A book has recently been published with the subtitle: What Scotland Needs to Flourish1. It no doubt returns an answer which is thoroughly secular. But let us first of all ask, What does it mean for Scotland to flourish? Does it mean that unemployment would be drastically reduced, or that there would be a huge improvement in the health of the people, or that the quality of life for older people would see a significant advance? Undoubtedly, these would all be highly desirable. Or does it mean a large increase in economic activity as measured by, say, national GDP – leading to much higher wages and salaries, throughout the country? Certainly such an increase might lead to the previous three objectives being achieved but, whatever other forms of idolatry people in Scotland are guilty of, there is no doubt that – led on by our parliamentarians – many are guilty of idolising money and the possessions that money can buy.
Not least at the end of another year, we should be conscious that our existence in this world is decidedly temporary. It will not last indefinitely; indeed we may have only a very few days left to live, and we cannot promise ourselves even that long. So we would be wise to take to heart the fact that our existence will not end at death; it will stretch on for ever and ever. And if we think of the Scottish people flourishing – or, for that matter, the people of any other nation – we would be distinctly unwise to consider only their lives in this world. How soon the length of time we have spent in this world will fade into insignificance in comparison with the endless eternity into which we will have entered at death! Yet the period spent on earth will always remain significant, because it will determine where we will spend that endless eternity. But will it be in heaven or in hell?
Christ’s question, “What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” (Mk 8:36), should make us realise that there is no comparison between, on the one hand, a life that is hugely successful in material terms but leads on to a lost eternity and, on the other, a godly life which, however lacking in this world’s goods, leads on to the blessedness of
1This is in no sense a review of the book; I have not read it. But the subtitle has set off a train of thought.
heaven. It was a truly Christian perspective that led John Hooper to say, the night before his martyrdom, during the fearful persecution in England during the reign of Queen Mary: “Life is sweet, and death is bitter, but eternal death is more bitter, and eternal life is more sweet”.2 If the words of Psalm 92: “The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree”33 (v 12), were remarkably fulfilled in Hooper’s life, they have been even more remarkably fulfilled in heaven, notwithstanding the painful route that brought him to paradise.
The Bible gives much advice about riches and, needless to say, it is all good advice. It does not tell us that it is wrong to be rich, but it does make plain: “If riches increase, set not your heart upon them” (Ps 62:10) – in other words, do not idolise them. Further, “riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven” (Prov 23:5). Accordingly, we cannot afford to set our hearts on riches; they may not last. But we can never, in this life or in eternity, lose spiritual riches, if we once obtain them. No wonder the Saviour said, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness” – the true riches. Yet He immediately went on: “All these things [food, drink and clothing] shall be added unto you” (Mt 6:33).
So what do Scotland and other countries need if they are to flourish spiritually, for this is the flourishing that really matters? Scotland needs to hear the gospel. But, in Paul’s words, “how shall they hear without a preacher?” (Rom 10:14). Yet possibly there is not a parish in Scotland but is visited by a preacher at least once a month. But immediately Paul goes on to ask, “How shall they preach, except they be sent?” Otherwise the preacher will have no genuine authority, and probably will not bring the real message of salvation: the truths that the Son of God became man, to suffer and die in the place of sinners, and that “whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:15).
If Scotland is to begin to flourish spiritually, there must be a willingness on the part of the people to listen to the Word of God, particularly as proclaimed by sent preachers. But, as David sang to the praise of the Most High: “Thy people shall be willing in the day of Thy power” (Ps 110:3). In every age, God will have a people whom He has made willing to follow Him. First, He makes them willing to pay attention to Him, speaking directly through His Word or as it is proclaimed by His ambassadors, the preachers He has sent forth. These people recognise that God is altogether holy, that He can in no way clear the guilty, and that they themselves are among the guilty.
2 Quoted by Matthew Henry, in his exposition of Mark 8:36.
3 J A Alexander points out, in his Exposition of the Psalms, that “as trees in general are natural and common emblems of a prosperous existence, so the same idea is conveyed with still more emphasis by the noblest species”.
And they are brought to see the tremendous seriousness of their condition as sinners, who must face death, judgement and a lost eternity. Then the Spirit opens the eyes of their souls so that they see Jesus Christ as a Saviour suited to them and their needs, and they are made willing to receive Him as their Saviour. They are likewise made willing to have Him as their King, to be their leader and commander.
Indeed in all these aspects of the Spirit’s activity, He must make sinners willing to listen to God’s voice speaking through His Word. As we look around us, it appears highly unlikely that any great number of people in our time will become willing to listen to God’s voice. Whatever human means God may be pleased to use to attract the attention of individuals, it would seem that a remarkable work will, in God’s providence, be necessary to make people in significant numbers willing to listen to God’s Word. But He is able; we must never underestimate His power to spread the gospel everywhere, to make people become willing hearers and so bless the truth that multitudes are gathered into His kingdom. Whenever this will take place in Scotland, it will be clear that the country is flourishing spiritually.
The eighteenth century in Scotland had its dark side: there was the unbelief and carelessness of the many Moderate ministers and there was the ignoring of God that arose out of the so-called Enlightenment. On the other hand, various parts of Scotland flourished spiritually, especially because there was a considerable number of able, godly, God-sent preachers, including Ralph and Ebenezer Erskine, John Willison, James Robe, and William M’Culloch of Cambuslang, whose preaching was much blessed.
M’Culloch wrote to George Whitefield in April 1742, when the work of the Holy Spirit in revival was evident in his parish: “Help us, dear brother, to praise [God] for His goodness and for His works of mercy to perishing sinners that are everywhere made to taste of His distinguishing goodness, and particularly in this place of late. To the praise of His own mercy and grace be it spoken: I believe that, in less than three months past, about 300 souls have been awakened and convinced of their perishing condition without a Saviour, more than 200 of whom are, I believe, hopefully converted and brought home to God and have been at times filled with joy and peace in believing; and the rest are earnestly seeking for Jesus and following on to know the Lord.”4
How the Lord’s people should seek the return of such days, so that not only would Cambuslang and other once-favoured places flourish, but the whole of Scotland, indeed that the whole earth, would be filled with His glory!
4D Macfarlan, Revivals of the Eighteenth Century, Free Presbyterian Publications reprint, 1988, p 53.