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\ / Charles Spurgeon's MORNING & EVENING
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Sunday, April 20, 2008
MORNING:
"That through death he might destroy him that had the power of
death."
-- Hebrews 2:14
O child of God, death hath lost its sting, because the devil's power
over it is destroyed. Then cease to fear dying. Ask grace from God the
Holy Ghost, that by an intimate knowledge and a firm belief of thy
Redeemer's death, thou mayst be strengthened for that dread hour.
Living near the cross of Calvary thou mayst think of death with
pleasure, and welcome it when it comes with intense delight. It is
sweet to die in the Lord: it is a covenant-blessing to sleep in Jesus.
Death is no longer banishment, it is a return from exile, a going home
to the many mansions where the loved ones already dwell. The distance
between glorified spirits in heaven and militant saints on earth seems
great; but it is not so. We are not far from home-a moment will bring
us there. The sail is spread; the soul is launched upon the deep. How
long will be its voyage? How many wearying winds must beat upon the
sail ere it shall be reefed in the port of peace? How long shall that
soul be tossed upon the waves before it comes to that sea which knows
no storm? Listen to the answer, "Absent from the body, present with the
Lord." Yon ship has just departed, but it is already at its haven. It
did but spread its sail and it was there. Like that ship of old, upon
the Lake of Galilee, a storm had tossed it, but Jesus said, "Peace, be
still," and immediately it came to land. Think not that a long period
intervenes between the instant of death and the eternity of glory. When
the eyes close on earth they open in heaven. The horses of fire are not
an instant on the road. Then, O child of God, what is there for thee to
fear in death, seeing that through the death of thy Lord its curse and
sting are destroyed? and now it is but a Jacob's ladder whose foot is
in the dark grave, but its top reaches to glory everlasting.
EVENING:
"Fight the Lord's battles."
-- 1 Samuel 18:17
The sacramental host of God's elect is warring still on earth, Jesus
Christ being the Captain of their salvation. He has said, "Lo! I am
with you alway, even unto the end of the world." Hark to the shouts of
war! Now let the people of God stand fast in their ranks, and let no
man's heart fail him. It is true that just now in England the battle is
turned against us, and unless the Lord Jesus shall lift his sword, we
know not what may become of the church of God in this land; but let us
be of good courage, and play the man. There never was a day when
Protestantism seemed to tremble more in the scales than now that a
fierce effort is making to restore the Romish antichrist to his ancient
seat. We greatly want a bold voice and a strong hand to preach and
publish the old gospel for which martyrs bled and confessors died. The
Saviour is, by his Spirit, still on earth; let this cheer us. He is
ever in the midst of the fight, and therefore the battle is not
doubtful. And as the conflict rages, what a sweet satisfaction it is to
know that the Lord Jesus, in his office as our great Intercessor, is
prevalently pleading for his people! O anxious gazer, look not so much
at the battle below, for there thou shalt be enshrouded in smoke, and
amazed with garments rolled in blood; but lift thine eyes yonder where
the Saviour lives and pleads, for while he intercedes, the cause of God
is safe. Let us fight as if it all depended upon us, but let us look up
and know that all depends upon him.
Now, by the lilies of Christian purity, and by the roses of the
Saviour's atonement, by the roes and by the hinds of the field, we
charge you who are lovers of Jesus, to do valiantly in the Holy War,
for truth and righteousness, for the kingdom and crown jewels of your
Master. Onward! "for the battle is not yours but God's."
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Morning & Evening is the classic devotional by 19th-century writer
and preacher Charles Spurgeon. It's part of HEARTLIGHT Magazine,
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