12 days

I spent twelve days on a diet limited to only a few types of foods: white meat, whole wheat pasta, brown rice, beans and a small variety of vegetables. Though the food was not all that tasty, it satisfied my hunger.

People have a tendency to eat food which is airy and full of sugar. They normally over eat, and are rarely satisfied with themselves after a meal. In their mind, they are feeding their bodies what they think it needs. Really, they are only giving themselves unneeded fat, and sugar. It leaves them unsatisfied and desiring more food more frequently. My diet threw away the sugary and fatty foods like bread, bacon, chips, pizza, jelly ect… and took on foods which have more nutritional value and are more fulfilling. They give what the body needs: nourishment and a full stomach. As I went through this diet I became weary of the foods I had to eat. My mind became filled with thoughts of jelly sandwiches, hamburgers, tacos, pizza, bacon, and sausage. I wanted to find good taste in my food. After the diet I learned the hard way that the “good taste” I was looking for was not worth the trouble I had to go through to get it. On Saturday, my first day free from the diet, I pigged out on pizza. On Sunday afternoon, I ate two large sandwiches, and, in the evening, I ate too many chips. The more I ate the more I wanted and yet, I was not being satisfied. Eventually I came to a realization: I was not going to get fulfilled. Only after comparing the experiences of eating healthy food and the experience of eating less fulfilling foods did I realize how great the diet was. I attained a new appreciation for the foods my diet incorporated.

There is a great biblical truth within this little diet escapade: God is the only true fulfillment in life.

Eating the healthy food on the twelve day diet is like relying on God for fulfillment, and eating the fatty sugary foods is like relying on the world for fulfillment. Imagine a person pursuing God for twelve days. As he pursues the all powerful creator, he begins to feel a joy and fulfillment come over him. It is like nothing he has ever felt before. After a few days of relying only on God, he begins to look back at his previous life and its contents. He thinks of playing video games, hanging out with friends, indulging in crude jokes, watching his favorite television show, and essentially living a life where God is absent. For some reason, though he is already getting what he needs by relying on God for fulfillment, a desire comes over him to go back to that life he was living. After surviving the twelve days he gave himself to rely only on God, immediately, he begins to indulge in the things of the world. He plays a few hours of video games, says a really good crude joke, and proceeds to satisfy his worldly desires. Before he knows it the day has come to an end, and he realizes that it was a waste. He isn’t feeling fulfilled; in fact, he is really disappointed with himself. What is the moral of the story? God is man’s only true fulfillment; the world is not. Only after actively pursuing God and finding long lasting fulfillment in Him will we realize how truly empty the world is.

A long time ago I was doing a catechism with my brother. The catechism asked me a very important question: What is man’s primary purpose? The answer was this: To glorify God and enjoy him forever. It is only logical that “what man was created to do” is “what fulfills him”. We were created to Glorify God. In glorifying Him we are going to be fulfilled. God made us in his image. He created us with a capacity to think rationally. Because we can think rationally, we should realize that we were created, and are subject to glorify and enjoy the creator, finding fulfillment only in Him. You have a choice to make. the world is passing away and the enjoyments we find in it. But the Lord God almighty will never pass away.

Will you choose a degenerating world or the never changing all satisfying God? The world presents a temporary, non-lasting and unsatisfying pleasure. God presents a lasting and wonderful fulfillment:
“For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.”(1 John, 2:16-17).

He Hides a Smiling Face

"Behind a frowning providence He hides a smiling face.” William Cowper, a great influential poet, led a life of internal torment and suffering. In the last hours of his seemingly fruitless life he could not find the assurance of faith that he sought. Because of his doubts, Cowper drew closer and clung more tightly to God. God also used this afflicted life to encourage the believer to reject selfishness, embrace the sanctifying work of the Lord, and serve Him with great passion and joy. As we look at these things we see that within the poet’s suffering there is a loving and merciful hidden smile of God.

In the Hidden Smile of God, John Piper explains how Cowper's suffering was beneficial to him: “What makes it so relevant for Cowper’s condition is Herbert’s insight into how God, at times, withholds a rest from our soul, not to make us miserable, but that restlessness may toss us to his breast.” William’s suffering was a way of drawing him to God. He no longer relied on himself or his world, which seemed to be falling in around him, but on the one true God.

How can a believer benefit by dwelling on a life like Cowper’s filled with internal, spiritual battles; several attempts at suicide; and a death without hope of salvation? Studying the life of Cowper, who suffered so much, is an important habit for believers. Understanding his suffered reproaches, persecutions, and yet his continual praise and obedience to God is an illustration for believers to exemplify. It gives the believer zeal to look outside of himself and his own sufferings and to, instead, do good to all men in the name of the Lord. Benjamin Brook made this very point:

“Of all the books which can be put into your hands,
those which relate the labors and suffering of good
men are the most interesting and instructive. In them
you see orthodox principles, Christian tempers, and
holy duties in lovely union and in vigorous operation.
In them you see religion shining forth in real life,
Subduing the corruptions of human nature, and inspiring
A zeal for every good work.”

Though William Cowper suffered because of his faith, his life was very benficial. He adorned the doctrine of God with the fidelity of his life. His steadfastness through suffering sweetened and intensified the song of his faith. We are commanded by the bible to imitate those who through faith and patience inherited the promises. We can only do this once we have read their stories.

Another benefit of Cowper’s suffering is the powerful words of his God centered poems and hymns. “Cowper today is still touching the hearts of thousands who know nothing of him at all, simply because, in worship, they sing his hymns “There Is a Fountain filled with Blood,” “O for a Closer Walk with God,” and “God Moves in a Mysterious Way.” As William suffered he was drawn to God. He, then, began to write Hymns of wonderful spiritual significance. These Poetical songs are encouragement for many Christians who are, as Piper said, being touched by Cowper simply because, in worship, they sing his hymns.

William Cowper’s life should be an example to the Christian on how he should look at his salvation. The Christian should constantly look at himself with a critical spiritual microscope to determine if he is in the faith. Many people will go through what they call the Christian walk. “Their assurance, however, is not based upon truth. Despite their veneer of righteousness and obedience to God’s commands, Jesus reserves his most withering words for them, such as ‘son of hell’ and ‘how will you escape being condemned to hell?” Donald S. Whitney in How Can I Be Sure I’m A Christian describes a very scary thought: A person may live what he thinks is the Christian life and yet be “condemned to hell.” So it is important for the Christian to test himself to see if he is in the faith.

Cowper was the recipient of much good through his suffering. Each moment of persecution that he went through was one less moment of selfishness, and one more moment for him to draw closer to God. Cowper is an encouragement for believers today. Through his life, he encourages believers to continue on steadfastly in their faith even in the most trying times. Truly behind the frowning providence of William Cowper’s life there sits the merciful, smiling face of God.