Truth Endures

This weekend marks the 40th anniversary of Dr. John MacArthur’s ministry as the pastor of Grace Community Church. While many are familiar with his excellent commentaries and other exegetical writings, most don’t recognize him as a pastor. But pastoring is where his heart is. He has shown his love for the people of Grace by doing what a shepherd is called to do. He has led them beside still waters by fending off the wolves of doctrinal error and false teaching. He has led them to green pastures by systematically preaching through the entire New Testament during his time there. I recently heard him comment that he was just finishing preaching through his last book of the New Testament. Part of me expected the rapture to occur immediately as he completed that last sermon—but I guess he can either start over now or move on to the Old Testament.

I thank God for the faithfulness He has given Dr. MacArthur. As the average pastoral tenure vacillates between 18 months and two years, he has stood in the same pulpit before the same people for 40 years. As headlines are seemingly made every day by men who blaspheme God’s call and the pulpit He’s given them by their blatant immorality, he has lived above reproach. As church services throughout the country have been trivialized as just another form of entertainment, he has faithfully taught the Scripture week-in and week-out.

May God allow and enable me to follow John MacArthur’s example even as Paul told us to follow his.

Philippians 4:9