The Christian life is a constant stream of highs and lows. Sometimes we soar high in the mountains, but more often we find ourselves languishing in deep valleys. At least I do.
All the following observations are, once again, fully indebted to Ian Hamilton’s book “The Gospel-Shaped Life.” In a previous chapter, Hamilton discussed the relationship between “The Obedience of Faith and “Gospel Works.” And, no, we are not saved by our works.
The next chapter is titled “Ups and Downs: The Erratic Nature of the Gospel-Shaped Life.” He observes that the Christian life is full of “extraordinary ‘highs'” and “unsettling ‘lows'” and that this is something which young Christians are unprepared for.
Yet Hamilton observes that God’s Word is clear that our spiritual good requires that we experience the dark valleys, as well as the soaring mountain tops. He notes:
This is why reading constantly in the Psalms is such a healthy and sobering experience for the child of God. There we encounter faith at its purest, most ardent, most perplexed, most humbled, and most exhilarating.
Regarding this theme, Hamilton comments on John Owen‘s thoughts:
“…just as ‘the growth of plants is not by a constant insensible process…but…by sudden gusts and motions’, so ‘the growth of believers consists principally in some intense vigorous actings of grace on great occasions’.
Hamilton adds that the Lord is pleased not to give us steady, uninterrupted growth in grace. He wants us to cry out to Him, to wait on Him, to seek His face (often in trials), before He “grants us to grow in likeness to the Saviour.” This is to humble us and make us dependant on God alone.
We’re told that Owen urges us to search our hearts if we appear to be regressing in holiness – self examination in the light of God’s grace in Christ is vital. Without this we can “drift into spiritual presumption and self-deception.” On the other hand Owen reassures us that the conditions where “decays” are found” may not necessarily indicate a lack of “sincere holiness.”
Finally, Hamilton’s “main concern” is to counsel us to “do one thing – read the Psalms.” He writes:
Read them daily. Be constantly refreshed, humbled and reassured by them. Learn the shape of the life of faith – not least to guard you from being beguiled by the temptation to seek shortcuts to holiness…reading the Psalms will not leave you content with the state of your Christian life. They will unsettle you, as well as encourage you. They will lift you into the heights, but at times draw you into the depths…See yourself in the Psalms…more importantly see Christ there, leading you onwards and upwards…
Maranatha!
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