Then What?

The Letter, William K.  Blacklock 1872-1924

We know that the dread of what might happen is often worse than what actually does happen. But sometimes what we dread does come to our doorstep. Then what? Charles Spurgeon gives such good counsel that I want to share his words with you today. I hope it encourages you as it did me when I read it this morning, to look upon what arrives with a lively hope.

Psalm 112:7

He shall not be afraid of evil tidings.

Christian, you ought not to dread the arrival of evil tidings; because if you are distressed by them, what do you more than other men? Other men have not your God to fly to; they have never proved His faithfulness as you have done, and it is no wonder if they are bowed down with alarm and cowed with fear: but you profess to be of another spirit; you have been begotten again unto a lively hope, and your heart lives in heaven and not on earthly things; now, if you are seen to be distracted as other men, what is the value of that grace which you profess to have received? Where is the dignity of that new nature which you claim to possess? Again, if you should be filled with alarm, as others are, you would, doubtless, be led into the sins so common to others under trying circumstances. The ungodly, when they are overtaken by evil tidings, rebel against God; they murmur, and think that God deals hardly with them. Will you fall into that same sin? Will you provoke the Lord as they do? Moreover, unconverted men often run to wrong means in order to escape from difficulties, and you will be sure to do the same if your mind yields to the present pressure. Trust in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him. Your wisest course is to do as Moses did at the Red Sea, "Stand still and see the salvation of God." For if you give way to fear when you hear of evil tidings, you will be unable to meet the trouble with that calm composure which nerves for duty, and sustains under adversity. How can you glorify God if you play the coward? Saints have often sung God's high praises in the fires, but will your doubting and desponding, as if you had none to help you, magnify the Most High? Then take courage, and relying in sure confidence upon the faithfulness of your covenant God, "let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

~ from C.H. Spurgeon's Morning and Evening Devotionals

You can read more of Spurgeon's Devotionals here
 

When Friends Turn to Foes

For it is not an enemy who reproaches me, Then I could bear it; Nor is it one who hates me who has exalted himself against me, Then I could hide myself from him. But it is you, a man my equal, My companion and my familiar friend; We who had sweet fellowship together Walked in the house of God in the throng... as for me, I shall call upon God. ~ Psalm 55:12-15

There are those I know who need this encouraging word from Charles H. Spurgeon ~

We took sweet counsel together. It was not merely the counsel which men take together in public or upon common themes, their fellowship had been tender and confidential. The traitor had been treated lovingly, and trusted much. Solace, mutual and cheering, had grown out of their intimate communings. There were secrets between them of no common kind. Soul had been in converse with soul, at least on David’s part. However feigned might have been the affection of the treacherous one, the betrayed friend had not dealt with him coldly, or guarded his utterance before him. Shame on the wretch who could belie such fellowship, and betray such confidence!

As for me, I will call upon God. The psalmist would not endeavour to meet the plots of his adversaries by counterplots, or imitate their incessant violence, but in direct opposition to their godless behaviour would continually resort to his God. Thus Jesus did, and it has been the wisdom of all believers to do the same. As this exemplifies the contrast of their character, so it will foretell the contrast of their end—the righteous shall ascend to their God, the wicked shall sink to ruin. And the Lord shall save me. Jehovah will fulfil my desire, and glorify himself in my deliverance. The psalmist is quite sure. He knows that he will pray, and is equally clear that he will be heard.

~ Charles H. Spurgeon, The Treasury of David

Expectant Hope

Three friends in our church family have lost loved ones to death this week. There is sadness. Death, indeed, is an enemy. It isn't the way God intended life to be. Yet, unless we're living when Jesus returns for His Church--those who have saving faith in Him--it will needs be our gateway from here to Heaven.

"So shall we ever be with the Lord" (I Thess. 4:13-18). Comforting words for many of us when a loved one has passed from this world. Comforting if their hope was in Christ. Death brings sorrow to those who remain; it brings grieving because they are sorely missed. But believers don't sorrow as the world sorrows because of the hope, the confident expectation, that we live forever in the presence of God. And of this God wants us to have full assurance. He doesn't want us to be uninformed of what happens to a believer after death (v.13). When we understand the true impact of a believer's death, it brings that confident expectation; it comforts.

It also brings comfort knowing what will happen to me when I die. I have hope--not a 'hope so' kind of mentality, but a 'confident expectation,' for that is the meaning of the term hope as it is used here. I don't fear death or fear what will happen next. My confident expectation is that when I leave this body I will go to be with God. That expectation can only be based on the belief that Jesus died and rose again (v.14). And I believe that. It's a matter of faith. I will be transported from the caring arms of my family into the caring arms of my Savior, just as these three beloved ones were this week.

And so we comfort each other as loved ones depart, but we also comfort ourselves as we look toward our own farewell. "So shall we ever be with the Lord." Here and now. There and then.

And now let us consider what this glorious condition will be like when we are advanced. Oh, how sweet the prospect of the time when we shall not behold him at a distance, but see him face to face: when he...shall eternally enfold us in the bosom of his glory. How sweet to gaze on that blessed face for aye, and never have a cloud rolling between, and never have to turn one's eyes away to look on a world of weariness and woe! Blest day, when wilt thou dawn? Rise, O unsetting sun! The joys of sense may leave us as soon as they will, for this shall make glorious amends. If to die is but to enter into uninterrupted communion with Jesus, then death is indeed gain, and the black drop is swallowed up in a sea of victory.       ~ C.H. Spurgeon

Painting ~ Promenade a Skagen, Peter Severin Kroyer 1851-1909

Wikimedia Commons public domain

Sing On

If you know me or have followed my blog for awhile, you know that my daughters live far away and I miss being a part of their lives. I especially miss them on days like yesterday when I get a phone call from a dear friend who is eager to share with me that her daughter and son-in-law and soon-to-be-grandbaby are moving to their town, and I preview a book for our church Book Nook about a grandfather who has fun times with his two grandchildren who stop by his house practically every day, and I'm still sifting through family pictures for a project I'm working on and remembering the years when we were together.  

I truly am very, very happy for my friend and was so glad that she wanted me to share in her joy, and I very much do. But on days like yesterday, "each grace in the garden of [my] heart languishes and droops." As I've been asking God to refresh me, I came across one of Charles Spurgeon's evening devotions. God used it as a refreshing shower. I want to share it with you in the hope that if you're feeling a little droopy and barren today, it may refresh you as well.

From Spurgeon's Daily Devotions
"Sing, O barren." ~ Isaiah 54:1

Though we have brought forth some fruit unto Christ, and have a joyful hope that we are "plants of his own right hand planting," yet there are times when we feel very barren. Prayer is lifeless, love is cold, faith is weak, each grace in the garden of our heart languishes and droops. We are like flowers in the hot sun, requiring the refreshing shower.

In such condition what are we to do? The text is addressed to us in just such a state. "Sing, O barren, break forth and cry aloud." But what can I sing about? I cannot talk about the present, and even the past looks full of barrenness. Ah! I can sing of Jesus Christ. I can talk of visits which the Redeemer has aforetimes paid to me; or if not of these I can magnify the great love wherewith he loved his people when he came from the heights of heaven for their redemption.

I will go to the cross again. Come my soul, heavy laden thou wast once, and thou didst lose thy burden there. Go to Calvary again. Perhaps that very cross which gave thee life may give thee fruitfulness. What is my barrenness? It is the platform for his fruit-creating power. What is my desolation? It is the black setting for the sapphire of his everlasting love. I will go in poverty. I will go in helplessness. I will go in all my shame and backsliding. I will tell him that I am still his child, and in confidence in his faithful heart, even I, the barren one, will sing and cry aloud.

Sing, believer, for it will cheer thine own heart, and the hearts of other desolate ones. Sing on, for now that thou art really ashamed of being barren, thou wilt be fruitful soon; now that God makes thee loath to be without fruit, he will soon cover thee with clusters. The experience of our barrenness is painful, but the Lord's visitations are delightful. A sense of our own poverty drives us to Christ, and that is where we need to be, for in him is our fruit found.

Painting~Music by Richard Quiller Orchardson