845. HEB 12:3. ARGUMENTS AGAINST BEING WEARY IN CHRIST’S CAUSE

Heb_12:3. Arguments Against Being Weary in Christ’s Cause

"For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds."’97Heb_12:3.

The Apostle has been speaking of the Christian race, and giving directions for its successful accomplishment. Having urged to it by the most weighty considerations, he then follows it up by presenting to the mind the example of the Redeemer, in order to prevent Christians from being wearied and faint in their minds.

Christ is to be our exemplar and model in all things. In the spirit of devotion we are to cherish towards God; in the spirit of self-government as it respects ourselves; in the spirit of goodness we are to cherish towards our fellowmen. And we are to keep him before our eyes, that we may be constant in duty, persevering in our course, and faithful to all the claims of conscience and God.

As all the follower’s of Jesus are liable to discouragement, and may tire and even faint in their heavenly course, it is important that they should fortify their minds by the considerations the text presents.

Observe then,

I. The evil deprecated’97

Being "wearied and faint in your minds."

II. The remedy suggested’97

"Consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself."

I. The evil deprecated.

"Lest ye be weaned and faint in your minds."

The text supposes the Christian course may be long and trying, and often be connected with various discouragements and opposition. There are various things which may produce this weariness.

It may arise,

1. From a partially sanctified nature being engaged in the service.

Not so angels and glorified spirits; their nature and service are in continual harmony. It is their very life and joy to serve God. How different it is with us! We have to contend with the remains of the carnal heart, that is selfish, proud, indolent, and earthly. Often when we would do good, evil is present with us, and our moral nature, through its frailties and weaknesses, has to be impelled and constrained by various influences in the way of obedience and devotedness to God. How often do we cleave to the dust! How often is the mind dark, the heart cold, and the spirit lethargic; and thus we are in danger of wearying, and being faint in our minds.

In addition,

2. Then there are the inevitable duties which appertain to this life.

Toil for the bread that perisheth’97family cares’97business anxieties. Now these secular things are in themselves lawful, and they must be diligently attended to. But often it is difficult to give them their proper place, and their due proportion of solicitude and time. It is not easy always to keep the world out of the heart.

And yet these earthly tendencies clog the soul’97keep it in an unhealthy atmosphere’97produce weariness of spirit’97choke the good seed, and not unfrequently lead to an open renunciation of the way of life. Demas forsook Christ, having loved the present evil world; and myriads have thus made shipwreck of faith and a good conscience.

What need there is of vigilance and devotedness to spiritual exercises, to keep the soul in a right and healthy state! And lawful things address us so plausibly, and they can present so many apparently reasonable claims.

3. Then there are the various temptations to which we are exposed.

Some of these from the world; some from Satan. All kinds of attractions, and at all seasons. An incessant moral warfare is thus kept up. Our spiritual enemies are legion, and we are ever exposed to their malignant opposition.

Hence, the warnings and admonitions of the divine word. Hence, also, the numerous directions given to vigilance, to heroism, and to the use of the whole armor of God. "Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand, therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints."’97Eph_6:13-18.

4. Then there are often the reproaches and persecutions of men.

Hence the offence of the cross still continues. Evil men are yet haters of spiritual religion, and sometimes these are found among our friends and relations.

Jesus most fully warned his disciples on this subject. He distinctly averred, that parents should betray and persecute their children, and children their parents; and that often a man’s foes would be those of his own household. And it has been so in all ages, and in all countries of the world. The spiritual and the devoutly pious must endure in some form the oppression and hatred of the world. Hence Christ stated, "they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name’s sake. And it shall turn to you for a testimony. Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist. And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake."’97Luk_21:12-17.

Now, human nature instinctively shrinks from pain, and distress, and suffering; and therefore, when these become the allotment of Christians, they are often tempted to be weary in the Saviour’s cause.

5. Then there are also the troubles and afflictions of life.

Bodily infirmities and maladies. "Many are the afflictions of the righteous." Jacob, Job, David, Asaph, Hezekiah, and many others have left their experience in the sabred pages, showing us that "man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward."

And the connection between body and mind is so close, and the influence of one upon the other so powerful, that depression of spirits, and even despondency, is often the result of physical maladies.

Happy will it be for Christians thus suffering, when they shall view this subject calmly and philosophically. For it would be as reasonable to expect melody from a bruised musical reed or pipe, as to expect joy and hope, in many instances, when the whole frame is prostrated by physical disease and mental suffering. Here are natural causes producing natural results, and to the prevention of which miraculous interposition will be essential.

Many of God’s most spiritual children have suffered thus in their heavenward pilgrimage in the desert, and have been in danger of wearying and becoming faint in their minds. To these we add,

6. Gloomy forebodings of the future.

Fears within; often as to the things of this life; gloomy fears concerning death, judgment, eternity. Fears about the reality of their conversion and acceptance with God. Fears that they would perish by their enemies, or be swallowed up in the swellings of Jordan.

It is unnecessary to show how these things tend to make the mind weary and faint. Of Israel it is said, "The soul of the people was discouraged because of the way." So Paul speaks, when describing their trials and sorrows, "For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life: but we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God, which raiseth the dead."’972Co_1:8, 2Co_1:9. "We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. So then death worketh in us, but life in you."’972Co_4:8-12.

Now, having looked at the dark side of the cloud’97the evil deprecated’97let us consider,

II. The remedy suggested.

That is the consideration of Jesus. In 2Co_4:2, we are called to look to Jesus. But the text urges more than that; it is consideration, and the pondering over the circumstances of Christ’s life.

1. Consider what Christ endured.

"The contradiction of. sinners." Their opposition to his person, mission, and work; and this opposition was general, continued, vile, bitter, &c. Think of the names they called him, and the aspersions they cast on him. How they leagued him with devils, and how they scorned, reviled, and treated him with every indignity, and at last with wicked hands took him and put him to death. Well may we exclaim:

"O Lamb of God, was ever grief,

Was ever pain like thine!"

The bitter opposition Jesus encountered began with his ministry; for in the chapter that records his entering the synagogue, and reading the Messianic declarations of Isaiah, and applying them to himself, there we also read, that the Jews were filled with wrath, "and rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their, city was built, that they might cast him down headlong. But he, passing through the midst of them, went his way."’97Luk_4:29, Luk_4:30.

And this bitter enmity to Christ followed him during the whole course of his work and life on earth, and even assailed him in base and vile invectives as he was expiring on the cross.

2. Consider the dignity and excellence of Him, who endured all this.

It was God’s Son, the Messiah, the Holy One, the lovely Jesus, the Friend of sinners, the embodiment of goodness, pity, and love to our world. Remember, too, his delicacy of sense and feeling, and the rude and vile insults he bore. For just in proportion to this holy sensitiveness must Christ have felt the most inexpressible agony in the midst of the sorrows and griefs which he endured.

3. Think of the spirit and temper in which he endured it.

Well may we inquire how did he hear it? And we then have to request your attention to his meekness and gentleness, his resignation, patience, fortitude, and perseverance. He wearied not, fainted not; held on his course. He finished the work he came to do; and in his deep agony in the garden, he feared, and prayed, and was delivered from that fear. "Who, in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared."’97Heb_5:7.

He fully justified the predictions of Isaiah the prophet, who had intimated seven hundred years before, that the Messiah should be oppressed and afflicted, yet he should not open his mouth, but be "brought as a lamb to the slaughter; and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth." And so Peter speaks of the Saviour’s gracious spirit, and gentle disposition, and says, "who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously."’971Pe_2:23.

4. Consider the ends for which Christ suffered all this.

No doubt his chief aim was to glorify his Father, and to save the world. But in the troubles of his life he came to be an example to his afflicted people. He has thus left his own patient life as a model for our imitation. Now observe this is the great point of the text. Consider Jesus, and imitate him; possess his spirit, and follow his steps. When poor and in adversity, consider Jesus, hungry and weary, and having nowhere to lay his head. When despised and persecuted, consider Jesus as assailed and vilified. When tempted, think of his terrible conflict with the powers of darkness, both in the desert and on the cross.

Now, as Christians we are bound to consider Jesus, who is our avowed master, and to labor to possess his blessed spirit, and walk in the course which he has left for all who would be participants of his eternal joy and glory.

Let these considerations,

(1.) Lead you to humility of spirit. What are you compared to Jesus? What your sufferings, and what your trials compared to his?

Let it,

(2.) Lead you to cheerful resignation. There is a needs be for these things; and the very letter of the contract is, we must suffer with Christ if we would reign with him.

Let it lead,

(3.) To fortitude. Not to grow weary; not to become faint. What will that do for you? You will lose all you have gained, and all you have expected. You must be faithful unto death, if you would receive the crown of life.

Let it lead,

(4.) To prayer. Thus Jesus sanctified his own lot of trials and afflictions; the deeper the anguish, and he prayed the more earnestly.

Then consider,

Finally, the glorious results. "But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor."’97Heb_2:9. And so shall it be with his faithful servants.

"Who suffer with our Master here,

We shall before his face appear,

And by his side sit down;

To patient faith the prize is sure;

And all that to the end endure

The cross, shall wear the crown.

Thrice blessed, bliss-inspiring hope!

It lifts the fainting spirit up;

It brings to life the dead;

Our conflicts here shall soon be past,

And you and I ascend at last,

Triumphant with our Head."

Then, in conclusion,

Let the text reconcile us to the crosses and sorrows of this life.

Let it cheer us on our way to the better land.

Sinners ought to weary and faint. They have a bad service’97dark prospects; and the wages of sin will be everlasting death.

Autor: JABEZ BURNS