An Unlikely Hero

A Story Leading to a Story

About seven years ago, I met a young lady by the name of Kahlie Tomplait (who is now my wife of nearly four years)! It was through Kahlie that I had my spiritual interest kindled. This led to me reading the Bible, attending church, and attending a small campus ministry at Faulkner State Community College. Through all this, the Lord caused me to be born again to a living hope by the powerful working of the Spirit of God through faith in Jesus Christ (1 Pet. 1:3; Jn. 3:4-8; Eph. 2:8).

And with that new birth I became a new creation. During this time I was an infant in Christ. I had very little Bible literacy, very little understanding of biblical theology, very little understanding of the person of Jesus, and very little understanding of almost everything else pertaining to the Christian religion. Thankfully, during this time Kahlie did not want to date me due to my pride and haughty spirit. This was significant because it led me to being single minded in my pursuit of the things of God.

Then about six months later, Kahlie moved back to Texas while I remained in Alabama. Three months after that, Kahlie and I began dating. Our relationship was long distance which showed how gracious God was because a long distance relationship is exactly what both of us needed in order to be conformed further into the image of Christ.

As we continued to date, we understood the importance of dating with the purpose of pursuing marriage. We, however, were very much ignorant of the ins and outs of dating, pursuing marriage, biblical marriage, biblical manhood, and biblical womanhood. With this being so, we sought out resources to help us get educated on these things so that we could have the mind of Christ.

A Quest for a Devotional

This led my friend and I to go to Lifeway Christian Bookstore to look for resources for Kahlie and I to grow spiritually. I was going to get her a resource on what Christian dating looked like. Now you must keep in mind that I did not know who or what to read. I just knew that Lifeway Christian Bookstore was the Barnes and Noble for Christians!

So there I was in Lifeway looking for resources. And if you know anything about the book selections in Lifeway, especially book selections on Christian dating, then you know that they have some really good stuff.........and some really bad stuff. They have material that will prove to be very edifying, but they also have material that could prove to be spiritually detrimental. So I was in a sea of stuff that claims to be Christian literature on dating with very little discernment. What is a young man to do?

A Question to Get Guidance

Well, I did what somebody with little knowledge on dating, marriage, and everything else is suppose to do. I asked for guidance. However, as providence would have it, I did not ask for guidance from the staff workers at Lifeway (though they may have proved to be helpful). Rather, I asked an older lady that was just roaming around the store. I do not remember her name or appearance. I do remember bits of our conversation though.

I told her I was looking for a helpful resource to give to Kahlie regarding Christian dating and marriage. She specifically pointed me to a book titled Lady in Waiting. So I picked it up and was ready to make the purchase.

(I have no idea if Lady in Waiting is a good book at all. So I am not recommending it. This is just how the story goes).

I then asked her if there was anything that she would recommend that I buy for myself.

An Unexpected Answer

She said she would help me look. We were walking around Lifeway together. This seasoned saint was taking me past Joel Osteen and other prosperity preachers saying that they were no good. She took me by others and told me that they were weak theologically. I knew about ole Joel and the prosperity gospel. However, I did not know much about something being weak theologically because I was weak theologically!

Then she brought me to the spiritual classics section at Lifeway. Little did I know, this was a treasure chest of invaluable resources within the Lifeway book store. Here you find giants from church history that contributed a great deal to the advancement of the name of Christ. This section is filled with both men and women that faithfully lived and died for the glory of God.

And she was talking like she knew some of these men. I imagined I listened intently as though I knew who she was talking about, but in all honesty I did not know much. The older lady looked through the classics genuinely interested in picking out a book that would be beneficial for my soul. Then, at last, she came across a book she recommended to me. It was titled Morning and Evening by Charles Haddon Spurgeon. 

An Introduction to a Hero

I received the book from her, thanked her for her help, and went to the cashier to check out. And little did I know that this devotional written by Spurgeon would serve as the introduction to one of my heroes of the faith. That women did more spiritual good to me in recommending that book than she will ever know. 

Too Much Meat

Shortly after I purchased the book, I was going to attempt to read it. But I was roughly 20 years old, had the education of a guy that only cared about working out and baseball, and was about a year and a half into my walk with Christ. Therefore, as I picked it up to read it I quickly realized it was too much meat for me. Spurgeon's use of the English language is unmatched. And for a guy with a small vocabulary I could not keep up! Also, Spurgeon's use of imagery is breath taking. And for a guy with very little imagination it was hard for me to follow. Most of all, Spurgeon's deep understanding of biblical and systematic theology was remarkable. And for a guy on the spiritual milk of God's word it was simply too much. I put it aside. 

Slow Maturity

This was not the end though. God is faithful in maturing his people. He desires that His people look more like Christ. He desires that His people have the mind of Christ. Therefore, he was faithfully molding me. I was like clay in the hands of a potter. Biblically speaking, I was a child under the care, love, admonition, discipline, and chastisement of my Heavenly Father. So surely but slowly I was growing. And with that, my mind was being transformed.

Before long, I was picking up Morning and Evening. I was delighting in how Christ exalting Spurgeon was. Spurgeon placed Christ before my eyes and taught me to treasure him. Through his writings, he showed me the immeasurable worth of Christ. This brought sheer joy to my soul!

Just to give you a taste, this is what Spurgeon wrote regarding Philippians 1:21 in his devotional:

The believer did not always live to Christ. He began to do so when God the Holy Spirit convinced him of sin, and when by grace he was brought to see the dying Saviour making a propitiation for his guilt. From the moment of the new and celestial birth the man begins to live to Christ. Jesus is to believers the one pearl of great price, for whom we are willing to part with all that we have. He has so completely won our love, that it beats alone for him; to his glory we would live, and in defence of his gospel we would die; he is the pattern of our life, and the model after which we would sculpture our character. Paul’s words mean more than most men think; they imply that the aim and end of his life was Christ—nay, his life itself was Jesus. In the words of an ancient saint, he did eat, and drink, and sleep eternal life. Jesus was his very breath, the soul of his soul, the heart of his heart, the life of his life. Can you say, as a professing Christian, that you live up to this idea?

It is reading material like this that made Spurgeon my hero. And do not mistake what I am saying for idolatry. Christ alone is my Lord. He alone brings fullness of joy. He alone brings happiness to the soul. But you must understand that joy in Christ comes from beholding Christ by faith. And the clearer you behold Christ, the more joy you have. So what Spurgeon did was allow me to behold Christ a little more clearly. Now all the glory goes to God for it is God who empowered Spurgeon to do what he did. I know and understand that therefore I give thanks to God for Spurgeon. 

An Unlikely Hero

Perhaps the most amazing thing is this though: God has used Spurgeon in my life. Spurgeon is my hero and I try to read his works often. But Spurgeon is many people's hero. He is widely read and esteemed by men all around the globe. However, that lady in Lifeway is not known by many. She does not publish books, nor does she have world wide renown. I do not even remember her name. She is, in all regards, an unlikely hero.

But it was that seasoned saint that walked me through Lifeway, navigated different works of literature that would not have been beneficial for my soul, and pointed out teachers that would have been detrimental to my soul. Then she took me to the classics, pointed out Morning and Evening by Charles Haddon Spurgeon, and placed it in my hands saying that Spurgeon was the man that I needed to read.

With that said, Spurgeon is not my only hero. That older lady that took my question seriously and sought to lead me in the right way is my hero as well. And though she may not be a likely hero to many like Spurgeon is, she is most certainly a hero to me. And for that reason I praise God for her.

2017 Books

Books!

I usually post a blog at the end of the year listing my top ten books. However, I wanted to write a blog here in May to post the books I have read so far in 2017. This may be of value to you as you seek to figure out what books you want to read next.

Regarding Purity

1. Sexual Detox by Tim Challies
2. Finally Free by Heath Lambert
3. Wired for Intimacy by William Struthers

I read these for a three part teaching series that I did on a men's retreat with some college guys. All of these books were good reads. Sexual Detox will be the read you want if you want a short, theological, and applicable dealing with the subject of pornography. Finally Free will be the read you want if you want a thorough, clear, and Christ exalting dealing with the subject of pornography. And Wired for Intimacy will be the read you want if you are looking for how pornography hijacks the male brain in horrific ways (he also inform you of how to hijack the brain back from pornography)!

For School

1. Encountering the Book of Psalms by Hassell Bullock
2. A Theology of Matthew by Chuck Quarles
3. Sermon on the Mount by Chuck Quarles

These are the books that I have read thus far for school. If I was to recommend two books to read out of the three then it would be the two by Quarles. However, if you only had time to read one then I would recommend Quarles' book on A Theology of Matthew. This will help you to read and understand the book of Matthew a lot better than you currently do. I found it to be immensely helpful and easy to follow.

Personal Encouragement and Growth in Godliness

1. Wise Counsel: John Newton's Letters to John Ryland Jr by John Newton
2. John G. Patton: Missionary to the New Hebrides by John Patton
3. Habits of Grace by David Mathis

These books are by far my favorite. If you are a young pastor, or an aspiring pastor, then you have to read Wise Counsel. Listening to John Newton counsel John Ryland Jr. through the many different aspects of ministry (people falling away from the faith, the death of loved ones, success) is invaluable. Sell your shirt and by this book! If you are a laymen in the church, then you have to read John G. Patton's Autobiography. This man risked everything in order for Christ to be worshiped by cannibalistic peoples in the New Hebrides. And Habits of Grace is a book on spiritual disciplines. These kind of books are good to read often! They remind you of the things you ought to be doing in order to be growing in godliness and holiness.

Other Books

1. Revitalize by Andrew Davis
2. The Message of James by Motyer

I read Revitalize because the pastor of the church that I attend wrote it. It is a great book on church revitalization that pastors and laymen alike will benefit from. It will be a resource that I consult numerous times to gain wisdom and understanding from. The Message of James is a book that I read for a teaching series I did at a FCA for a local university in the Durham area. It is a short commentary that is very simple. A pastor and laymen will both benefit from this little commentary!

A Final Word from a Departed Saint

John Stott wrote this in the post script of The Radical Disciple. At 88 years old, Stott said this about books:

"For there is something unique about books. Our favorite books become very precious to us and we even develop with them an almost living and affectionate relationship. Is it an altogether fanciful fact that we handle, stroke and even smell them as tokens of our esteem and affection? I am not referring only to an author's feeling for what he has written, but to all readers and their library. I have made it a rule not to quote from any book unless I have first handled it. So let me urge you to keep reading, and encourage your relatives and friends to do the same. For this is a much neglected means of grace." 

He went on to be with the Lord a few years ago, but this was what he ended with in the last book that he authored. I find that fascinating. So with this in mind, take up a good book and find nourishment for your soul.

The Preaching of a Cannibalistic Heathen

Background

For the past couple of weeks I have been reading John G. Paton-The Autobiography of the Pioneer Missionary to the New Hebrides. John G. Paton was a missionary to the heathen peoples of the New Hebrides during the late 1800s. As I read this autobiography, I stand in amazement of John Paton's great faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ. He knew that this gospel was the power of God unto salvation for everyone who believes.....even for the black cannibalistic tribal people of the New Hebrides.

John Paton labored continually knowing that God would save some of these cannibalistic people if he could persevere in living amongst them, learning their language, and then preaching to them about the depth of love that God has shown them by giving His only beloved Son (Jesus Christ) up to death on a cross that they might be saved. Therefore, this is exactly what he did.

Shortage of Water and the Building of a Well

During Paton's labor on Aniwa, fresh water began to run low due to a drought. Paton, in great faith, sought to dig deep into the earth with a shovel and spade in order to find water so that he could construct a well. Now the tribal people had never seen nor heard of a well. Therefore, they thought that Paton was a foolish white man that had lost his mind! Seriously, when Paton told them about digging into the earth to find water, one of the chiefs (Namakei), of the heathen peoples said, "Rain comes only from above. How could you expect our Island to send up showers of rain from below." Paton responded, "Fresh water does come up springing from the earth in my land at home, and I hope to see it here also." On hearing this, Namakei said, "O Paton, your head is going wrong; you are losing something, or you would not talk wild like that! Don't let our people hear you talking about going down into the earth for rain, or they will never listen to your word or believe you again." Even though the tribal people thought Paton was losing his head, he sought to construct a well that was 30 feet deep with a spade and shovel!

One thought that was constantly running through Paton's head was that there may not be water where he was digging. That would be detrimental! Another thought was that if he did find water, it may prove to be salt water. This too would be detrimental. Though these thoughts were in his head, his faith did not waver. He believed that God would allow him to find fresh water so that the tribal people might know that Jehovah is God alone and that all the gods on their islands are not gods at all.

Then, after digging thirty feet, Paton struck water. This water proved to be fresh drinking water. Paton was astonished. The Island people were astonished. The God of John Paton was glorified. And when I say glorified, this section of the book left me astonished.

The Preaching of a Cannibalistic Heathen

Right after the finding of fresh water Namakei, the chief that formerly thought Paton was out of his mind, asked Paton if he could preach the sermon on the next sabbath day. Paton told the chief he could if he could get a large number of tribal people to attend the service. This is exactly what he did. Then, with everybody in the church that Paton had constructed on the island of Aniwa, Namakei stood in the pulpit and preached saying:

Friends of Namakei, men and women and children of Aniwa, listen to my words! Since John came here he has talked many strange things we could not understand-things all too wonderful; and we said regarding many of them that they must be lies. White people might believe such nonsense, but we said that the black fellow knew better than to receive it. But of all his wonderful stories, we thought the strangest was about sinking down through the earth to get rain! Then we said to each other, the man's head is turned; he's gone mad. But John prayed on and wrought on, telling us that Jehovah God heard and saw, and that his God would give him rain. Was he mad? Has he not got the rain deep down in the earth? We mocked at him; but the water was there all the same. We have laughed at other things which John told us, because we could not see them. But from this day I believe that all he tells us about his Jehovah God is true. Some day our eyes will see it. For today we have seen the rain from the earth.

Namakei went on:

My people, the people of Aniwa, the world its turned upside down since the word of Jehovah came to this land! Who ever expected to see rain coming up through the earth? It has always come from the clouds! Wonderful is the work of this Jehovah God. No god of Aniwa ever answered prayers as John's God has done. Friends of Namakei, all the powers of the world could not have forced us to believe that rain could be given from the depths of the earth, if we have not seen it with our eyes, felt it and tasted it as we here do. Now, by the help of Jehovah God, John brought that invisible rain to view, which we never before heard of or saw.

Namakei concludes powerfully:

Something here in my heart tells me that the Jehovah God does exist, the Invisible One, whom we never heard nor saw till John brought Him to our knowledge,. The coral has been removed, the land has been cleared away, and lo! the water rises. Invisible till this day, yet all the same it was there, though our eyes were too weak. So I, your Chief, do now firmly believe that when I die, when the bits of coral and the heaps of dust are removed which now blind my old eyes, I shall then see the Invisible Jehovah God with my soul, as John tells me, not less surely than I have seen the rain from the earth below. The gods of Aniwa cannot hear, cannot help us, like the God of John. Henceforth I am a follower of Jehovah God. Let every man that thinks with me go now and fetch the idols of Aniwa the, gods which our fathers feared, and cast them down at John's feet. Let us burn and bury and destroy these things of wood and stone, and let us be taught by John how to serve the God who can hear, the Jehovah who gave us the well, and who will give us every other blessing, for He sent His Son Jesus to die for us and bring us to Heaven. This is what John has been telling us every day since he landed on Aniwa. We laughed at him, but now we believe him. The Jehovah God has sent us rain from the earth. Why should He not also send us His Son from Heaven? Namakei stands up for Jehovah!

This is one of the most remarkable stories I have ever read. And just to think that one day, on the New Earth, I will be able to speak with Namakei about how God saved him from a life of cannibalism to a life of serving Jesus Christ. 

This gospel that we have is remarkable. It is powerful beyond measure! We must be like Paton with it. From the first day he stepped foot on Aniwa, he was speaking about Christ crucified. We must do the same!