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\ / Charles Spurgeon's MORNING & EVENING
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Thursday, February 7, 2008
MORNING:
"Arise, and depart."
-- Micah 2:10
The hour is approaching when the message will come to us, as it comes
to all-"Arise, and go forth from the home in which thou hast dwelt,
from the city in which thou hast done thy business, from thy family,
from thy friends. Arise, and take thy last journey." And what know we
of the journey? And what know we of the country to which we are bound?
A little we have read thereof, and somewhat has been revealed to us by
the Spirit; but how little do we know of the realms of the future! We
know that there is a black and stormy river called "Death." God bids us
cross it, promising to be with us. And, after death, what cometh? What
wonder-world will open upon our astonished sight? What scene of glory
will be unfolded to our view? No traveller has ever returned to tell.
But we know enough of the heavenly land to make us welcome our summons
thither with joy and gladness. The journey of death may be dark, but we
may go forth on it fearlessly, knowing that God is with us as we walk
through the gloomy valley, and therefore we need fear no evil. We shall
be departing from all we have known and loved here, but we shall be
going to our Father's house-to our Father's home, where Jesus is-to
that royal "city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is
God." This shall be our last removal, to dwell for ever with him we
love, in the midst of his people, in the presence of God. Christian,
meditate much on heaven, it will help thee to press on, and to forget
the toil of the way. This vale of tears is but the pathway to the
better country: this world of woe is but the stepping-stone to a world
of bliss.
"Prepare us, Lord, by grace divine,
For thy bright courts on high;
Then bid our spirits rise, and join
The chorus of the sky."
EVENING:
"And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them,
Come up hither."
-- Revelation 11:12
Without considering these words in their prophetical connection, let us
regard them as the invitation of our great Forerunner to his sanctified
people. In due time there shall be heard "a great voice from heaven" to
every believer, saying, "Come up hither." This should be to the saints
the subject of joyful anticipation. Instead of dreading the time when
we shall leave this world to go unto the Father, we should be panting
for the hour of our emancipation. Our song should be-
"My heart is with him on his throne,
And ill can brook delay;
Each moment listening for the voice,
'Rise up and come away.'"
We are not called down to the grave, but up to the skies. Our
heaven-born spirits should long for their native air. Yet should the
celestial summons be the object of patient waiting. Our God knows best
when to bid us "Come up thither." We must not wish to antedate the
period of our departure. I know that strong love will make us cry,
"O Lord of Hosts, the waves divide,
And land us all in heaven;"
but patience must have her perfect work. God ordains with accurate
wisdom the most fitting time for the redeemed to abide below. Surely,
if there could be regrets in heaven, the saints might mourn that they
did not live longer here to do more good. Oh, for more sheaves for my
Lord's garner! more jewels for his crown! But how, unless there be more
work? True, there is the other side of it, that, living so briefly, our
sins are the fewer; but oh! when we are fully serving God, and he is
giving us to scatter precious seed, and reap a hundredfold, we would
even say it is well for us to abide where we are. Whether our Master
shall say "go," or "stay," let us be equally well pleased so long as he
indulges us with his presence.
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MORNING & EVENING from HEARTLIGHT /\/\
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Morning & Evening is the classic devotional by 19th-century writer
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