Delight in God, our essential Armament (Part One)
By Jay Wegter
Introduction:
In the temptation of Christ in the wilderness we see how extensive the devil’s ‘bait’ actually is: “And the devil said to Him, ‘I will give You all this domain and its glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I give it to whomever I wish’” (Lu 4:6). To ‘gain the whole world’ and lose one’s soul is an incalculable loss. “Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?’” (Mt 16:24-26).
The evil one studies the hearts of men; he has a dossier so to speak, on every person—he knows each man’s price. And he has the optimism that he can make a hypocrite, or even an apostate out of any professor of religion (Job 1:11). The darkening work of the devil involves capturing people with the allure of created things. Church-goers are not exempt, for ‘religious’ lovers of this world live as if they may have the promises of this world and yet retain their eternal souls.
When our Lord speaks of the terms of discipleship, including the narrowness of the narrow way (Mt 7:13-14), He exposes this deception that one may keep his sin and have heaven too. For, He states that if you love your life in this world, you will lose it eternally (Jn 12:25). Countless church-goers do not have Christ as their highest pleasure. Their supreme source of delight is in created things. Delight in God is not a sidebar issue, it is inseparable from what one actually worships and regards as true treasure. It’s no exaggeration to say that the identity of your highest treasure reveals the location of your eternal destiny (see the Kingdom parables, of the treasure in a field Mt 13:44, and the pearl merchant Mt 13:45-46).
In the book Doctor Faustus by Christopher Marlowe (a contemporary of Shakespeare), the devil makes the offer, “Sell your soul to me for eternity and I will give you your earthly desires.”ⁱ Giving up the pleasures of God in exchange for the pleasures of this world is a modern pre-occupation states author Mark Shaw. The hypocrite’s ‘trinity’ is wealth, earthly pleasure, and fame. Pursuit of delight in God is the essential key to breaking the hold of Faustianism in our churches and unleashing a new spirit of true worship.ⁱⁱ Notes Mark Shaw, make no mistake, there is a religious ‘Faustian bargain’ which will sink countless church members into eternal perdition. Only a genuine believer has been persuaded as to the infinite value of his soul as established by Christ (Mt 16:26).
Delight in God is the sum of holy living
Richard Baxter’s great idea is that our worship of God is at its best when our delight in God is at its height. Delighting in God is the sum and center of holy living; it is the only powerful destroyer of the Faustian spirit.ⁱⁱⁱ Delighting in God may be the central work of our lives, it arms us against the assault of our spiritual enemies. God commands us to take delight in Himself. Delight in the Lord, be glad in Him (see Ps 32:11; Ps 37:4; Ps 67:4).ⁱᵛ Pursuing delight in the Lord is necessary in order to live righteously before God. For, holy delight adjoined to love is the principle part of the Christian religion. States Richard Baxter, living for earthly pleasures ends in misery, which brings remorse that we did not prefer ‘holy durable delights’ (i.e. unending satisfaction in God).ᵛ Redemption in Christ recovers that great purpose of God, for He created you to spend eternity glorifying Him by enjoying Him forever.ᵛⁱ
Puritan Richard Baxter asked important questions about delighting in God.
1) Are love for God and self-love compatible? We should always be suspicious of carnal self-love, since it is the fortress or burrow of sin, for our lower nature pretends to be our best friend. But, is there a kind of self-love that is consistent with loving God? Yes! For it is not a sin to love God for ourselves and for our own happiness. Not that we treat God as a means to happiness but rather as our absolutely ultimate end and goal of our existence. 2) Is God most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him? Yes. Delight in God is a solid, rational satisfaction of the soul in God and holiness arising from the perception of that in Him, which is justly delectable to us.ᵛⁱⁱ Every Christian needs to dwell long and often on the theme of Christ’s love and to drink deeply from the cup of that salvation (Ps 116:13). And, why is that so? It is because we need to enjoy the sanctified and sanctifying emotions which an experience of the love of Christ gives us.ᵛⁱⁱⁱ The glory of Christ is a savor that satisfies the soul. Spiritually blinded persons are not ravished in soul by the historical facts of Jesus’ life. Edwards described this soul-satisfying savor as: “The true sense of the divine excellency of the things revealed in the Word of God and a conviction of the truth and reality of them thence arising.” But, this is what people do not have by nature. For, they are blind to the spiritual beauty, treasure, and supremacy of Christ. The spiritually blind consider the facts of the gospel, but see no compelling beauty or treasure, nothing supremely precious, no true sense of the divine excellency of the things revealed in the Word of God. The gospel is God’s instrument to liberate people from their satanically induced blindness.
There is an infinite difference between an opinion of God as holy and gracious, and a sense of assurance of God’s loveliness, beauty, holiness, and grace. This is mere rational sense versus the heart being sensible to, and taking pleasure in, and relishing in who God is (Edwards). It is a matter of knowledge versus light, for spiritual sense gives access to an exquisite array of His perfections. This objective light is not experience divorced from Scripture, for there is real historic passion in the events of the cross, in the proclamation of O.T. messianic prophecies which the disciples and the Apostles proclaimed.ⁱˣ
Our Delight in God is mediated by Christ
If Christ is your treasure, your hearts will be set upon Him. This is a true evidence of saving faith. Christians, if you would have a sure testimony of the love of God, and a sure proof of your title to glory, then labor to get your hearts on Christ. Look on Jesus and you may be sure that Christ will acknowledge that you really love Him when He sees your heart is set upon Him. Consider that a thorough sight of Christ will increase your outward joy in Christ (Jn 8:56). It’s no surprise that your Christian walk is uncomfortable if you have never tried this art of Christ contemplation (Heb 12:2ff.). How can you have comfort from Christ if you seldom think of Christ? Even the created things in the world which gladden you, do so because you remember them and think upon them. Look up unto Jesus, fix your eyes, thoughts, and hearts on Him who is blessed and then you may expect David’s experience, “My mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips when I remember Thee upon my bed and meditate upon Thee in the night watches” (Ps 63:5-6).ˣ
Isaac Ambrose continues his counsel to believers: ‘perhaps you complain of spiritual dullness, that you cannot love Christ, nor rejoice for His love for you’. And you say of your dullness that you have no vitality in prayer, nor in any other Christian duty. And, yet you have never tried this quickening course of action of ‘looking unto Jesus’. And, when you did try it, you were careless and inconsistent. What is the root cause of your own complaints? Is not your life hidden with Christ in God (Col 3:3)? That is true of every believer, but you must go to Christ to enjoy that. Would you have more of the grace that flows from Christ? Then why do you not spend time with Christ for that grace?
Looking unto Jesus is how we fetch a glowing coal from this altar—it is how we keep close to the reviving fire so that our affections are warmed (I. Ambrose). If there be any comfort of hope, flames of love, life of faith, and spiritual vigor and motions toward God and meltings which soften the heart, they flow from looking unto Jesus (Heb 12:2). Believers are apt to bewail their lack of desire, hope, joy and faith and love to Jesus, all the while it is looking unto Jesus that would nourish all of these! Consider that it is a command of Christ that we should look to Jesus (1 Cor 11:24-25).ˣⁱ
There are dangers in not making delight in God one’s chief end
Delight in the Lord is not crass emotion, for our affections are the mainspring of all human action. God has made delight and satisfaction the most powerful commanding affection of the soul, for there is no one who does not desire delight. Delight is the most universal and most fundamental habit of the heart. Consider that the commands to praise, rejoice, and delight in God are frequent in Scripture.ˣⁱⁱ
There are consequences to not delighting in God—a spiritual wasteland will result if one is indifferent to the call to delight in God. I will displease God if I do not experience Him as my highest delight. My talk of God will be heartless, forced speech since my conversation is driven by duty more than delight. I will be quick to complain about my circumstances and to quarrel with other Christians because I am dissatisfied with my life (Phil 2:14-15). I will suffer greater temptations because I am not filled with the delights of God. It will make the pleasures of sin all the more attractive.ˣⁱⁱⁱ
The believer is in spiritual danger if he allows himself to go over any length of time without tasting the love of Christ and savoring the felt comforts of the Savior’s presence. When Christ ceases to fill the heart with satisfaction, our souls will go in silent search of other lovers. The soul is so constituted that it craves fulfillment from things outside of self; and will embrace earthly joys for satisfaction when it cannot reach spiritual ones.ˣⁱᵛ By way of contemporary example, consider how widespread the use of pornography is among professing Christians. Victory over it is not found in layers of accountability structures, or in filters, but in a ‘sight’ of the enthralling vision of the all-satisfying Christ. There is no true salvation where the final goal and good of the gospel is not savored, for that treasure is a captivating vision of the all-satisfying Christ. Spiritual battles are fought and won mainly at the level of spirit sight. All successful battles with the world’s values are won at the level of spiritual desire, and spiritual seeing.ˣᵛ
From that ‘secret place’, there may be joy unspeakable, an impression of Christ’s love on the heart which is unforgettable. There is however the real possibility in every Christian that he will learn to live at a distance from the love of Christ. Our corruption works in us, a constant tendency to withdraw from Christ into the shadows. Believers go days, even months without the experience of Christ’s love, and become strangers to the inward enjoyment of it in their hearts. The soul grows callous. Layers of worldliness like coats of old paint spread over the soul until we are accustomed to feel nothing, enjoy nothing, expect nothing of those heart warmings which are all important to our spiritual well-being. From this state, believers fall into dead formalism, going through the motions in heartless religion. We are surrounded by a thousand things which dull the edge of our spirituality. But, what does the Lord require of us? He commands us to be alert (1 Pet 5:8). He knows what is best, so He insists we abide in Him (Jn 15:4; 1 Jn 2:28). Time spent with God is the highway to fresh vision and to new triumphs.ˣᵛⁱ
There is no higher priority in the Christian life than to delight oneself in the love of Christ. But, if we are not resolute, our circumstances tend to crowd out the sense of Christ’s love. We allow ourselves to be pressurized into a false perspective (i.e. walking by sight, see 2 Cor 5:4-10; Ps 73). The author of Psalm 73 was Asaph, he was in danger of becoming bitter, cynical, and envious of the wicked. His eyes were on his circumstances. And he began to stray from his affection toward the Lord. By God’s grace Asaph recovers his true treasure perspective in the Lord (Ps 73:23-28). What we may learn from this Psalm, as well as from our periodic deadness, is that the Lord Jesus will hide Himself from us when we do not genuinely desire Him. When we cease to value His communion and fellowship, He may withdraw His felt presence from us. When He detects in us a careless indifference toward His love and grace, He absents Himself from us for a time until we realize what we have done. . . and until we then seek Him earnestly again.ˣᵛⁱⁱ
Our Lord has told us that what we regard as our treasure will govern the commitment and loyalty of our hearts (Mt 6:19-21). The ultimate affinities of one’s heart cannot be concealed indefinitely. People observe your life—they make inferences from your life. Do they see Jesus as more valuable than anything? Most in Christianity ‘coast’ into worldliness, they don’t ask, “how can everything in my life make Christ more valuable than all else?” A day is coming in which the entire creation—the whole cosmos, from animals to star systems, from fish to trees, will all give vent to the worthiness of Christ, the King of kings (Rev 4:8-11; 5:), that is what the coming Kingdom and glory actually means (Piper).ˣᵛⁱⁱⁱ Those who cherish and delight in the glory of Christ are now by faith beholding that glory and delighting in it (2 Cor 3:18; 1 Pet 1:6-9).
Overcoming obstacles to delighting in God
How may I overcome obstacles to delighting in God? Isaac Ambrose (1591-1664) states: ‘rouse your soul and believe thine interests in those eternal transactions between God and Christ (Jn 6:37-40)(your election, the covenant of redemption, etc.) Think upon God’s eternal plan to give you to Christ and to save you in particular (Eph 5:25-27). Is there not here ground enough for thy faith? Oh poor soul, consider that even Christ Himself from all eternity has engaged for thee that though shalt believe; for He purchased your calling, your regeneration, your justification, sanctification, and glorification (Rom 8:29-30; 1 Cor 1:30). Do not by your weak faith challenge Christ in His engagement on your behalf by forgetting the gospel. Believe until you come up to this fullness of persuasion of God’s love to you in Christ. We love because He first loved us, thus, who is righteous but he who returns the love of God with love again to Him? (1 Jn 4:19). Consider that this returned love is never done except the Holy Spirit reveals to a person God’s eternal purpose concerning his future salvation.ˣⁱˣ
Countless Christians stagger at the thought of the eternal Lord stooping to save them. They reason, “Is it likely that Christ became incarnate for me?” “Should He do such a thing for a sinful abominable wretch as I am?” Three things can hinder that faith.
1) The exceeding sense of the unworthiness of the soul. What king would dethrone himself to rescue a traitor? Would a king become a toad to save toads? For, I am a greater distance from God than a toad is from me. Is not my sin more ugly to God than a warty toad is to me? I am more fit for hell and devils than for union and communion with God and Christ. Therefore, I dare not believe. 2) God’s justice is infinite and exact and must be satisfied. I stand guilty and deserve eternal death. My debt is immeasurable. The least of my sins deserve the wages of eternal damnation. The rigor of His Law has exposed every evil thought and intent of my heart. How then can I entertain thoughts of His love and mercy to me? 3) My own conscience accuses me; its justice will have its due. How then should I believe? God’s court will justly find me to be a reprobate sinner deserving of torments without end. Shall a perfect mediator stand between my vileness and a holy God? I cannot believe, there is no room for faith in my case.ˣˣ Here are the helps of faith in this sad condition of doubt blocking delight in God.
- God is pleased to overlook the unworthiness of His creatures. This is very plain in the very act of His incarnation. For, the Son of God does not distain to become a poor creature and wear their flesh and become like a man in all ways except for sin (Heb 2:17).
- Consider that God satisfies His own justice by setting up Christ who is justice itself. In Him, mercy and truth have met together. Righteousness and peace have kissed each other and the fruit of this is the fullness of free grace and merit (Ps 85:10). Our nature lay in rags, unable to save its own life. But, God made flesh is what took place in order to bring forth the greatest designs of God (Titus 1:1-3; Rev 13:8). The infinite exactness of God’s justice was satisfied when righteousness and peace met in Christ (Rom 3:25-26).
- Consider that Christ has been set up to become our Mediator (1 Tim 2:5). He became incarnate in order accomplish our reconciliation. The Son of God united Himself with our flesh in order to reconcile our poor souls. God takes our human nature and joins it to His Son, and calls that Christ a Savior who in our nature transacted our peace. In this, Christ is fullness, righteousness, love, and affection. And, by the sinner’s first acts of faith, we have immediate union and communion with Him. Faith must go directly to Christ. All of God’s promises to the elect are through Christ—flowing from Him (Is 55:3).ˣˣⁱ “This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him”
(Eph 3:11-12). Oh, with what boldness may our souls draw near to God! Why are you estranged poor soul? Why do you stand afar off? Of whom are you afraid? Look once more and do not be discouraged. God has not come down in fire, nor descended in the armor of justice in everlasting burning. No, He is clothed with the garments of flesh and sweetly desires to converse with thee through His glorified human nature.
The heart of Christ toward His own speaks thus: “poor souls, I will pardon your sins by mine own prerogative, I made the Law and I will satisfy it (Gal 2:19).” “Fear not, I have the keys of life and death” (Rev 1:17-18). “And, upon My word you shall not perish” (Jn 10:28-29). I know you are stumbling and asking what shall become of infinite justice. Shall that justice be dishonored to save my soul? (Rom 3:25). But, to remove all controversies, God has worked a miracle of mercy. He has come down in the flesh. He has come as the price! He Himself paid according to the demands of His own justice and righteousness (Heb 10:10, 14). All this is done. Now He offers Himself unto your soul. Why should you fear to cast yourself upon God? In spite of your vileness, God Himself offers to lead you by the hand, and to remove all your doubts. For, He has placed an all-sufficient price in the hands of justice to stop her mouth. Do you fear coming to God? Come to Christ who took on our flesh to save us (Heb 2:14-15). He calls to you in your trembling heart, let His open arms and wounded side slay your unbelief that you may marvel at His glorious designs (1 Pet 1:20).ˣˣⁱⁱ
There are manifold benefits to delighting in God
What are the specific benefits of delighting in God? 1) Greater assurance of my salvation. For, delight in God proves that I know Him and love Him. 2) Stronger resistance to materialism, so as not to be corrupted by prosperity. 3) Greater peace in my times of trial. For, delight in God is a continual feast which may sweeten all the crosses of my life. 4) A more alert and alive mind allowing me to profit from sermons, books, and Scripture because in seeking to delight in God, my mind is awake to every idea which can fuel my passion for delight. 5) A greater joy in my work. For, delight lifts me from the burden of labor to be focused on the thought of God (Ps 149:4). 6) An increase in my joy in just about everything else. For, delight in God sanctifies creature delights, putting them in their proper place so that they do not become idolatrous or corrupt.ˣˣⁱⁱⁱ
The glory of God is seen and savored in the Gospel so clearly, that it breaks the power of Satan. Christ’s allure is more powerful than the enticements of evil one. The sweetness of Christ crucified is more compelling than the seductions of Satan.ˣˣⁱᵛ We war by means of worship, for it is the valuing of God which is joy in God. The person who deals immediately with Christ (in faith, petition, and meditation), will accomplish more in a day than another does in a year. Therefore, states Isaac Ambrose, I call looking unto Jesus a choice, a complete and high gospel ordinance with ample benefits (Heb 12:2). Looking unto Jesus is an act which includes all of these postures and attitudes of soul: knowing, considering, desiring, hoping, believing, loving, enjoying, and conforming to Jesus. Fixing our eyes on Jesus is such a look as stirs up our affections of heart, and thus affects all of life. It is such a look as leaves a quickening and enlivening upon the Spirit. It works into us warm affections, higher resolve, and a holy and upright walk (Is 45:24; Is 65:1; Mic 7:7; Jn 3:15; Phil 3:20; 2 Cor 3:18; Heb 12:2-3).ˣˣᵛ
Looking unto Jesus so as to delight in Him will maintain your communion with Him. Is that not worthwhile? Communion with Christ touches the very edges of heaven. Looking unto Him allows us to enjoy His person and all the sweet relations He bears toward His people. It yields all the saving fruits, privileges, and influences of His death and resurrection. How happy it is to maintain a reciprocal communication between Christ and our souls! (Song of Songs 2:4, 17; 7:10). When we commune with Him who bore our sins, we receive His healing from our doubts, fears, and corruptions.
He took upon Himself our unrighteousness that we might be clothed in His righteousness (2 Cor 5:21). He endured pains for us that we might come to Him and receive His rest for our souls (Heb 4:9-13;1 Pet 2:24; 3:18). He embraced our curse and condemnation that we might embrace His blessing, justification, and salvation (Gal 3:13). If he hides His face by desertions, do not rest until you find Him, then hold Him fast, do not let Him go, and do not drive Him out of your heart by wallowing in your corruptions (Jude 20-21). By practicing and dwelling upon the above, you will prize the presence of Christ, and in so doing will maintain and increase your communion with Christ.ˣˣᵛⁱ
End Notes:
i Mark Shaw, Ten Great Ideas from Church History, A Decision-maker’s Guide to Shaping your Church, “A Vision for Worship”
(Downers Grove: IVP Il 60515, 1997) 93
ii Ibid, pp. 94-95
iii Ibid, 96, 99
iv John Piper, The Dangerous Duty of Delight, (Colorado Springs: Multnomah Books, 2001) 12, 14
v Shaw, p. 101
vi Piper, The Dangerous Duty of Delight, p. 20
vii Shaw, p. 100
viii Maurice Roberts, Thought of God, (Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth Trust, 1993) 70-71
ix John Piper, God is the Gospel, (Wheaton, Il: Crossway Books, 2005) 62, 64
x Isaac Ambrose, Looking unto Jesus, (Harrison, VA: Sprinkle Publications, 1986) 40
xi Ibid, p. 41
xii Shaw, p. 101
xiii Ibid, p. 102
xiv Maurice Roberts, p. 57
xv Piper, God is the Gospel, pp. 168-169
xvi Maurice Roberts, pp. 63, 65
xvii Ibid, pp. 69, 101
xviii John Piper, “Desiring God Conference,” Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, 2009
xix Ambrose, p. 82
xx Ibid, p. 206
xxi Ibid, p. 207
xxii Ibid, pp. 210-211
xxiii Shaw, pp. 102-103
xxiv Piper, God is the Gospel, p. 114
xxv Ambrose, pp. 28-29
xxvi Ibid, p. 39