Spurgeon: October AM
* 10/07/AM
"Wherefore hast Thou afflicted Thy servant?"
--Numbers 11:11
Our heavenly Father sends us frequent troubles to try our
faith . If our faith be worth anything, it will stand the test.
Gilt is afraid of fire, but gold is not: the paste gem dreads
to be touched by the diamond, but the true jewel fears no test.
It is a poor faith which can only trust God when friends are
true, the body full of health, and the business profitable; but
that is true faith which holds by the Lord's faithfulness when
friends are gone, when the body is sick, when spirits are
depressed, and the light of our Father's countenance is hidden.
A faith which can say, in the direst trouble, "Though He slay
me, yet will I trust in Him," is heaven-born faith. The Lord
afflicts His servants to glorify Himself , for He is greatly
glorified in the graces of His people, which are His own
handiwork. When "tribulation worketh patience; and patience,
experience; and experience, hope," the Lord is honoured by these
growing virtues. We should never know the music of the harp if
the strings were left untouched; nor enjoy the juice of the
grape if it were not trodden in the winepress; nor discover the
sweet perfume of cinnamon if it were not pressed and beaten; nor
feel the warmth of fire if the coals were not utterly consumed.
The wisdom and power of the great Workman are discovered by the
trials through which His vessels of mercy are permitted to pass.
Present afflictions tend also to heighten future joy . There
must be shades in the picture to bring out the beauty of the
lights. Could we be so supremely blessed in heaven, if we had
not known the curse of sin and the sorrow of earth? Will not
peace be sweeter after conflict, and rest more welcome after
toil? Will not the recollection of past sufferings enhance the
bliss of the glorified? There are many other comfortable answers
to the question with which we opened our brief meditation, let
us muse upon it all day long.