Amazing Grace in the Life of William Wilberforce
By John Piper

My wife once gave me five of John Piper’s books as a Christmas present. I tried to read one, sputtered in the process, and gave up. Have not touched another of Piper’s books since… Until I was (politely) asked by Eagles VantagePoint’s Executive Editor to review Amazing Grace in the Life of William Wilberforce. Well, thank God I was asked because this book was INSPIRING!

Two distinct attributes about Wilberforce will etch itself in the reader’s mind: his passion and his perseverance. Anyone who did not give up on a calling for 46 years of his or her life deserves an applause. Even on his deathbed, Wilberforce’s heart and mind was on ending the diabolical institution of slavery in the British Empire. An institution that is sadly echoed in many parts of the world even to this day. Faced with opposition – especially from enemies who had something to lose if the lucrative slave trade disappeared – Wilberforce struggled on. He knew he was in it for the long run, and he knew what he was doing was right in God’s eyes. And along the way, God granted him victories and provided him with the right friends to complete this journey. Piper does an excellent job in making the reader aware that Wilberforce gave his life to a cause greater than himself — and this is something all of us need to strive towards.

Which is why this reviewer was inspired. I am at an age where I was wondering what have I done with my life, and whether there have been any significant achievements to date. Sad to say, there have not been much. And then this book came along and it reminded me that dreams and visions ARE worth living and dying for. Critics and discouragers can have their say, but we should not lose that childlike belief in the impossible becoming possible. That is a message that is relevant to modern society, where creature comforts and the worries of making more money can easily make us lose sight of what is truly important.

If you are looking for a simple, straight forward read that will not take up too much time, this is the book for you. Impactful but not time consuming, this book can easily be enjoyed on the train ride to and from work, which I can attest to. However, one must note that this strength (the compact length of the book) is also a weakness. Although Piper is descriptive, the brevity of the book does not allow him to expound more on interesting aspects of Wilberforce’s life. For example, Piper mentions that three of Wilberforce’s sons ended up leaving their father’s evangelical faith. But when I wondered what made them do so, the book does not elaborate more on the subject. A longer biography would no doubt have delved a few more paragraphs into the matter. There are also a couple of places where terms like “high church” are used to describe life in 18th century England. An Asian audience may have a bit more difficulty in understanding such terms (but thankfully there are not many of these words). A lengthier book will of course be able to better describe life in 18th century England.

But brevity aside, I heartily recommend this book as an inspiration to all, regardless of faith, race or nationality. If you are looking for a Christmas present, this is it. As Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, “If you haven’t found something worth dying for, you aren’t fit to be living.” This book will show you why.

Eric Sung works as an Executive (Ministry) at Eagles Communications. He enjoys eating, sleeping, watching slapstick comedies, and writing. Eric worships at Covenant Evangelical Free Church with his wife, Angeline.