One Man’s Dilemma

One Man’s Dilemma

To have faith or not to have faith—that is the question.

EDWARD D. GRIFFIN was born in 1770, the son of a wealthy Connecticut farmer. He went to Yale with the plan of studying for the ministry, but as he entered his senior year, he realized that he was unconverted. Horrified at the idea of going into the ministry without a personal faith, he turned to the study of law.

In July 1791 Griffin fell ill. On his sickbed, feeling miserable, Griffin began to think, If I cannot bear this for a short time, how can I bear the pains of hell forever? These thoughts refused to leave him, and within three months he had trusted in Jesus as his Lord and Savior and was headed for heaven.

Not long after, Griffin began to question his decision to become a lawyer. One Sunday after church as he walked up the stairs to his room, the question played through his mind over and over And why should not you be a minister? And why should not you be a minister? By the time he got to the top of the stairs, he resolved that he would seriously investigate the issue. He prayed earnestly that God would give him direction through the Bible. He opened his Bible repeatedly, and each time the passage he read pointed him toward, in his own words, “preaching the everlasting gospel and plucking souls as brands from the burnings.” In less than forty-five minutes, he became certain that he was called to preach the gospel.

And preach he did. After training under Jonathan Edwards Jr., Griffin pastored a series of Congregational churches in New Salem and New Hartford, Connecticut, and in New Orange and Newark, New Jersey. In 1808 he became professor of preaching at Andover Seminary and from 1811 to 1814 was pastor of Park Street Church, Boston. Finally from 1821 to 1836 Griffin served as president of Williams College.

The blessing of God on Griffin is almost unequaled in the history of American preachers. His ministry was one of almost unbroken revival. Wherever Edward Griffin went, the Holy Spirit drew people to Jesus. Griffin saw more people converted under his preaching than anyone since George Whitefield in the mid-1700s. At one point during his years as president of Williams College there were only eighteen students out of the whole student body who had not committed themselves to Christ.

His passion for souls continued even as he was dying. To his grandchildren and to his servants he gave a parting challenge to meet him in heaven. To two grandsons he said, “You must give your heart to the Savior. Don’t put it off another hour.” To a granddaughter he pleaded, “Give your heart to the Savior while you are young.”

Then on November 8, 1837, Edward Griffin was called home to be with his Savior forever.

Reflection

Do you know what God has called you to do? Edward Griffin had to wait until he had committed his life to the Lord Jesus before God showed him the plan for his life. Similarly for the rest of us, the first step to knowing God’s plan for our lives is to wholeheartedly trust Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Then as we ask him for guidance, he will reveal his will to us just as he did to Edward Griffin.

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is.

Romans 12:2