The Works of God

I first became aware of Matt Chandler when he spoke at the 2009 Desiring God Conference for Pastors.  I have come to deeply appreciate his church and his preaching.  When he first experienced a seizure a couple of weeks ago, his response in the face of uncertainty was God-centered and God honoring.

As I write this on Wednesday afternoon, I just read the post from the Village Church that Pastor Matt Chandler’s seizures were due to a malignant brain tumor.  You can read the Village Church’s statement here.

God is doing an amazing thing in this.  Because Matt Chandler is a ‘rising star’ amongst preachers, people are paying attention to what he is saying about what he is experiencing.  A great deal is already passing around the internet and even some media about how Pastor Chandler is responding: with confidence in his savior and a future hope that is secure.

That tends to be the case – people pay more attention to a person’s faith when things are hard than when things are going well.

It is a good response, and one we should pray God would continue to hold up as we also pray for Pastor Chandler’s health and for his family.

And it reminds me of how Pastor John helpfully wrote about hoping in God in his book, Future Grace:

The grace and kindness of the Lord comes to us in accord with our hope in him: “Let thy lovingkindness, O Lord, be upon us, according as we have hoped in Thee” (Psalm 33:22). We are told, “Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who hope in the Lord” (Psalm 31:24). The reason those who hope in the Lord can take courage is that they are the beneficiaries of the promise of future grace: “The eye of the Lord is on. . . those who hope for his lovingkindness” (Psalm 33:18). The radical lifestyle of strength and courage in the cause of righteousness flows from hope in God’s lovingkindness, that is, from faith in future grace.  John Piper, Future Grace, p. 245.