Jane Eyre, Conviction and the Holy Spirit

Tim Keller in The Meaning of Marriage sets the stage... Jane Eyre has been asked by Mr. Rochester to move in as his mistress. She's distressed because she's fallen in love with him only to learn he is married, though with hardships. What to do? Keller notes of Jane, "There is conscience, there is reason, and there is feelings, and they all rise up and argue that they should do what Mr. Rochester asks." 


It's the following inner dialogue Tim Keller quotes from Jane Eyre that stirred something inside of me the first time I read it and was brought to my memory again today (read slowly, the Old English can get confusing)...


"Still indomitable was the reply: 'I care for myself. The more solitary, the more friendless, the more unsustained I am, the more I will respect myself. I will keep the law given by God; sanctioned by man. I will hold to the principles received by me when I was sane, and not mad - as I am now. Laws and principles are not for the times when there is no temptation: they are for such moments as this, when body and soul rise in mutiny against their rigour; stringent are they; inviolate they shall be. If at my individual convenience I might break them, what would be their worth? They have worth - so I have always believed; and if I cannot believe it now, it is because I am insane - quite insane: with my veins running fire, and my heart beating faster that I can count its throbs. Preconceived opinions, foregone determinations, are all I have at this hour to stand by: there I plant my foot.' I did." 
- Jane Eyre qtd. in Tim Keller's Man's Search for Meaning (pg. 230)


How many times have I been quick to lower standards or ignore convictions? "Laws and principles are not for the times when there is no temptation: they are for such moments as this, when body and soul rise in mutiny against their rigour..." The purpose of God breathed instruction is for our good - and given to us to prepare and fight temptations - not to be disregarded at the first time of heightened emotion or complicated reasoning.


Do I believe the truths I have always claimed to believe? Will I stand firm in challenging moments?


Getting in trouble as a child was never fun. My parents meant business and they disciplined because they cared. I'm thankful for their instructive leading. I'm thankful they taught me the importance of the Holy Spirit in my life. Today in church, I was reminded of the awesome work of the Spirit in convicting and disciplining as I recalled one of my favorite passages.


Hebrews 12:4-12 says "In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says, “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.” Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father?  If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. “Make level paths for your feet,” so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.


It's a tough passage, but I love it. When I am convicted/disciplined it's because God is treating me as His daughter. What a precious reminder. He loves me. And those convictions lead me to walk in life more abundantly and in peace.


If you've been disciplined by your parents, you usually know whatever you are doing is right or wrong and would please or displease them- the same is true of the conviction of the Holy Spirit. You know if an action is pleasing or displeasing to your Heavenly Father. My pastor said in summary today that it's impossible to keep on willfully and habitually sinning and it be fun for the person filled with Spirit because you know you have grieved the Holy Spirit. God is drawing you back to Him (if you are listening, heeding conviction and act).


To have standards and convictions is not to be judgmental or "holier-than-thou" or whatever label the world tends to give it. To have standards and to desire the discipline of God is to desire life, freedom, peace and grace.


I want to know God more and heed His discipline more carefully. I want to be sure of His truths - the truths I have always known to be true -  so that I can know how to move when my emotions or reason fail me. 


To have principles, morals, standards and convictions rooted in the study of the Bible, in prayer and in faith is to have footing on which to stand in an hour of temptation.  I want to be found standing whatever the situation.


 "...And having done all, to stand. Stand therefore..." (Ephesians 6:13b).


To those who feel like you've ignored conviction and fallen short (like the rest of us) remember 1 John 2:1-2  "My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world."


Thankful a Way has been made and thankful we have a Why to stand.