I do quite a bit of highlighting in books that I read because I like to return to the better books occasionally and remind myself of the important concepts that I have learned. In doing so, I can refresh my memory frequently on important matters that I would tend to forget. One of those books I’m returning to this week is the biography of one of my favorite deceased missionaries – Henry Martyn, British missionary to India and Persia from 1805-1812.
Martyn entered upon his missionary service based on an encounter with the Rev. Charles Simeon, who spoke to him of the good work that missionary William Carey was doing in India. Martyn then read Jonathan Edwards’ biography of British-American missionary David Brainerd. After doing so, he abandoned his dream to practice law with his new degree earned at Cambridge and instead resolved to study for the ministry and missions. He eventually signed on as a chaplain with the British East India Company as a platform for his missions and set sail in 1805.
Here's something the young man wrote on his thirtieth birthday: This day I finished the thirtieth year of my unprofitable life; the age at which David Brainerd (missionary to the American Indians) finished his course...I am now at the age at which the Savior of men began his ministry, and at which John the Baptist called a nation to repentance. Let me now think for myself, and act with energy. Hitherto I have made my youth and insignificance an excuse for sloth and imbecility: now let me have a character, and act boldly for God.
At this point in his life, Martyn had merely finished degrees in mathematics and law at Cambridge, finishing at the top of his class, learned French, Hindustani, Greek, Latin, Hebrew and Persian, translated the entire New Testament into Hindustani, along with other Christian tracts, served six years as a missionary in India, and preached to countless thousands: clearly the "unprofitable" life of a "sloth and imbecile!" In the next - and last - year of his life, he would see the New Testament translated into Persian, then die while on a journey in a remote corner of Turkey, having never married the woman whom he had loved for almost ten years, who was awaiting his return to England.
You may have guessed that Martyn has become one of my heroes of the faith. I don’t write this to make myself, or you the reader, feel discouraged. Martyn was exceptional. God had gifted him not only with great faith, but with great mental abilities. As is often the case with those with great gifts, their lives tend to be short. I don’t know why that is so common, other than a brief mention in Scripture that may shed light on the issue (Isaiah 57:1-2). Nevertheless, I find myself encouraged rather than discouraged when I read about men and women like Martyn who devoted everything to the cause of Christ. I figure, “if they can do so, so can I.”
I ask you what I occasionally ask myself: Lord, what have I done and what am I doing with my life? Am I living it out for you, or me? Is it profitable to your kingdom, or unprofitable? To me, all of you, and especially the young men and women who will graduate this year and head off to college or the world of work, I ask: What will be done for the sake of Christ in our generation? “When the Son of Man returns, will He find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8)
When we stand before our Master, what will he find was the most important matter of our lives? Generally speaking, those are the matters that we spend most of our time doing, not those matters we do most of our time wishing we were doing. I am positively challenged by the short life and ministry of Henry Martyn. I hope this brief mini-biography of him will challenge you as well.
Grace and peace,
Pastor Jym