A few weeks ago I mentioned that Oswald Chambers was saved under the preaching of Charles Spurgeon. This Godly Baptist pastor that lived from 1834-1892 was once a household name – in his native England and around the world. If you ever want to read an inspirational biography I encourage you to pick one up on Charles Spurgeon.
As a young man Spurgeon’s heroes were Protestants burned to death for their faith and daring Puritans, such as John Bunyan, who were jailed for their beliefs. His conversion came in 1850 at age fifteen when he was forced to take shelter from a snow storm in a small country church where God opened his heart to the salvation message. Spurgeon explained: “The preacher was reading from Isaiah 45:22: ‘Look unto me and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is none else.’ Then, stopping, the preacher pointed to where I was sitting under the gallery, and said, ‘That young man there looks very miserable’...and shouted, ‘Look! Look, young man! Look now!’ I no sooner saw whom I was to believe than I also understood what it was to believe...”
Spurgeon preached his first sermon in 1851 – just one year after he was saved! From the beginning of his ministry his style and ability were noted as being far above average and earned him titles such as “the preaching boy wonder” and “the prince of preachers.” It was said up to 25,000 people would come to hear him preach – in a day before microphones and sound systems. His sermons were published each week, sometimes selling 300,000 copies. Newspapers regularly carried articles on him and his ministry. He established a pastor’s college that is still in operation today. Spurgeon said he had but one solitary purpose when he preached: “I take my text and make a bee-line to the cross.” A single burning desire filled his heart – to see people come to Jesus Christ. Devoted to the Scriptures, to disciplined prayer, and to godly living, Spurgeon exemplified Christian commitment when he stood in the pulpit. Spurgeon had poor health and suffered constantly from various ailments. He had rheumatic gout that eventually took his life at the age of 57.
In extreme pain and in what turned out to be his last sermon on June 7, 1891 Spurgeon said: “He (Jesus Christ) is the most magnanimous of captains. There never was His like among the choicest of princes. He is always to be found in the thickest part of the battle. When the wind blows cold He always takes the bleak side of the hill. The heaviest end of the cross lies ever on His shoulders. If He bids us carry a burden, He carries it also. If there is anything that is gracious, generous, kind, and tender, yea lavish and superabundant in love, you always find it in Him. His service is life, peace, joy. Oh, that you would enter on it at once! God help you to enlist under the banner of Jesus even this day! Amen.”
Pastor John