Spurgeon: June AM
* 06/01/AM
"The evening and the morning were the first day."
--Genesis 1:5
Was it so even in the beginning? Did light and darkness
divide the realm of time in the first day? Then little wonder is
it if I have also changes in my circumstances from the sunshine
of prosperity to the midnight of adversity. It will not always
be the blaze of noon even in my soul concerns, I must expect at
seasons to mourn the absence of my former joys, and seek my
Beloved in the night. Nor am I alone in this, for all the Lord's
beloved ones have had to sing the mingled song of judgment and
of mercy, of trial and deliverance, of mourning and of delight.
It is one of the arrangements of Divine providence that day and
night shall not cease either in the spiritual or natural
creation till we reach the land of which it is written, "there
is no night there." What our heavenly Father ordains is wise and
good.
What, then, my soul, is it best for thee to do? Learn first
to be content with this divine order, and be willing, with
Job, to receive evil from the hand of the Lord as well as good.
Study next, to make the outgoings of the morning and the
evening to rejoice . Praise the Lord for the sun of joy when it
rises, and for the gloom of evening as it falls. There is
beauty both in sunrise and sunset, sing of it, and glorify the
Lord. Like the nightingale, pour forth thy notes at all hours.
Believe that the night is as useful as the day . The dews of
grace fall heavily in the night of sorrow. The stars of promise
shine forth gloriously amid the darkness of grief. Continue thy
service under all changes. If in the day thy watchword be
labour , at night exchange it for watch . Every hour has its
duty, do thou continue in thy calling as the Lord's servant
until He shall suddenly appear in His glory. My soul, thine
evening of old age and death is drawing near, dread it not, for
it is part of the day; and the Lord has said, "I will cover him
all the day long."