Spurgeon: May AM
* 05/03/AM
"In the world ye shall have tribulation."
--John 16:33
Art thou asking the reason of this, believer? Look upward to
thy heavenly Father, and behold Him pure and holy. Dost thou
know that thou art one day to be like Him? Wilt thou easily be
conformed to His image? Wilt thou not require much refining in
the furnace of affliction to purify thee? Will it be an easy
thing to get rid of thy corruptions, and make thee perfect even
as thy Father which is in heaven is perfect? Next, Christian,
turn thine eye downward . Dost thou know what foes thou hast
beneath thy feet? Thou wast once a servant of Satan, and no king
will willingly lose his subjects. Dost thou think that Satan
will let thee alone? No, he will be always at thee, for he
"goeth about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour."
Expect trouble, therefore, Christian, when thou lookest beneath
thee. Then look around thee . Where art thou? Thou art in an
enemy's country, a stranger and a sojourner. The world is not
thy friend. If it be, then thou art not God's friend, for he who
is the friend of the world is the enemy of God. Be assured that
thou shalt find foe-men everywhere. When thou sleepest, think
that thou art resting on the battlefield; when thou walkest,
suspect an ambush in every hedge. As mosquitoes are said to bite
strangers more than natives, so will the trials of earth be
sharpest to you. Lastly, look within thee , into thine own
heart and observe what is there. Sin and self are still
within. Ah! if thou hadst no devil to tempt thee, no enemies to
fight thee, and no world to ensnare thee, thou wouldst still
find in thyself evil enough to be a sore trouble to thee, for
"the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately
wicked." Expect trouble then, but despond not on account of it,
for God is with thee to help and to strengthen thee. He hath
said, "I will be with thee in trouble; I will deliver thee and
honour thee."