by Pastor John Kim
Greetings to the LBC family and friends!
Jonathan Edwards Resolution #44
Resolved, that no other end but religion, shall have any influence at all on any of my actions; and that no action shall be, in the least circumstance, any otherwise than the religious end will carry it. (January 12, 1723)
The idea of religion to Jonathan Edwards means a lot more than what it means today. For many, the very term “religion” is not something that is seen in a positive light. In fact, for many it is nothing but a moralistic system based on some sort of beliefs that a group will claim makes them distinct from others. For Edwards, religion was more than just a bunch of rules. It was the very heart and soul of what he defined as the Christian faith, which to him was the full embodiment of both principle and practice, of truth and life, of the great end to which God created the world, that is for His glory.
As many of his writings make clear, Edwards was so concerned about the glory of God that there truly was no other influence in his life on all of his life. Every action in every part of his life, no matter how small it was, was carried out in light of its ultimate purpose. 1 Corinthians 10:31 was the defining verse of his philosophy of life, that even in his eating and drinking (as seen in his resolutions) were to be to the glory of God.
There is no other end, no other ultimate purpose or goal that should influence our lives than our Christian faith. Our worldview should have God as the centerpoint, defining all things in relation to His character and His purposes. This should have ramifications on every part of life, so much so that every moment we live should be seen as an act of worship to bring God glory.
While it is obviously something that no one accomplishes perfectly in this life, it does not mean that we should not strive to pursue this kind of resolution in everything that we do. So whether in our studies or in the workplace, whether at home or with friends, whether at church or in the marketplace, with Christians or non-Christians, we should always have this question in mind – “How will God truly be glorified in this situation?” We must not think that this is unreasonable, especially if we would say that we are Christians. We have been bought with a price. We are called to glorify God with our very bodies (1 Corinthians 6:20).
It is a sad reality that too many Christians show a tremendous lack of appreciation for the transcendence of the glory of God to permeate every part of their life. We create the sacred versus the secular distinctions that really don’t exist for the Christian because all of life is a sacred opportunity to bring God glory. Do not exchange the glory of God for the mudpies of this world. Life is a precious moment by moment opportunity to have the glory of God be at stake – it is truly an exhilirating way to look at life. We are not to be bound by the mundane agendas of this world that are so temporary. We have been freed to experience the superabounding grace of God which is new each day.
Don’t let other short-sighted and ultimately failing agendas of the world prevail over your life. Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33). Fulfill the Great Commandment to love God and people (Matthew 22:37-40). Pursue the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) and see life in a whole different way. You won’t regret it.
In His grace,
Pastor John