April 10: A JEWEL FROM THE SANCTUARY
“He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is also unjust in much.” Luke 16:10
Having been ordained to ministry in the church of England, John Wesley lacked peace. Through personal Bible study, he sought to gain a clearer understanding of the faith. Having been taught to depend upon his own good works for salvation, the contrast with Biblical truth was eye-opening! Joyfully, he entered into a lively faith, trusting fully in the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! (John 1:29) Now, his good works flowed from the wellspring of life!
An essential aspect of Christianity soon became very clear to him: witnessing of Jesus to others. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 15:16) Now that John Wesley understood that good works are the outflowing of faith, he understood that Jesus’s disciples went about doing good [works], just as the Master had done (Acts 10:38), as they told the world of Him. Faithfully, John Wesley and his brother Charles accepted the call to teach their hearers to share the glad tidings of the Savior’s love with everyone who would listen! This practice contrasted dramatically with the established church’s mandate that only ordained priests were to speak about religious matters.
The purposeful focus on witnessing to the Light of Life became to them as natural as breathing. Jesus had said of Himself, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12) — and also, “You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14). In essence, the Wesleys initiated a restoration of the golden seven-branch candlestick of the sanctuary through their obedience to the call of witnessing and teaching others to openly share their faith.
The Wesleys were ridiculed by other Christians for their belief in personal witnessing and also for their position regarding the law of God: “There is perfect harmony between the law & the gospel…the closest connection that can be conceived. On the one hand, the law continually makes way for, and points us to, the gospel; on the other, the gospel leads us to a more exact fulfilling of the law. We lay hold of these glad tidings, and it is done according to our faith: the righteousness of the law is fulfilled in us through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”
Beloved, every discovery of a jewel in the treasure trove of Scripture is something to celebrate and share. We are to remain faithful to the Holy Spirit’s revelation and call regardless of ridicule, or even the threat of death. Steadfast endurance is essential as God’s people hand out priceless gems of God’s love and salvation to anyone willing to receive them. Jesus said, “he who endures to the end shall be saved” (Matthew 24:13).
There were those in the jeering crowd at the crucifixion of Jesus who later gave their hearts to Him. The Wesleys and others like them (whose names God knows), held tightly to their faith, knowing that among those who ridiculed or threatened were potential future citizens of the kingdom of heaven. Let us be about our Father’s business as we look forward in faith to the fulfillment of John the Revelator’s heavenly vision:
…a great multitude which no one could number… clothed with white robes… Revelation 7:9