There was no fan-fare. There was no parade. Her profile was not written in the local paper in recognition of her achievements. In fact, very few at the time might have even known or cared. But it was her duty. As far as she knew or was concerned, it was just the way it was supposed to be. It was not out of the ordinary, but common among all who truly cared. She did not know she was different. She did not know her accomplishment deserved commendation. She was a Christian mother.
The apostle John began his second general epistle by addressing this dear woman, and said:
“The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth; for the truth’s sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever. Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love. I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father. And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another” (II John 1-5).
We know nothing about who this lady was or where she lived. Yet it is all too evident why she was the one too whom John addressed and about which he wrote this epistle—she was a successful Christian mother. She did not personally promote it or announce it, but her success was self-evident. Her children walked in truth. That single truth is her manifesto, and is the desire of every Christian mother. What, though, can be said of the mother who commits her life to the faithful upbringing, education, and future obedience of her children?
First, I believe it can be said that such a mother has hands that have wrung themselves to pain in prayer for her children. A loving mother will always be a praying mother; one who prays earnestly and ardently for various things, but primarily that her children come to know the truth. Prayer is an effective tool with which all children of God have been blessed that we might address the God of heaven with petitions and praise. A mother’s prayer life is saturated by petitions especially for her children. Just as Jesus’ prayer for His apostles was that the Father would “sanctify them through thy truth” (John 17:17), the Christian mother wears out her knees with the prayer that her children will come to know that truth. Though the scriptures do not indicate, it cannot help but be assumed that the elect lady of II John was not willing to leave the souls of her children to chance, but took an active role in teaching them the gospel, a role that would include praying for them. Thus, her manifesto would include an active and obsessive prayer life that her children might know truth, and allow that truth to make them free (John 8:32).
Second, it must be the case that such a mother will have a heart that aches for her children to believe and obey the gospel of Jesus Christ. Long before they are born, that mother likely worries with anticipation, “Will my children become Christians? Will they accept the truth they are taught and obey it?” Paul had a heart ache. His heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel was that “they might be saved” (Romans 10:1). Such an earnest hope encompasses the expectations of a Christian mother. And that expectation is of such important that she, like Paul, perhaps would even conclude the desire to herself be accursed from Christ if it meant they would be saved in the end (Romans 9:3). Yes, the mother’s heart is one that always wants and pursues the best for her children in all things that pertain to life; but even more, those things that pertain to godliness. Thank God for such mothers who concern not only about the future of their children, but their eternity as well. And, thus, her manifesto would also include an emotional longing for her children to weigh the evidence of truth carefully and allow it to direct their lives.
Then, third, the mother under consideration is going to have eyes that long to see her children in heaven. David, after losing the child that resulted from his illicit affair with Bathsheba, found comfort in the fact that even though the child could not return to him, that he could go to the child (II Samuel 12:23). David knew something about heaven—that we will know one another there. And a true mother who abides in love for her children will have that single opportunity as her goal, to one day see her children in heaven. To have the eternal comfort not only in her own salvation, but in the knowledge that her children are saved as well. Therefore, one day, when she herself gets to heaven, her eyes will strain and her pulse will race with anticipation, longing to see the babes she bore now babes in Christ who will die no more. When the voice she used to sing sweet lullabies of the evening will join with their voices to sing sweet songs of praise in the place where there is no night. Then she will be content, and then will her mission be complete. And such longing eyes summarize not only what she wants but who she is. Thereby completing that maternal manifesto, with eyes anticipating a great reunion in the clouds.
Though she had no book deal, the memoirs of the elect lady are continuing to impact the lives of people today the world over. It is her manifesto that sets the standard for what true, godly mothers will seek in their task of motherhood. Thanks be to God for such a standard, and thanks be to God for such mothers.
-Andy Brewer