Spurgeon: July AM
* 07/02/AM
"Our heart shall rejoice in Him."
--Psalm 33:21
Blessed is the fact that Christians can rejoice even in the
deepest distress; although trouble may surround them, they still
sing; and, like many birds, they sing best in their cages. The
waves may roll over them, but their souls soon rise to the
surface and see the light of God's countenance; they have a
buoyancy about them which keeps their head always above the
water, and helps them to sing amid the tempest, "God is with me
still." To whom shall the glory be given? Oh! to Jesus--it is
all by Jesus. Trouble does not necessarily bring consolation
with it to the believer, but the presence of the Son of God in
the fiery furnace with him fills his heart with joy. He is sick
and suffering, but Jesus visits him and makes his bed for him.
He is dying, and the cold chilly waters of Jordan are gathering
about him up to the neck, but Jesus puts His arms around him,
and cries, "Fear not, beloved; to die is to be blessed; the
waters of death have their fountain-head in heaven; they are not
bitter, they are sweet as nectar, for they flow from the throne
of God." As the departing saint wades through the stream, and
the billows gather around him, and heart and flesh fail him, the
same voice sounds in his ears, "Fear not; I am with thee; be not
dismayed; I am thy God." As he nears the borders of the infinite
unknown, and is almost affrighted to enter the realm of shades,
Jesus says, "Fear not, it is your Father's good pleasure to give
you the kingdom." Thus strengthened and consoled, the believer
is not afraid to die; nay, he is even willing to depart, for
since he has seen Jesus as the morning star, he longs to gaze
upon Him as the sun in his strength. Truly, the presence of
Jesus is all the heaven we desire. He is at once
"The glory of our brightest days;
The comfort of our nights."