The Box Hill pastoral epistle…
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, as the Overton family prepares to take three weeks of leave, I thought I would write a letter this week rather than the usual meditation.
It’s been a difficult year hasn’t it? For most of us, I suppose we haven’t even seen one another’s faces. The interval has now drawn out to become quite a long period of time. We haven’t had a public worship service at Box Hill since February or so. By the time we reunite, I expect that we will note growth in the children of the church, and perhaps we will notice the slight creeping of time in each other’s faces as well. For my part, it’s been very different from anything I expected in my first year of serving in ministry.
Perhaps at times, like me, you have felt that the lockdown and the virus have eclipsed all else in life. And yet, as I pause and consider this occasionally, I find it remarkable to see the way that God continues his work – at times seemingly as though nothing different were happening at all! In 2 Timothy 2:9, as the Apostle Paul writes to Timothy from prison (lockdown – 1st century style!), he speaks of his suffering for the gospel, being bound in chains as a criminal. And yet, he finds also that “the word of God is not bound!” We have been bound to our homes, but I observe, with Paul, that the word of God is not bound.
God continues to sanctify his saints. Like leaven unseen in rising bread (Luke 13:21), so small changes are continually occurring in the hearts of God’s people. One of the privileges that we have as elders, is the opportunity to witness this work of God close-up in the lives of the saints. True, there are trials. Some have entered new seasons in life, with new troubles and difficulties. Our brother Bill Prins and sister Ria De Boer have been called home to glory since lockdown started. Nevertheless, it is in trial that the Lord so often purifies us. In fact, in Philippians 1:29 we read: “For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake.” We have also enjoyed iso-fellowship in our church with some new believers during this period of lockdown! Perhaps you will have the chance to meet them when at last we are able to join together once more.
There are trials, but there is so much hope in the world as well isn’t there? After all, is not Christ risen from the dead? What bad news could a newspaper possibly find to outweigh that! Has not the kingdom of God itself been established? And is it not moving forward, even as we pray that it would? (“Thy kingdom come…”). In John 16:33 Jesus said: “In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” To the Lord, the nations are like a drop from the bucket (Is 40:15). Perhaps the happenings in the world have troubled you? They are as a drop in the bucket to our King and Saviour! Nations rise and fall, wars and troubles come and go, but the kingdom of our God is as a great mountain, and it will fill the whole earth (Dan 2:35).
For a time, we are being called to endure the present trial. Do not lose heart. The Lord Jesus said: “Whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life” (Jn 4:14). In Psalm 84:5 we read: “Blessed are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion. As they go through the Valley of Weeping they make it a place of springs; the early rain also covers it with pools. They go from strength to strength; each one appears before God in Zion.”
There are many encouragements that I cannot offer to you. I cannot say that this situation will ease in the near future. I cannot say that the governments of our nation will not make troubling decisions. I cannot say that your present and personal trial will be over tomorrow. But this I can say, that there is immeasurable comfort to be found in God’s Holy Word. There is power there, strength, there is wisdom for discernment and guidance for troubled hearts. Can I earnestly encourage then you to take up the Word of God in prayer with a new daily vigour? To diligently study and read God’s Word? God transforms his people through the Word (John 17:17). I am encouraged to see and know that many of you do seek him in his Word, and I see the fruit of it in your lives. I have seen this growth in our church in hidden places in the lives of God’s people. God’s Word is mighty! As my family takes a little time now to rest, my prayers and thoughts will remain with you. I will be praying that the Lord will encourage and strengthen you, and that his voice will become increasingly precious to you.
Thank you for the love, patience, and kindness you have all shown to our family. Thank you for small gestures and gifts of thoughtfulness and love. Thank you for graciousness with my weaknesses in preaching and pastoral work. Thank you for encouragements and prayers. I thank God for calling me to serve and be served at the Reformed Church of Box Hill. I thank God for each and every one of you. I have been delighted to serve in and share in fellowship with you all, and hope in God’s grace to continue doing so for as long as he permits. We have missed the privilege of inviting you into our home. By this time in my ministry here, I had longed to have welcomed you at our table many more times than we have been able to so far. Still, the Lord knows all, and he is faithful. When the time comes, we look forward to seeing you again. Let us pray for that day, and pray that the Lord would strengthen our hearts in the interim. If the Lord tarries, may God be with you in the coming weeks!
With much love in Christ, Isaac.