Adoniram Anniversary
I won't have time to post tomorrow, so briefly, I want to pay homage to my all time hero of the faith outside of those faithful men of the Bible, Adoniram Judson. Tomorrow, April 12, is the 156th anniversary of Adoniram's death. Never has a man outside of Scripture impacted me such as his life and his death. The debt I owe to this man is indescribable, so much so that to try and post my thoughts on him would be petty and in vain.
As usual, Piper says it best. It was at this pastors conference where I heard Pastor Piper speak that the Holy Spirit overwhelmingly convicted me that I was to die to self, and obediently serve in a distant land:
We celebrate his death because of His life.
As usual, Piper says it best. It was at this pastors conference where I heard Pastor Piper speak that the Holy Spirit overwhelmingly convicted me that I was to die to self, and obediently serve in a distant land:
Life is fleeting, brothers. In a very short time we will all give an account before Jesus Christ, not only as to how well we have shepherded our flock, but how well we have obeyed the command to make disciples of all nations.
Many of the peoples of the world are without any indigenous Christian movement today. Christ is not enthroned there, his grace is unknown there, and people are perishing with no access to the gospel. Most of these hopeless peoples do not want you to come. At least they think they don't. They are hostile to Christian missions. Today this is the final frontier. And the Lord still says, "Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. . . . some of you they will put to death. You will be hated by all for my name's sake. But not a hair of your head will perish" (Matthew 10:16; Luke 21:16-18).
Are you sure that God wants you to be a pastor in this comparatively church-saturated land? Or might he be calling you to fill up what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ, to fall like a grain of wheat into some distant ground and die, to hate your life in this world and so to keep it forever and bear much fruit?
Judson wrote to missionary candidates in 1832:
"Remember, a large proportion of those who come out on a mission to the East die within five years after leaving their native land. Walk softly, therefore; death is narrowly watching your steps."
The question, brothers, is not whether we will die, but whether we will die in a way that bears much fruit.
We celebrate his death because of His life.
