Spurgeon: May PM
* 05/26/PM
"Continue in the faith."
--Acts 14:22
Perseverance is the badge of true saints. The Christian life
is not a beginning only in the ways of God, but also a
continuance in the same as long as life lasts. It is with a
Christian as it was with the great Napoleon: he said, "Conquest
has made me what I am, and conquest must maintain me." So, under
God, dear brother in the Lord, conquest has made you what you
are, and conquest must sustain you. Your motto must be,
"Excelsior." He only is a true conqueror, and shall be crowned
at the last, who continueth till war's trumpet is blown no more.
Perseverance is, therefore, the target of all our spiritual
enemies. The world does not object to your being a Christian
for a time, if she can but tempt you to cease your pilgrimage,
and settle down to buy and sell with her in Vanity Fair. The
flesh will seek to ensnare you, and to prevent your pressing
on to glory. "It is weary work being a pilgrim; come, give it
up. Am I always to be mortified? Am I never to be indulged? Give
me at least a furlough from this constant warfare." Satan will
make many a fierce attack on your perseverance; it will be the
mark for all his arrows. He will strive to hinder you in
service : he will insinuate that you are doing no good; and that
you want rest. He will endeavour to make you weary of
suffering , he will whisper, "Curse God, and die." Or he will
attack your steadfastness : "What is the good of being so
zealous? Be quiet like the rest; sleep as do others, and let
your lamp go out as the other virgins do." Or he will assail
your doctrinal sentiments : "Why do you hold to these
denominational creeds? Sensible men are getting more liberal;
they are removing the old landmarks: fall in with the times."
Wear your shield, Christian, therefore, close upon your armour,
and cry mightily unto God, that by His Spirit you may endure to
the end.