Jonathan Edwards

Right now I am reading a book called The Life and Diary of David Brainerd (http://www.amazon.com/Life-Diary-David-Brainerd/dp/0801009766). Since Jonathan Edwards edited the book, they added a small biography of his life at the beginning of the work. Yesterday, while I was reading his biography, I was struck by two words that carried on throughout the life of Jonathan Edwards. These are they:

1. Duty
2. Death

Jonathan Edwards was very certain that his life was meant to be lived out dutifully. He sought to judge every action he undertook to that standard; he wanted to make sure he fulfilled the duties God had laid before him in life.

Edwards was also very aware of death. Reading through his seventy resolutions, I was amazed at how many times he brought himself to remember the frailty of life. He sought to act in a way that would please God if he were to die at the next moment.

One of his diary entries struck out at me. On the 22 of February, many years ago, he wrote the following:

"I observe, that there are some evil habits which do increase and grow
stronger, even in some good people, as they grow older; habits that much
obscure the beauty of Christianity; some things which are according to their
natural temper, which, in some measure, prevails when they are young in
Christ, and, the evil disposition having an unobserved control, the habit at
last grows very strong, and commonly regulates the practice until death. By
this means, old Christians are very commonly, in some respects, more
unreasonable than those who are young. I am afraid of contracting such
habits, particularly of grudging to give, and to do, and of procrastinating."

When I read the three things that he was afraid of being liable to do, I had to agree. Those are struggles for me as well. I love to give, but when it becomes a sacrifice; an act of faith to give, I often wain and a battle in my heart begins. I am so often lazy with my time. I procrastinate in the simple duties surrounding my life, and the large ones surrounding my future.

God doesn't want that for us. He wants us to be dedicated to Him.

I need to cut down everything in my way that holds me back from running to Him. I need to realize how fleeting my life is. I need to realize my duty. I need to give, do, and be diligent.