Memories are the material that
forms the pavement of the road from the past to the present
hour. Some folks seem to spend more time examining that pavement
than they do in moving forward upon the road. We must not live
in the past, but we can most surely be benefited by it as
we contemplate those things which have brought us along on our
journey through this land in which we presently sojourn. For
it is those things that have occurred that have produced the
present state in which we currently dwell. Paul speaks to the Thessalonians
of remembering their work, labor, and patience. Yet he speaks of
them knowing that each one of these traits is that product
of a greater power than their own, and recognizing that these
occurrences are but the manifestation of the blessing of God upon them,
rather than the cause of that blessing. He follows this thought
by remarking, knowing, brethren, beloved, your election of God. He knew that they were the elect
of God, not because he had a sneak peek at the Lamb's Book of Life
where their names are recorded, but rather because he saw the
evidence of the work of the Spirit of God in them, and thereby concluded
that they were of the elect, since the reprobate have neither
faith, true love for the brethren, nor an expectant hope in Christ
alone. This is the work of God in constraining
the sheep to follow Him. Another shepherd they will not
follow, nor be content to go in and out and find pasture through
any door except Him. He mentions their work of faith.
It is clearly apparent that He is speaking of a work which is
performed in and upon them by the Lord's power in order to
fulfill the good pleasure of His will. Faith is the gift of
God. It is not the product of the
free will of men, nor can a man be taught or persuaded to exercise
it. A man born without limbs could
more easily exercise his legs than could one of the sons of
Adam who was born dead in trespassage, sin, and unbelief exercise faith. Apart from this gift of God being
bestowed upon a man, not one shall ever believe. So this work
of faith is only theirs in the sense that they are the ones
upon whom this work is performed. This work of faith is performed
for a purpose, which is to deliver them from darkness and bring
them into the light. For they have both seen and believed,
and it is this same work of faith which He will continually perform
in them. The work of faith is a very present
work, and the testimony of those who have it is this, for it is
God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good
pleasure. It is that of which Paul said,
the word of God which effectually worketh also in you that believe. This is the work of faith. Then
he mentions their labor of love. This is specifically defined
as ministering to the needs of the saints, not simply in the
past tense, but in the present as well. Paul demonstrated this
labor of love in his own life. He exhorts the Ephesians in his
epistle, saying, Let him labor, working with his hands the thing
which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
John speaks even more plainly. But whoso hath this world's good,
and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of
compassion from him, how dwelleth the true love of God in him?
If a man say, I love God and hateth his brother, he is a liar. For he that loveth not his brother
whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? A labor of love requires effort
and even discomfort. Yet it looks not on the effort
or pain, but rather on that good which is accomplished thereby.
The Lord Jesus Christ did indeed set the standard and show us
the purpose of such labor. For ye know the grace of our
Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes
he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be made rich.
The purpose of riches is not to consume them upon our own
lusts. Hope is not exactly the same
thing as faith, yet a man cannot have a true hope unless he has
a true faith. A hope which is built upon a
faulty faith is but a mere pipe dream. Yet when the Spirit of
God gives a man faith to believe that Jesus Christ is the only
Savior of sinners, and He does by that same grace cast Himself
upon that Savior, then he has a hope which cannot fail.