Was it so even in the beginning? Did light and darkness divide the realm of
time in the first day? Then little wonder is it if I have also changes in my
circumstances from the sunshine of prosperity to the midnight of
adversity. It will not always be the blaze of noon even in my soul
concerns, I must expect at seasons to mourn the absence of my former
joys, and seek my Beloved in the night. Nor am I alone in this, for all the
Lords beloved ones have had to sing the mingled song of judgment and of
mercy, of trial and deliverance, of mourning and of delight. It is one of
the
arrangements of Divine providence that day and night shall not cease either
in the spiritual or natural creation till we reach the land of which it is
written, there is no night there. What our heavenly Father ordains is
wise and good.
What, then, my soul, is it best for thee to do? Learn first to be content
with
this divine order, and be willing, with Job, to receive evil from the hand
of
the Lord as well as good. Study next, to make the outgoings of the morning
and the evening to rejoice. Praise the Lord for the sun of joy when it
rises,
and for the gloom of evening as it falls. There is beauty both in sunrise
and
sunset, sing of it, and glorify the Lord. Like the nightingale, pour forth
thy
notes at all hours. Believe that the night is as useful as the day. The dews
of
grace fall heavily in the night of sorrow. The stars of promise shine forth
gloriously amid the darkness of grief. Continue thy service under all
changes. If in the day thy watchword be labour, at night exchange it for
watch. Every hour has its duty, do thou continue in thy calling as the
Lords servant until He shall suddenly appear in His glory. My soul, thine
evening of old age and death is drawing near, dread it not, for it is part
of
the day; and the Lord has said, I will cover him all the day long.
SingleVISION
The
Lord hath done great things for us, whereof we are glad.
Psalm 126:3
Some Christians are sadly prone
to look on the dark side of everything,
and to dwell more upon what they have gone through than upon what God
has done for them. Ask for their impression of the Christian life, and they
will describe their continual conflicts, their deep afflictions, their sad
adversities, and the sinfulness of their hearts, yet with scarcely any
allusion to the mercy and help which God has vouchsafed them.
But a Christian whose soul is
in a healthy state, will come forward joyously, and
say, I will speak, not about myself, but to the honour of my God. He
hath brought me up out of an horrible pit, and out of the miry clay, and set
my feet upon a rock, and established my goings: and He hath put a new song
in my mouth, even praise unto our God. The Lord hath done great things for
me, whereof I am glad.
Such an abstract of experience
as this is the very best that any child of God can present. It is
true that we endure trials, but it is just as true that we are delivered out
of them. It is true that we have our corruptions, and mournfully do we know
this, but it is quite as true that we have an all-sufficient Saviour, who
overcomes these corruptions, and delivers us from their dominion. In looking
back, it would be wrong to deny that we have been in the Slough of Despond,
and have crept along the Valley of Humiliation, but it would be equally
wicked to
forget that we have been through them safely and profitably; we have not
remained in them, thanks to our Almighty Helper and Leader, who has
brought us out into a wealthy place.
The deeper our troubles, the
louder our thanks to God, who has led us through all, and preserved us until
now. Our griefs cannot mar the melody of our praise, we reckon them to be
the bass part of our lifes song, He hath done
great things for us, whereof we are glad. |
Spurgeon's Counsel