603. NEH 6:3. NO CESSATION OF THE GREAT WORK
Neh_6:3. No Cessation of the Great Work
"Why should the work cease?"’97Neh_6:3.
Nehemiah was engaged in building the dilapidated walls of Zion. To this work he was called of God, and for its execution he was qualified from on high. But, during its progress, he had to contend with many difficulties. He had to encounter hostile foes; he had to resist the craft of secret opponents; and he had to contend with the formality of professed friends. He was possessed with a most magnanimous spirit, and he nobly persevered.
To some solicitations to discuss the engagements on which he had entered, he replied, "I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down." And then said, in the language of the text, "Why should the work cease?"
As Christians, we are connected with a greater work than that of Nehemiah’97the work of building the spiritual temple of God, and the evangelization of the world. This work is God’s work of saving men, and extending his glorious kingdom in the world’97the work of true and vital religion; and which is designed to overthrow the kingdom of darkness, and fill the whole earth with the Divine glory.
Now, this work has been set up in our world from the announcement of the first promise of mercy to our fallen parents. It has been identified with all ages and dispensations. Like a golden thread, it ran through all the families of the pious antediluvians, and through all the godly tribes of Israel. It was exhibited among all the patriotic and devout, during the long line of prophets. It burst forth with peculiar energy during the labors of the Baptist. It shone with meridian splendor in Judea, during the labors of the Redeemer. It went forth with irresistible power in the apostolic age; and has been handed down to us, and is living and blessing men wherever the evangelical truths of the gospel are known. In reference to this work we intend to apply the text, and ask’97"Why should the work cease?" We shall,
I. Assign some reasons why this work should not cease.
II. Show the interest and concern we should manifest in it.
I. Assign some reasons why this work should not cease.
1. Because of its moral grandeur. Every work of God is grand in itself. Every department is so; but not all in equal degree. The work of saving souls is the most exalted and the greatest of all the Divine works. As such, it occupies a preeminence in the sacred volume. As such, God is represented as being especially interested in it. It is the work of God’s arm, and the work of his heart. He spoke the universe into being; but to save men there were councils, covenants, dispensations, promises, oaths, blood!
This work deeply interests and powerfully agitates the three worlds. It is a work which includes all time, and equally all eternity: surely such a work should not cease!
2. Because of its gracious character. We might assent to the cessation of displays of mere power. We should rejoice in the cessation of exhibitions of judgment and wrath. We hail the subsiding of the waters of the deluge; we hail the termination of the plagues of Egypt; we hail the ceasing of the storm, the rumblings of the earthquake, the descent of the fiery lava. We rejoice when the sword of war finds its peaceful scabbard. But the work of God is one of grace’97of favor to guilty man’97compassion to the ungodly’97mercy to the wretched. This work announces eyesight to the blind, health to the diseased, liberty to the captive, riches to the poor, joy to the mourner, salvation to the lost, heaven to the guilty. The emblem of this work is the rainbow, spanning our world with its arch of peace and mercy. So long as there is one unsaved sinner this work should not cease.
3. Because of its elevating influences. This work is one of emphatic exaltation. It humanizes the savage; intellectualizes the ignorant; purifies the unholy; and subordinates the animal man to mind, and to moral power. It ennobles its possessor, it lifts up "out of the mire and clay," &c. It transforms the thorn into a figtree, the lion to a lamb, the vulture into a dove, the sinner into a saint, the curse into a blessing. It is this work that has exalted our little sea-girt isle to be the glory of all lands, and the spiritual Goshen of the world.
4. Because as this work progresses the work of hell and Satan declines. If this work of light cease, darkness will prevail. If this work of truth cease, error will abound. If this work of liberty cease, tyranny and oppression and slavery will be extended. If this work of purity cease, corruption and profligacy will triumph. If this work of heaven cease, then death and hell will have the accursed ascendency.
5. Because of its comprehensive and benevolent designs. The religion of the cross is destined to be the religion of the world.
(1.) It is adapted to the world, and nowhere does it refuse to thrive. It is for man’97man everywhere’97in every condition, and of every color and tongue.
(2.) It is sent to the world: not to this city or country alone, but for the world. "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature," Mar_16:15. It is to be preached among all nations, &c.
(3.) It is to be succeeded by the setting up of the reign of universal righteousness, peace, and blessedness. As yet, little has been done for the great mass of our species. As yet, how much has to be done in our world! Read the annals of savage ferocity, gross idolatry, and pagan cruelty in distant lands; and the fearful accounts of crime, ignorance, and irreligion at home. Do we not, then, deprecate the idea that "the work should cease?" If we desire its continuance and progress, notice,
II. The interest and concern we should manifest in this work.
It may be said this is the work of truth, and must live; of God, and must prevail; of holiness, and must spread: so it is. But there are certain things connected with it worthy of especial observation.
1. That though it is a Divine work, yet it is connected with human instrumentality. God could carry on this work by miraculous power; but, it is not his will to do so. He has set up an instrumentality for the accomplishment of the object. That instrumentality is his church. (1.) The church, by its ministers, deacons, and members. (2.) The church in its ordinances, means, and influence. (3.) The church, by its example, truth, and compassion.’97By these the work is to be sustained, perpetuated, diffused. God will effect his counsels by, and through, and not without these. Then the church must know its duty, feel its responsibility, and discharge its energies rightly, if the work is not to cease.
2. Though the work must progress generally, it may cease partially. This work once flourished in Jerusalem, in Ephesus, in Corinth, in Antioch, in Rome, &c. It once flourished in Italy, Arabia, and Samaria. How fearfully has it ceased in many of these places’97ceased for ages upon ages! So we see it, in reference to towns and churches in our own land. How many sanctuaries, scattered through the land, in which the pure doctrines of the cross were once proclaimed; where our puritan fathers lived and labored’97where crowded auditories of holy men were being trained for immortality: but another gospel now echoes from those pulpits. The congregation, in most instances, have been scattered, and "Ichabod" written on their walls’97the glory is departed.
We doubt not the general progress of the truth, but locally and partially it may cease. Then our concern and labor must be that the work cease not in our own churches and neighborhoods, or we lose the power of conveying the tidings of salvation to the distant heathen. And however groat the obligations to send the gospel abroad’97Home must not be forgotten. It must be our anxiety, labor, and prayer, that both in this, and other lands, the work may not cease.
3. That the work may flourish around us, it is indispensable that it should prosper within us. The real prosperity of a church is the true spiritual prosperity of each member. If each one is religiously advancing, then the work is going on. It will give us the interest, the desire, and the power of usefulness. By the spiritual prosperity of each, the whole have a moral influence which the world cannot resist: let each be truly the Lord’s, and every one will labor for the general work.
(1.) There will be no apathy in the church, for a sleeping church cannot awaken the world.
(2.) There will be no formalism in the church, for a formal church cannot spiritualize a locality.
(3.) There will be no indolence in the church, for an idle church cannot do God’s arduous and difficult work.
(4.) There will be no covetousness in the church; for covetousness is the freezing of the waters’97the icebergs that interrupt the vessel of mercy on her voyage of salvation.
4. That the work may not cease, a spirit of glowing zeal and activity must animate every department of the church. Zeal and diligence and self-denial, like that of Nehemiah. Let those who occupy the temples of Zion as her watchmen, "Cry aloud," &c. "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine," 2Ti_4:2. Let them immolate their entire selves on the altar of the Saviour’s service. Let those who are the spiritual judges in Israel’97who serve tables, and assist in the oversight and rule in the church’97be men of uncompromising fidelity, burning ardor, and Christian affection. Let fathers and mothers in Israel cherish a praying and fervid spirit of consecratedness to the institutions of religion; cherish a delightful attachment to those means which will extend the kingdom of the Lord Jesus, both at home and abroad.
Let every member be a worker’97"Labor" must be the watchword of Zion; "Activity" her motto; "Zeal" her spirit; "Truth" her ammunition; and clad in the habiliments of
"love," she must go forth with her illustrious Head "conquering, and to conquer," Rev_6:2.
Application
1. Who are for the work going on? More and more’97more than ever, &c. Who are ready’97willing’97able? "Who will come to the help of the Lord?" &c., Jdg_5:23.
2. Think of your obligations to God and his people. Let gratitude, filial piety, &c. If the work had ceased forty years ago, you would have been unenlightened, unsaved, &c. How much you owe to the work!
3. Think of the day in which we live. Unprecedented for activity, and liberal and benevolent institutions. Then shall the work cease in this day? in this country? in Christ’s church? Oh no! The vote, the declaration, the vow is’97"It shall not cease!"
Finally’97What are you doing that the work may not cease? Review your exertions and influence for the last twelve months. In what sphere? to what extent? Put it down on paper: compare it with the labors of prophets, apostles, &c. With those of your forefathers. With those of some around you. Ask, "If all did just so much and no more, would it succeed, or cease?" Do this with the light of eternal things surrounding you’97with the day of judgment in prospect; and so do it, as God will do it, when he shall examine every one of you, and render to all "according to their works," Rev_20:13.
Autor: JABEZ BURNS