The Perseverance of a Changed Man
By Larry Sowders
When William Wilberforce experienced the great change Christ
brought into his life, the change was truly great. The former
party boy who loved the pleasures of this world came to love
Christ and to give his life in service to Christ's Kingdom. He
began to spend hours each day reading and studying God's Word.
He no longer wanted to live for himself and his own pleasure. In
fact Wilberforce contemplated leaving politics but John Newton
(author of the great hymn Amazing Grace) advised, "It is hoped
and believed that the Lord has raised you up for the good of His
church and for the good of the nation."
One year following Wilberforce's great change, he found God's
calling upon his life. He wrote in his diary, "God Almighty has
set before me two great objects, the suppression of the Slave
Trade and the Reformation of Manners." As they say, the rest is
history. What a remarkable history of perseverance it proved to
be. Wilberforce threw himself wholeheartedly into these two
great objects but he would face great opposition and many
obstacles along the way. In fact, it would take 20 years for the
abolition of the slave trade to become a reality.
What is it that kept Wilberforce pursuing this course for so
long? I think it was his fundamental belief in God's enabling
grace. On one occasion Wilberforce wrote these words about his
life's work, "If it please God to honor me so far, may I be the
instrument of stopping such a course of wickedness and cruelty
as never before disgraced a Christian country." There was an
underlying reliance upon God and a recognition that only God
could make abolition a reality. All depended upon the good
pleasure of God. Is there an echo here in Wilberforce of the
apostle Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 3:10, "According to the
grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I
laid a foundation, and another is building upon it." Paul
attributed his entire ministry as an apostle to the grace of God
which was given to him. I am sure Wilberforce would say the
same. By God's grace alone he was able to labor those 20 years
to abolish the slave trade in England. By God's grace alone he
persevered through opposition and obstacles. By God's grace
alone was he an instrument in such a monumental cause. Let us
too rest and rely on the enabling grace of God to fulfill the
tasks to which he has called us.
Larry Sowders is a pastor, husband and father of three
living in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Read more at www.well-spent-journey.blogspot.com
