christian living

Tradition has it that this letter from Jonathon Edwards to his future wife, Sarah, was written in 1723. This would have put Sarah Pierpont at age 13, and Jonathan Edwards, at 20 years of age. Although they were not married until 1727, Jonathan was clearly smitten by young Sarah.

The letter spoke volumes to me (and convicted me deeply) about the heart of a virtuous woman who loves her Lord. Is my heart stricken with this kind of devotion to Jesus? Am I transferring this undying devotion to my children? Are my daughters smitten with Him because of my example?

“They say there is a young lady in [New Haven] who is beloved of that almighty Being, who made and rules the world, and that there are certain seasons in which this great Being, in some way or other invisible, comes to her and fills her mind with exceeding sweet delight, and that she hardly cares for anything, except to meditate on him–that she expects after a while to be received up where he is, to be raised out of the world and caught up into heaven; being assured that he loves her too well to let her remain at a distance from him always. There she is to dwell with him, and to be ravished with his love, favor and delight, forever.

Therefore, if you present all the world before her, with the richest of its treasures, she disregards it and cares not for it, and is unmindful of any pain or affliction. She has a strange sweetness in her mind, and sweetness of temper, uncommon purity in her affections; is most just and praiseworthy in all her actions; and you could not persuade her to do anything thought wrong or sinful, if you would give her all the world, lest she should offend this great Being.

She is of a wonderful sweetness, calmness and universal benevolence of mind; especially after those times in which this great God has manifested himself to her mind. She will sometimes go about, singing sweetly, from place to [place]; and seems to be always full of joy and pleasure, and no one knows for what. She loves to be alone, and to wander in the fields and on the mountains, and seems to have someone invisible always conversing with her.”

(Addendum…the quote below if from Richard Abanes from Crosswalk, not Jennie. Jennie’s article is the link at the bottom.)

Speaking of Jennie, she wrote an excellent article I just had to post, as I see this topic a very serious one that needs to be addressed head on. One we all must be very careful with, no matter which end we are on.

Should we be surprised when even those who claim Christianity call us “cult members” for obeying Scripture (piggy-backing on the last post)? They accused Jesus of being demon-possessed. That’s even worse.

And should we be surprised at a culture who continues to be deceived by the very same lie Satan approached Eve with in the garden?

Think about it…”Has God indeed said?” That was the deceiving question that stumbled all of humanity, and continues to today. “Does God’s Word really mean that?”

Eve thought it was a question worthy of consideration, and the offer Satan gave her was too delicious to resist. “You can become like God.” She fell for one thing…..POWER.

It’s the same thing that still draws us. “I can be strong on my own…doing my thing…interpreting truth to stroke my feelings.”

Read Ezekial, Jeremiah–the lamentations of God in the OT. “My people, whom I have loved, have turned away from me, have followed after the idols of their hearts, followed their own wisdom, and have forsaken my Word.”

We continue the same idolatry and call it “freedom”.

And Satan is there, in the ear all the time…”Has God indeed said?”

And Eve felt that power for a short, sweet moment…”the eyes of both of them were opened…”

And then the pain of the fall.

That death that ensued the moment Eve was deceived was not only a physical death for the human race. It was a constant death of the natural man and God knew it would be our sole struggle. We all struggle to die to flesh. It’s part of the curse–the way it is. We cannot just decide to stop dying and indulge our flesh. Not an option for the believer.

What is that thing we question, “Has God indeed said?” Am I trying to get out from under the life of a dying-to-live disciple? Am I squirming to be comfortable?

We are called to life, not comfort, specifically. We are called to living sacrifice. And that paradoxical sacrifice requires proverbial bloodshed, pain and death. The shedding of “me” so that He might be made visible. Glorified. Less of me is more of Him. Delight in that.