Wrestling With Sovereignty
Jonathan Edwards, born on October 5, 1703, in East Windsor, Connecticut, often found himself grappling with questions about faith from a young age. Despite his devout upbringing and early entrance into Yale College at 13, Edwards struggled with the doctrine of God's sovereignty, which he found 'horrible.'
A Sense of Divine Glory
Yet, in March 1721, while still a student, a transformative moment occurred. As he read 1 Timothy 1:17, he encountered a profound sense of divine glory: 'As I read these words, there came into my soul, and was as it were diffused through it, a sense of the glory of the Divine Being.' This experience changed his perception entirely.
Prior to this moment, Edwards had many objections to God's choosing of whom to save. However, the reading of the Scripture brought an 'inward, sweet delight' that shifted his view. Suddenly, the sovereignty of God, once a point of contention, became a source of sweet delight. Edwards described the world around him as transformed, seeing divine glory in all of nature—from the stars to the trees.
A Greater Awareness
This newfound understanding sparked a longing for holiness and a deeper awareness of his own sinfulness. Edwards later reflected, 'I have had a vastly greater sense of my own wickedness... that I should appear the very worst of all mankind.' Yet, with this came a greater appreciation for God's love and grace.
A Pivotal Role in Revival
Edwards' conversion was more than a personal change; it propelled him into a pivotal role in the First Great Awakening. As a pastor in Northampton, Massachusetts, beginning in 1727, he preached passionately about God's power and love, influencing many. His life and ministry bore witness to the profound change that Jesus brought into his life, and the legacy of his faith journey continues to inspire.
