PASTOR’S PERSPECTIVE: “So I Have Believed…Here I Plant My Foot!”
By: Ron Woodrum
Most of us know about the fame and the spiritual impact of John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement. But we do not always hear much about the impact of his brother Charles. We probably know relatively little about his hymn-writing brother. Listen to what Professor David Lyle Jeffrey, in a biographical account of Charles Wesley, says of him:
“…his spiritual character was luminous, and communicated itself immediately to those who came into conversation with him. William Wilberforce…was captivated by Charles. He met him in 1786 in the house of Hannah More, and his later recollection of that encounter reveals something of the special presence of this unusual man-‘when I came into the room Charles Wesley rose from the table, and coming forward to me, gave me solemnly his blessing. I was scarcely ever more affected. Such was the effect of his manner and appearance that it altogether overset me, and I burst into tears, unable to restrain myself’ ”
That encounter affected him for the rest of his life, for the cause of Christ! That effect, only greatly magnified, was true of Wesley’s Master Jesus Christ. That is exactly what Jesus expected of those who responded to the call to “follow Him”. He expected a life-time commitment. He expected a total life commitment. That is what the writer of the Book of Hebrews had in mind as he challenged a second-generation of believers to run the Christian race by focusing on Jesus, the “author and finisher of our faith” ( initiator of our race and the finisher of our race) who for the prize that was set before Him, endured His cross, despising the shame, (but finishing His race). The only way we can run our race to the finish, is to fix our eyes on Him, looking to Him, and away from everyone and everything else, (meaning of the Greek word translated “looking unto” -aphorizo). (Heb. 12:1-4). As followers of Him, our race will take us to a cross as well! Jesus said the disciple is not greater than His master. If He endured a cross-so must we! That is why he said,”If anyone will come after me let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me”…all the way to the end! (Luke 9:23). “Whoever does not bear his cross and come after me, cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:27); “is not worthy of me” (Mt. 10:38). That is why the author of Hebrews reminds them to follow until they have “resisted unto blood” (12:4)…something they had not yet done, but must be willing to do, as genuine followers of the Jesus of Calvary!
When asked what he wanted to be when he grew up, Henry David Thoreau answered “unanimous!”. That is what Christ expects of us. Undivided loyalty to Him even if the path of following Him takes us to “the cross!” Anne Morrow Lindberg spoke about such focus when she wrote: “It is more basically how to remain whole in the midst of the distractions of life; how to remain balanced, no matter what centrifugal forces pull one off center; how to remain strong, no matter what shocks come in at the periphery and tend to crack the hub of the wheel.” The cross keeps us centered-undistracted. On focus. Unanimous. Some unknown author wrote, “You, as a followr of Jesus, are bound to a cross. I beg you not to struggle. The more lovingly the cross is carried by the soul, the lighter it becomes”. That is commitment. Loving commitment! That commitment should define us as Christians, followers of Jesus Christ. Paul Tournier had that in mind when he wrote, in Seasons of Life, “there are few special moments that count for more than all the rest because they mean taking a stand, a self-commitment, a decisive choice. It is commitment that creates the person. It is by commitment that man is revealed!”
One of the greatest works of literature is the Novel by Charlotte Bronte, Jane Eyre. In that book Jane Eyre is about to fulfill her greatest desire-to marry the man she loves-Edward Rochester. But it is revealed to her that he cannot marry her because he is still married to someone else…(it’s a long story). He tries to explain…but finally pleads with her to come and live with him in France, disregarding what the rest of the world thinks! All of Jane’s life she has dreamed of such a love. Rochester’s pleadings are almost irresistable. Only the memory, the vision, the ideals, only what she had covenanted in her soul saved her; but save her it did. Her response is one of the shining words in all of literature:
“I care for myself. The more solitary, the more friendless, the more unstained I am the more I will respect myself. I will keep the law given by God; sanctioned by man. I will hold the principles received by me when I was sane and not mad, (in love), as I am now. Laws and principles are not for the time when there are no temptations; they are for such moments as this; when body and soul rise in mutiny against their rigor. Stringent they are; inviolate they shall be. If at my individual conscience I could break them, what would be their worth-SO I HAVE ALWAYS BELIEVED AND IF I CANNOT BELIEVE IT NOW, IT IS BECAUSE I AM INSANE; WITH MY VEINS RUNNING FIRE, AND MY HEART BEATING FASTER THAN I CAN COUNT THE THROBS. HERE I PLANT MY FOOT!” Wow! there is commitment. There it is…”so I have believed…and here I plant my foot!” That is the follower”s commitment. That is what Luther said, when he was told to recant or die. His response was…”Here I stand…I can do no other. God help me!” That is the kind of commitment that honors our Saviour. That is the kind of commitment He is looking for today in His followers. We are willing to follow Him…but all the way? Even if it leads to our own personal cross? Our own Via Dolorosa? Our own Calvary? No other commitment is worthy of Him. That is why the hymn writer asked-“Must Jesus Bear the Cross alone? And all the world go free? No there’s a cross for everyone! Yes there’s a cross for me!” And for you! Can you and I be unanimous and bear our cross?
That is why Amy Carmichael asked:
Hast thou no scar?
No hidden scar on foot or side or hand?
I hear thee sung as mighty in the land,
I hear them hail thy bright ascendant star;
Hast thou no scar?
Hast thou no wound?
Yet, I was wounded by the archers spent,
Leaned Me against the tree to die, and rent
By ravening beasts that compassed Me, I swooned:
Hast thou no wound?
No wound, no scar?
Yes, as the Master shall the servant be,
And pierced are the feet that follow Me;
But thine are whole, can he have followed far?
Who has no wound? Who has no scar?
How far have you followed? Your hands and feet will tell…