.
When people come before God, to
receive him into their hearts, they have never done anything so serious. The
old life has finished, and the new life—the God-anointed life—has now only just
begun. And even upon recommitment this is the same. Parts of the old life—even
when inhabited by the Spirit of God—are buried, and what is exhumed, in the Spirit
of Renewal, through tears, is a brand-new representative compartment of our
beings.
God renews whole beings as well as
significant parts of us.
Sowing In Tears, Reaping In Joy
A principle I have found so
relevant in my life is the phenomenon of sowing my laments before God, via the
intimacy of heartfelt and disconsolate prayer, of a night-time, in order to
receive the joy of the Holy Spirit come sunrise. This joy is beyond the
circumstance—how we feel, within ourselves, is lighter and significantly more
hopeful.
It is incredible how consistently
God honours the faithfulness of coming before him in the sanctity of prayer.
The Spirit of God hears us; every cry, whimper, pathetic moan, and rock bottom
gulp.
The Word of God is a home and safe
refuge for the tearful.
The Word of God encourages us
because the pious writers of this holy document experienced the same
desperation, anguish, grief, anger, and fear that we do.
The Bible has unequalled relevance
as a very human document, but it is 100% God-inspired, God-breathed. God speaks
to us through the Bible in ways that the desperate, lonely, grief-stricken, and
fearful find deeply meaningful.
© 2012 S. J. Wickham.
No comments:
Post a Comment