I originally planned to save today’s quote for a future blog. However, since your response to yesterday’s blog about the church was so strong, I decided to post it today:
“God is the highest good of the reasonable creature, and the enjoyment of him is the only happiness with which our souls can be satisfied. To go to heaven to fully enjoy God, is infinitely better than the most pleasant accommodations here. Fathers and mothers, husbands, wives, children, or the company of earthly friends, are but shadows. But the enjoyment of God is the substance. These are but scattered beams, but God is the sun. These are but streams, but God is the fountain. These are but drops, but God is the ocean.
Therefore it becomes us to spend this life only as a journey towards heaven, as it becomes us to make the seeking of our highest end and proper good, the whole work of our lives, to which we should subordinate all other concerns of life. Why should we labor for, or set our hearts on anything else, but that which is our proper end, and true happiness?”
Jonathan Edwards
No wonder worship in America is so weak. Our highest good is not God and the enjoyment of him. For many in the church today, their highest good is themselves.
I eagerly anticipate a hearty discussion.
This seems a good time to mention the current Miss California-USA, who missed out on becoming Miss USA because of her stand against same-sex marriage. She so upset Peres Hilton, one of the judges, that he is still ranting against her. On the “Today” show yesterday, she stated that she had been raised in a family (and I would guess, a church) taht taught her not to water down her faith to please others (paraphrased), that God was more important than a beauty title, and that this title was obviously not what He wanted for her at this time of her life. WOuld you say she understands the highest good?
As an author also influenced by the writings of Jonathan Edwards, John Piper wrote “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him.” Paul said to always rejoice in the Lord, to be anxious for nothing, to pray to God about all our needs with thanksgiving, and to think about things that reveal the glory of God so that his peace will guard are minds and hearts in Jesus. (Phil. 4:4-9) Paul told us to even rejoice in our sufferings! (Rom. 5:3-5) Joy and peace are two unmistakable fruits that bear witness to one who is filled with the glory of God and lives in his presence.
In a sermon on worship, Ravi Z said that for the Christian, joy is central and sorrow is peripheral but for the atheist, sorrow is central and joy is peripheral. This is a reference to how our eyes see. What is in our focused field of vision is what has our attention. What is in our peripheral vision has our awareness but not our attention.
I have found such meaning in all these truths. My thinking only makes sense when he is the subject. The storms of my emotions are only quieted by crying out to and praising him. My senses and emotions are intensified as I discover his presence in everything; the sound of my son’s laughter, the smell of the spring air, the taste of good food, the pleasure of good conversation, compassion for the suffering, compulsion for sharing all that I have and am that others may know he whom I know.
Knowing about God is not enough to inspire worship. Like C. S. Lewis said, it is not enough that we see the sun, for it is by its light we see everything else. When we die to ourselves and live as Christ, no matter how dark it is in the world, the darkness is limited to our peripheral vision since we bathe in and are focused on the light of the gospel. We also become sources of light to those lost in darkness, giving sight to those who have eyes and desire to see. Such is the satisfaction of the glory of God, the giddy pleasure of the joy and peace that passes all understanding from knowing and being known by almighty God as a result of the gospel.
Anne, my dear, precious wife just made me aware of the Miss California fiasco. I must take some time today to read about the situation. I am not surprised, as I know you are not either. THe world is shrewd, cruel and ruthless. The world’s perspective is based on a humanistic, relativistic approach to life — “what is true for you might not be true for me.” Then, when someone draws a moral line in the sand, that person is pillaged mercilessly. Thanks for commenting. You bless me.
Wonderful quote from Jonathan Edwards, thanks to you Pastor Ryan.
And as one reads through it several times one observes that we as a people have a whole backwards approach to worshipping God. If one is not mistaken; you, Pastor Ryan, once pointed out that we do not initiate worship, God does. Worship is not for us, worship is for, to and all about God. And even as much as we get from honestly subjecting ourselves to Him in worship we cannot allow what we get to be why we worship. That is a hard thing for most people. How many times have we observed people who in learning how to worship God begin to try and use that knowledge and process to get what they want or think they need? Keeping one’s selfish sin nature in check is a full time job. It happens slowly and methodically and most are not even aware it is happening because of Christian buzz words they use and while they sound holy; are in truth about them and not God. Worship of God is His doing and we merely get to participate as he unction’s us through His Spirit. Praise God!
I, too, read and heard about the Miss California episode, Anne. She is now incurring the wrath of a world that claims they want us to be tolerant of them and their ways and yet have no tolerance for anything associated with God. How typically self centered. No surprise at all………
Free Indeed it is good to see you posting again!
Soli Deo Gloria!
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