Encouragement

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"'[John the Baptist] was the lamp that was burning and was shining and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. But the testimony which I have is greater than the testimony of John; for the works which the Father has given Me to accomplish-the very works that I do-testify about Me, that the Father has sent Me.'"
-John 5:35-36 (NASB)

Something hard to deal with in life, in particular the Christian walk is when mentors and teachers move on. I remember hearing that my youth minister who I loved was leaving the church I had gone to. More devastating was when perhaps one of the most profound teachers in my life went to go pastor a church in another city. As I read these two verses, I thought about these two men, and their influence in my life was put into its proper perspective. Their lights may shine brightly in my life, but they're only for a time. I rejoice for a while when I'm in them. But Christ's own testimony, His word, the Bible will be more of an influence in my life than any teacher could ever be. Their words are never meant to replace the Bible's presence in my life, but instead to motivate me to read it. Their teachings testify of Jesus, and so do Jesus' own words. A minister's greatest duty is not to say "Here's what you should do," but to inspire his listeners to go quietly to a place where God can tell them that first-hand. Andrew Murray said it well when he said "A minister has no more solemn duty than to teach people to wait upon God." Henry & Richard Blackaby said it this way: "The key to spiritual leadership is bringing your people into a face-to-face encounter with God so that they hear from God directly and not indirectly through you." Teachers are blessings. Accept their teaching while they're around. God will never cut short a teacher's duration in your life. He'll make sure you get everything out of them He intended you to have. And when their lights go out, either by journey or by death, don't worry. You still have the source of all light from which to learn from.
Don't mourn a candle when it's at its wick's end. There's still the sun.

"'Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.'"
-Matthew 24:35 (NASB)

"The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever."
-Isaiah 40:8 (NASB)

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