John MacArthur, pastor-teacher of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, passed away Monday evening at the age of 86 due to complications of pneumonia and has since gone to be with our Lord.
MacArthur has contributed much to the body of Christ through his decades-long ministry, Grace To You, whether it was through his expository preaching, radio broadcasts, the John MacArthur study Bible, and more, one cannot help but realize that God has used him mightily to impact his generation and beyond.
Although we mourn his death, we will likewise rejoice as he will be in the presence of the Lord — a day which believers long to experience someday! In observance of the news of MacArthur, we must ask the question, “How can we prepare to meet the Lord with the same faithfulness and clarity we hope to model in life?”
Serving God Who Serves Us
I read a quote by MacArthur online following his death, which states, “As long as God grants us breath, He has work to do.” Friends, that is so true, especially given that MacArthur has labored for the Lord in the past 56 years up until his death. One cannot deny his work ethic in shepherding Grace Community Church, and also The Master’s College and The Master’s Seminary, where he served as chancellor. But in order to be able to carry out the work God has called for us to do–whether it’s the pastorate or not– we have to consider the motive for it all.
Although we are not saved by works, as the Scriptures state, “we are created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life” (Ephesians 2:10). Our works are not for salvation; they are the fruit of it so that we would live godly lives. Another motivation to consider is why we serve, because He is our hope. As stressed by the Apostle Paul to his protégé, Timothy:
“For to this end we labor and strive for we have set our hope on the living God” 1 Timothy 4:10
As God is the one whom we serve, we labor with keeping in mind that He is our hope. We have been saved through grace in Jesus Christ, not by our works; thus, we are made righteous by God. Additionally, we are now children of God, sons and daughters of the Most High. With that glorious truth in mind, we are able to go about our walk of journey knowing that He is with us to the end and loves us to the end. How else can we move forward? Christ says it Himself, “without me, you can do nothing” (John 15:25). He gives us His Holy Spirit, who empowers us to live godly, bringing to remembrance everything Jesus shared with us.
So why not have hope? God has not left us to despair in our sin nor our circumstances, for He is our hope. Therefore, we can carry out the work He has laid out for us while God continues to grant us breath each day.
Always Remember God’s Faithfulness
Not only does this apply to our spiritual life, but also in ministry. For MacArthur to have labored over the past 5 decades in ministry, preached through the entire New Testament, and maintained an unwavering commitment to preaching the Scriptures goes to show the importance of being faithful unto the Lord, who is altogether faithful. Although we are not perfect by any means and fall short countless times, the Lord continues to be faithful, for He cannot deny Himself (2 Timothy 2:13).
Therefore, God’s faithfulness is all the more reason to fight the good fight and persevere in our faith. Although the trials are inevitable, His faithfulness is certain. If you are in ministry, remember that you shouldn’t attempt to do things in your own strength. We are to be stewards of what God has blessed us with so that we will trust in Him through it and surrender ourselves to Him.
The Word of God Matters
If there is anything that I and many others appreciate about MacArthur, it is his commitment to preaching the Word of God. His verse-by-verse style of preaching easily made him one of the prominent expositors of our day. Sadly, we live in an age where the sufficiency of Scripture has been jettisoned by many churches who think entertainment is better. Not only is that sad, but it is also insulting to God, who has given us His Holy Word for the edification of the church. The Word of God helps us know God as He is, not in accordance with our own thoughts and opinions, as well as what godly living entails.
As Romans 10:17 says, “faith comes by hearing and by hearing the words of Christ”. The Word of God is essential to our growth in faith in our Lord; otherwise, we’re just wasting our time playing church when it’s not preached rightly. Whether you agreed or disagreed with MacArthur theologically, one thing is for sure: he made the Word of God central to his ministry, and so should we in our lives in general. Pastors should not attempt to be innovators in their preaching, only stewards of what God has said in His Word. And we need the preaching of the Word so that we can better understand it and grow in our faith. We need the Scriptures so that our minds would be renewed and our hearts be transformed. In these times where deception abounds, may we abide in God’s truth even more!
Friends, that is non-negotiable. It is nonoptional. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Stay the course with the Word of God because, over time, you will recognize more and more that it never changes even as the world changes. If you listen to a MacArthur sermon, such as his first message at Grace Community Church in 1969, his delivery in sharing the scriptures is the same as it has been in his final years on earth. Moreover, I believe it showcases how God’s Word is central to his preaching because it never changes. This is a significant point considering that most churches today are quick to be swept up by the cultural trend rather than be grounded in the Scriptures.
Death Is Not the End
To close, let us consider the following words from MacArthur that are a great encouragement for the body of Christ: “All death can do to the believer is deliver him to Jesus.” It is because of Christ that death has been defeated; it is not the end for believers but rather a new beginning, a more glorious beginning. It is something that those without Christ will never experience, yet we have been given this glorious promise of eternal life in which we will be with Him forever. Although I am sad that MacArthur is gone, at the same time, I rejoice because he is finally home with his Savior. Church, I want to encourage you to continue to fight the good fight because He awaits us as well. Moreover, Christ will return someday and make all things new, in which there will be no more pain, no more sorrow, and no more death, for He will wipe every tear from our eyes (Rev. 21:4). So until that day, let us press on and live to the glory of God so that we would finish well and be with Him forever. For He is our God and we are His people. Amen!
Photo Credit: ©Grace to You
.webp)