Vince Ng

When asked to share about my favourite hymn, my initial thought was that this was quite the difficult task as there have been years of hymns written through the centuries. I can’t label this hymn “my favourite” but it is definitely up there on my most listened to songs, and ultimately it narrowed down to “Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus” and this song I’ve decided to share “Afflicted Saint, to Christ Draw Near.”

Why I’ve decided to share this song is because of it’s beautiful reminder that the God I follow is one who’s worth following; a treasure incomparable, one full of grace, one who is trustworthy, powerful, triumphant over the enemy, and one who sustains us till our dying day. Furthermore, as I listen to the song it reminds me of God’s faithfulness and trustworthiness in the past, present, but also future.  It’s a reminder that though we as Christians will face trouble, Jesus tells us “take heart; I have overcome the world (Jn 16:33).”

God’s Faithfulness and Trustworthiness in the Past

When I think about how God’s proved his faithfulness in the past, I remember the sweetness of my salvation in Christ calling me to Himself.

My faith journey began with two non-Christian parents who thought it would be a good idea to place me into a Christian private school to develop good morals and character. While there was some influence of the Bible and it’s teachings in my life, in retrospect, it led me to become a proud and self-righteous individual, thinking what the pharisees prayed, “thank God I am not like the other.”  It wasn’t until it was time for me to leave this Christian school that I was struck by these few words; “always walk with Jesus.” Up until this point, my idea of Christianity had always been “do right things and you’re fine,” so I continued trying to uphold my self-righteousness. It was “don’t do this, don’t hang around these people, don’t get mixed up in that crowd;” to the point of exhaustion, and I didn’t care anymore.

It was then that I realized that salvation is not of my own. I’m not saved to go and figure out my own way and keep righteous to the end. I don’t need to have a perfect or godlike complex because even my righteous deeds were as filthy rags. As the song begins, “Afflicted saint, to Christ draw near, Your Savior’s gracious promise hear.” Salvation and rest is not worked by me, but found in drawing near to Christ and trusting in His promise. Trusting the One who says, “come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest (Mt 11:28).” It was here that I was confronted with my sinful pride and self-righteousness that only led to death, and recognized that Jesus must give and be my strength for everyday. Jesus is the one who dies to bring peace with God, Jesus is the one that dies the death that I  deserve so that I wouldn’t have to experience it, I could look towards what Christ has done and point to His righteousness and not my own, so that I can stand before God. Jesus would prove that “Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, and to take him at his word; just to rest upon his promise, and to know, ‘Thus saith the Lord.’” And so it would be that I would prove him o’er and o’er! In my faithlessness, the course of my life would prove the goodness and trustworthiness of Jesus.

God’s Faithfulness and Trustworthiness in the Present

Fast-forward to present day.

I’ve been a baptized Christian for nearly thirteen years. I’ve been a leader in the church for a bulk of those years. I’ve gone through four rigorous years in seminary, surviving five semesters of Greek, and four semesters of Hebrew. Now I’m a young pastor at a local church in North York.

Has all these years walking in Christ been easier?

On the one hand no. For the disciples in Acts, it was through many tribulations that they must enter the kingdom of God (Acts 14:22). Jesus says, “blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you (Mt 5:11).” Jesus isn’t saying “if” but rather “when they persecute” and so, it’s only a matter of time for the Christian. Jesus also says to his disciples, “in this world you will have tribulation (Jn 16:33).” Once again, it’s not a matter of if, but when. So these years of following Christ have been filled with challenges and difficulties. I’ve struggled immensely through studies, I’ve had to work two jobs at a time to help make ends meet, I’ve suffered loss as a victim of a scammer, I’ve been conflicted and then looked down upon in having to do what’s Christlike. Having compared these experiences to what other might be going through, it might seem little, but what I’ve learned is that experiences are real and genuine experiences not to be compared to others but worked through for everyone who experiences them. As the song mentions, there are times where my faith is weak, times where it feels like I’m in poverty and have nothing, times where I experience affliction, pain or loss, it feels like my problems are compounded and overbearing, and waiting for the difficulty to pass just seems like forever. The song reminds me to “Still trust in your Redeemer’s name,” “His faithful Word you can believe,” “the Lord will make the tempter flee,” and “God shall supply all that you need.”

So on the one hand it’s no, but on the other hand, it’s yes. Even as a pastor serving in a local church, it can be quite easy to despair. It’s easy to look at the church wonder where everyone went. It’s easy to draw out all the negatives. But I’m reminded of these verses of encouragement in this song! I’m reminded of how God has proven faithful even when I have been faithless, and these reminders only serve to strengthen my faith and prepare me for even greater trials ahead. Through each experience, there’s an even greater confidence not in what I can accomplish, but what I know God can and will do, and His promises are sure. It’s true in verse three, “in fiery trials you shall see, ‘That as your days your strength shall be.’” Through the various trials we face in our lives, God is gracious to show us our weakness so that we might depend on Him and be reminded that He has always been the one strengthening us.

God’s Faithfulness and Trustworthiness in the Future

If I can trust in Jesus for something as great as my salvation, and I can trust Him today, then it would only make sense to trust Him till the end. Each verse concludes with the line, “as your days your strength will be.” It’s a reminder that our God will hold us fast until the very end. Even in the midst of our trials, even in persecution, even in great loss, our God shall supply all that we need in today and every day. As Moses blesses the tribe of Asher in Deuteronomy 33:25-27, we too can be reminded “as your days, so shall your strength be. There is none like God, who rides through the heavens to your help, through the skies in his majesty. The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms.”

In our deepest troubles, remember “this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal (2 Cor 4:17-18).”

Appendix: Afflicted Saint, to Christ Draw Near

Verse 1

Afflicted saint to Christ draw near

Your Savior's gracious promise hear

His faithful Word you can believe

That as your days your strength shall be

Verse 2

Your faith is weak, your foes are strong

And if the conflict should be long

The Lord will make the tempter flee

That as your days your strength shall be

Chorus

So, sing with joy afflicted one

The battle's fierce but the victory's won

God shall supply all that you need

Yes, as your days your strength shall be

Verse 3

Should persecution rage and flame

Still trust in your Redeemer's name

In fiery trials you shall see

That as your days your strength shall be (so, sing)

Verse 4

When called to bear your weighty cross

Or sore affliction, pain, or loss

Or deep distress or poverty

Still as your days your strength shall be