Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
I'm writing to you to share connections I had with John Piper's book, Don't Waste Your Life. My introduction to John Piper came from my pastor, who spoke about a letter he had sent to him. The letter was filled with grief and a story of a suicide but the response he got touched me: “How much grief does God see in this world and why has He shared it with you?” This letter made me open his book and I believe my letter to you could do the same.
My goal through this blog is to share connections and movements within the book that touched my heart. To do this I will use the medium of four objects and how they reflect the principles of the book. This unique style originated from a book lay project in which I explained the significance of the objects.
The first object that I chose was a stopwatch. I'm reminded of a memory of a past summer in which I was preparing for soccer tryouts where we had to run a Cooper test. I used the stopwatch to record my progress throughout the summer. I believe that this illustrates the two main purposes of a stopwatch: the first one is to measure the passing of time and the second is to provide a mark with which you can compare your progress. John Piper recounts a memory from his youth of an old man, exclaiming to his father, an evangelist, "I have wasted it." This image that came to my mind as I read these words was a man not much past years than I. In my life I have seen how fleeting time is; weeks turn into months and then into years. The question came to my mind when I am at that point will I say, "I have wasted it."
As a Christian, while answering that question, I often struggle with the basis we should use to answer this question. For example when I was preparing for the tryout I had a strong non-arbitrary basis by which I compared myself for 13 Minutes and 30 Seconds. But in contrast in my life I often find myself comparing myself to many different standards such as popularity, long-term affluence, and physical health. John Piper, in his book, makes an argument that the standard we should live by is to find joy in who Christ is.
The second image that I chose was that of a flower. John Piper recounts the stories of sacrifice in World War II to communicate what it means to live for Christ. He brought the moment to life in his writing, I saw that very man put his hand on the other and express in his heart, “It is all right” that he was unable to speak as he died. It made me reflect on my dreams. Why do I go to school? The answer for my personal education and welfare? Why do I do most activities and keep many ambitions? The answer was I was doing it for myself. To think, almost 80 years ago, young men in Europe and women at home front were fighting for something beyond themselves is heroic to me. If we could live our days living for not ourselves but Christ what a difference it would make.
The third object was a dice, which represents uncertainty in our lives. John Piper, in his book, holds a opinion that challenged my view on events. He communicates that God is all-sovereign and, from the beginning, has planned salvation for those who have put their faith in Christ Jesus. I am brought to verses of encouragement I have heard but I have many personal doubts about this part of the book stemming from my regrets and physical injury. Nevertheless in all areas of life, John Piper asserts in his book that God is working for his good. I am brought to Paul's words to the Philippians in 1:6: "The Lord will continue his work in you until is is finished on the day of Christ Jesus." But like many of you, brothers and sisters, I have many doubts. I question whether God will work in a particular situation of my life. My prayer is that the Lord would help my disbelief and light the right spirit within me and you that reflects his power and truth.
The final object in this blog is not inspired by John Piper's book but by a youth pastor and a decision I made. This object I chose is a pencil and it represents personal performance and the disconnect with God’s grace. John Piper communicates that there is a joy to be found in God, the very person who God is, and the great grace he has provided. In moments, especially difficult ones, I feel that it is very challenging to find joy in God. But in my heart I firmly believe that in our difficult moments when we cry out to God, he is most glorified. I am brought to a memory from two weeks ago where I had much work on my plate and I became distracted by my phone. Following this, throughout the day, I could not find joy in my Savior. I trudged through my work, plagued by my bad decision. But through that moment I believe that God sent his word to my heart through Charles Spurgeon's devotional and my youth pastor. That night as I looked at my day, I came to my devotional, which reminded me of who the Father was a Shepherd. At that moment after a long day of being unable to find peace I found it in who God was. That very following morning as I attended service Pastor Ben concreted this with his words that I believe reflected what I and many experience, he opened, “One thing that is pervasive in our culture is the idea of performance that when we are successful and we work hard and when things are good, it's easy to acknowledge that God is good all the time.” In the past I had put in the effort and discipline and I had been glad, but not necessarily in God, but in my own works. Scripture says in Romans 4:4, when people work their wages are not as a gift but something they've earned. But people are counted as righteous not because of their work but because of their faith in God, who forgives sins.
The words of Charles Spurgeon (19th Century Theologian) spoke of what we may have faith in. It reads on the evening of the day I had this difficulty, "He shall gather the lambs with his arms," Isaiah 40:11. In the devotional he further reflects, "Lambs are wont to lag behind, are prone to wander, and are apt to grow weary, but from all the danger of these infirmities the shepherd protects them." As I read those words I had peace, not from my performance or my works, but from faith in who the Father is, my Shepherd who guides my path despite my wandering.
John Piper closes his book with a call for the young men and women to live a life on mission. The Lord is sovereign and he will finish the work he has started in the many hearts he has saved.