How far have we come?

We’re all familiar with the Apostle’s charge in 1Cor 11.1, “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” It’s a call to follow him in so far as he follows Christ. He actually says the same thing in several places. E.g. “Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us,” (Phil 3.17). The Epistle to the Hebrews echoes this sentiment with, “[be] imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises,” (6.12); and with “Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith,” (13.7). Today I’d like to introduce you to a Christian brother worthy of imitation…

One of the books I purposed to read on my sabbatical is The Lives of Philip & Matthew Henry. I owe a shout-out to my friend Simon Padbury for this. I visited him in Stockton-on-Tees in the UK in Sept 2012 and well remember him telling me, in the midst of commenting on books for which he had a casual affinity, “I’ll never part with that one.” I thought to myself, “Is it really that good? If it’s that good, I should definitely read it.” Well, I’ve finally gotten around to reading it and can’t recommend it highly enough. I’ve only completed the half on Philip, Matthew Henry’s father, but it is a treasure trove full of both wisdom and exemplary conduct.

Matthew, who wrote the biography of his father, beautifully weaves nuggets of godly wisdom into the narrative so that there’s much to glean along the way. But what struck me most of all was the narrative itself. Philip was truly a godly man who lived an exemplary life in every way. He was ejected from his pulpit in 1662, less than 10 years after his ordination, making his full-on pastoral ministry surprisingly short. And though he enjoyed some liberties to preach regularly towards the end of his life before his death in 1696, it was how he spent those interim decades that was so striking.

Being unable to do the good he would, he did the good he could. He faithfully attended upon the worship of God and sat weekly under the ministry of the Word. He never refused to avail himself of the means of grace, even when the sermon was poor or the minister ill-suited for the task. He loved his enemies and did them such good that they said the way to make him your friend was to wrong him. He never spoke ill of any man, but prayed for all men. He never complained of the straits into which the Lord placed him and kept him for so many years. Though he felt himself to be buried alive (having a heart to do so much for God but being unable to hardly do anything beyond his own family), he contentedly did all that the Lord enabled him to do. He suffered much and yet always overcame evil with good. He hated a party spirit, avoided needless controversy, and gave himself to preaching Christ as the all in all.

For an example, consider how a minister spoke of him after his death, “He was a pattern for ministers, excelling in the knowledge of the Scriptures, which made this man of God perfect, and industrious to advance the honour of Jesus Christ, whom he made the Alpha and Omega of his religion; not addicted to controversies, but walking in the good old way; unwearied in the work of God; it was the delight of his heart to be laying out himself for the good of souls. Exemplary for humility…. Eminent for family religion.” Another man said that Philip Henry “lived the greatest example of sincere godliness, with prudence and sweetness of temper, of any I ever knew.” And yet another said of him that he was, “a man of so much prudence, and withal so much sincerity, of so good a temper, so much a gentleman, and yet of such strict piety and devotedness to God, that I scarce ever knew his fellow.”

I’ve been greatly inspired by the account of Philip Henry and agree with my friend Simon that I’ll never part with it. Not simply because there is so much in it worthy of imitation for me as a Christian, father, husband, and pastor, but because it serves as a sobering testimony that I’ve hardly begun the race.

I should be far more pious than I am. Is this all the distance I’ve traveled in piety after 30 years of knowing Christ as Lord!? Have I preached so much to so many and still stumble over the threshold myself?

I should love and serve my wife more than I do. After 26 years of marriage am I still so selfish and impatient with the weaker vessel!? Have I learned so little from Christ, who so graciously husbands me, that I’m not yet a better husband than I am?

I should be a better father than I am. How much of my parenting has been confined to what pleased me and to what I found easy to do? How much of my parenting has been merely a matter of duty and lacked a real love for my children? How much of my fatherly duties have been a burden to me and were carried out begrudgingly?

I have so very far to go as a pastor if I’m to fulfill my high calling. So many duties neglected. So much time wasted. So much yet to do. So little time left. What account can I give for the years past? How much of my work will prove to be wood, hay, and stubble? How little is of silver, gold, and precious stones? Men may be fooled but Christ will not be.

I’m ashamed of how much there is in my life which needs repentance. And yet, blessed be God, while sin is my bane, it shall not be my ruin. For while the account of Philip Henry showed me how far short I fall of where I should be, it also showed me where sinners can go for cleansing, for renewal, for grace, for growth. Jesus Christ is my Refuge as well as my Sun and Shield. He is my Part and Portion, my Help and Friend. In Him I find both forgiveness for what is behind me and grace for what is before me.

It’s humbling to realize that I’ve not come as far as I thought; but it’s encouraging to realize that He is able to bring me further still. To Him must I look, on Him must I rest, upon Him must I feed, and in Him must I be found. All is well, all will be well, for those whose all in all is Jesus.

How far have you come? Can you see how far you have yet to go? What will you do about it in the short time you have left?