LONDON
(3) Donald Burr
These words have just come to me in relation to what has been said already and in relation to some small acquaintance with our beloved departed brother. I think those of us who knew something of him would be able to refer to him as a man of God. What it is publicly in circumstances that are around us for men to strive to be men of the world, but the world, beloved, is ruined, as Moses was able to convince Pharaoh's bondmen in saying, "Dost thou not yet know that Egypt is ruined", Exod 10: 7. What it is to a man of God in the midst of those circumstances of ruin! One thing that might be in view as a result of this occasion is that more men of God might appear to stand in the present course of things against the rising tide of evil and corruption. I think that is what God is looking for. Understandably when it says "man of God" it is not excluding women: it is that character of uprightness and strength and reliability and steadfastness that is looked for in men and women. So there is a line of material things to flee from, and there is a line of positive spiritual things to be pursued. We can say that our brother knew what it was to pursue these things - righteousness, piety, faith, love - he knew too what it was to endure, and certainly expressed features of the Spirit.
The good conflict of faith is not an easy matter, it is not something that comes to us readily, but the injunction is given to "Strive earnestly in the good conflict of faith". I think what the Lord would desire to see as a result of one pious and faithful generation passing is that there might be the evidence of a new generation that would "Strive earnestly in the good conflict of faith". So we are to "Lay hold of eternal life, to which thou hast been called". It is one thing to be called, how blessed to recognise God's sovereign rights and to respond in some measure to the call, but there is the need of laying hold of eternal life, something that in its practical effects and responsibilities easily escapes us. So we are required to lay hold of eternal life.
God is the One who preserves, and we are thankful for every one here who has been preserved in some measure of the knowledge of God in faithfulness to His claims, but it goes on in the next epistle to speak of those who love His appearing. I trust we are here today, a company of persons who love the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is not far off when the Lord, the One who is publicly in rejection, is going to take up His rights and reign in righteousness. Well, "until"; none of us knows what that "until" involves, none of us knows how long it is, but we are called upon to "keep the commandment... until". Not merely have in view that wonderful appearing, but may we be committed to maintain the true Christian profession and confession for the rest of our time, however long or short it may be. Our brother has died, and He has died in the Lord. "Blessed the dead who die in the Lord from henceforth", Rev 14: 13. Beloved, if the Lord does not come for us (some of us no doubt will yet be called into death), may it be said of all such that they died in the Lord and receive the blessing that results from it. Well, may we be exercised that the evidence and reality of men of God and women of God might appear, might be in evidence, and that we each might be among them, for His Name's sake.
3 February 1994