Just
another new year?
In one sense the
change for one year to another (in our present case from 2011 to 2012)
is fairly arbitrary. It is one day on a calendar. Yet it has a
significance all of its own. Not least, it should prompt reflection
over the past and consideration over the future. This is especially so
for the Lord’s people as regards the cause of God and truth. What
of this new year? Is it just
going to come and go? Or will it be characterised by marked blessing
from God? In a word: will God revive
his work?
Without any doubt, the work of God needs reviving (certainly in our own
land). For a start, we have gone a long while without seeing one. And
consider the evidence. Iniquity abounds. Landmarks are being removed.
Morality declines. Evil is called good, and good is called evil.
Restraints are absent – everyone does what seems right in their
own eyes and pleases themselves. There is a lack of power attending the
preaching of the Word of God and a lack of confidence in the unashamed
preaching of the gospel. There is often a poor spiritual appetite among
the people of God. True conviction of sin is lacking, as is zeal for
the glory of God. Church and world often become barely distinguishable.
The Saviour’s presence is not duly prized. Appalling ignorance of
the gospel is found. The Lord’s Day is desecrated and his moral
law is flouted. Heaven and hell are dismissed. God’s past rich
blessings to church and nation are forgotten. Where is the broken
spirit and the contrite heart?
We thrill to read of the swift progress of the gospel in the time of
the apostles. It is a joy to read accounts of revivals that have taken
place in different parts of the world down the centuries. Indeed, one
of the leading characteristics of a true revival is how God does so
very much in (often) such a short time. Amazing advances happen. His
church is both revived and reformed. Many press into the kingdom. The
entire face of society is changed, even in respect of those who have
not themselves been converted. According to one estimate, during the
season of revival on both sides of the Atlantic in 1857-9, half a
million souls joined the Protestant churches of America; 100,000 the
churches in Ulster; and 50,000 the churches in Wales. One Northern
Ireland minister testified: ‘It were worth ten thousand ages in
obscurity and reproach to be permitted to creep forth at the expiration
of that time, and engage in the glorious work of the last six months of
1859’.
Yet with our joy is the heartache as we consider the low state of
things at present. So what should we do? Grieve, certainly, that our
God is so dishonoured and (we sometimes feel) so absent. But grieving
on its own is not sufficient. One of the most significant ways in which
the Lord proceeds to revive his work (it is his work) is by stirring (or, as
one has put it, exciting) his
people to pray. Prayer and revival are most mysteriously connected, in
that while true revival is altogether the work of God (it cannot be
‘got up’ from below, it must be ‘got down’ from
above), yet again and again prayer precedes revival and revival follows
prayer.
Are we praying? Are we praying and not fainting? Are we praying and
expecting? ‘Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down,
that the mountains might quake at your presence’ (Isaiah 64:1).
‘Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in
you?’ (Psalm 85:6). ‘You who are enthroned upon the
cherubim, shine forth’ (Psalm 80:1). ‘Let us go at once to
entreat the favour of the LORD and to seek the LORD of hosts; I myself
am going’ (Zechariah 8:21).
