802. JOH 9:4. DILIGENT WORKING
Joh_9:4. Diligent Working
"I must work the works of him that sent me while it is day; the night cometh when no man can work."’97Joh_9:4.
These are. the words of the Lord Jesus, in reference to his own personal ministry and work. The Lord Jesus was not only an example of holiness, goodness, and benevolence’97but also of diligence, activity, and perseverance. He had a divine and perfect mind. He had all miraculous influences at his command. All resources were to him available, yet he felt the pressure of duties so much upon him, that he had no time to trifle away, but exclaimed, "I must work," &c. How completely was the spirit of these lines exemplified in his arduous and suffering life! He went about doing good; he never wearied, but with ceaseless zeal and diligence accomplished all that his Father had given him to do. His life and work ended together, when he cried with a loud voice, "It, is finished! and gave up the ghost." Now, brethren, let us apply these words to you, and to the great duties which devolve upon you. Let us consider,
I. The work which God has given you to perform.
It is the work which God calls you to do; the work, which you must do, if you answer the end of your creation, and if the designs of redeeming love are answered with respect to you. Now this work is not the pursuit of the things of this world; not the pursuit of its riches or honors; and not the pursuit of learning or mere mental improvement. And yet all these are proper when they are considered as subordinate things. God is willing that you should be diligent in business; he is willing that you should enjoy the esteem and approbation of the great and good; he is willing that you increase in all knowledge, &c. None of these are despicable things, but they are secondary; and you may succeed in all these, and yet neither glorify God, be happy in this life, or be fit for a future state. This is a direct and specific work, which God calls upon you to perform; in one word, this is the work of religion. The work of personal, scriptural, and relative religion. The work of which Christ is the blessed and perfect example. Now let me direct you to four distinct yet united branches of this work.
1. There is the work of repentance.
If sin is an evil thing, deserving of punishment, and we are personally guilty, it must be repented of. We ought to feel extreme sorrow for it; we ought to confess and deplore it; we ought to renounce and forsake it. Repentance is a necessary, essential work; God enjoins it upon all people. "Except ye repent," &c.
2. There is the work of faith in Jesus Christ.
1Jn_3:23, "And this is his commandment, that we should believe on the name of his Son, Jesus Christ." Now it is this faith in Christ which brings us to the enjoyment of forgiveness of all past sin. "Be it known unto you men," &c. Here is God’s grace, that he does not require merit or price, but faith in Christ, the one blessed Mediator between himself and us.
3. Work of obedience to the Lord.
If ye have received the Lord Jesus Christ, so walk in him, &c. "This is the love of God, that we keep his commandments," &c. We are to serve the Lord Jesus Christ’97living according to the rule he has given.
4. The work of benevolence to our fellowmen.
Man is not to live only for himself; not to seek entirely his own things, but the good of others. Society is connected by the links of mutual dependence. We are to love our neighbors, &c. To do good to all. This was Christ’s chief work. This is the noblest and happiest work of the Christian. No Christian can possibly be exempt from this work; all have gifts and means to lay out. Time, wealth, influence, all must be expended for God. Look at the world’97what ignorance, depravity, misery, &c.; what poverty, affliction, and distress! Think of the widow and the fatherless. Look either at home or abroad. Look at the Church’97what is to be done there? Work for every Christian; every good man should have his heart full, his hands full, his life full. Such, then, is the work. Consider,
II. The period specified for its accomplishment.
"While it is called today."
1. The day is a period of manifestation. The sun is risen’97all things are manifest.
Such is our day. The Sun of righteousness has arisen upon our world. Not is pagan gloom, &c. You know your duty. The days of ignorance are fled, &c.
2. A day is a very circumscribed period. A few hours bound it; dissimilar in length; some very short. They vary from a midsummer’s day to the short day of winter. So the difference of human life.
3. A day speedily passes over.
So the day of life. What is your life? There is the morning, how quickly that flies! and midday’97afternoon’97and evening soon arrives.
4. The day is succeeded by the darkness of night.
"The night cometh," &c. It may be, (1.) The night of bodily affliction. Or, (2.) The night of infirm old age. Or, (3.) The night of death. The night cometh; every hour it draws nearer.
Application
1. Who are fully living in the spirit of the text? Go on.
2. Who only partially? Bestir yourselves, &c.
3. Who entirely neglecting it? Oh! awake.
4. Let the groans of the afflicted and languishing arouse us to the spirit of diligent working.
5. From the sepulchres of our deceased friends, the voice of admonition is heard: "Work," &c.
Autor: JABEZ BURNS