Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Timeless Encouragement

Yesterday's Spurgeon devotion touched me so deeply that I went back to it this morning and re-read it. I wanted to share it with you, particularly because of all that is going on in our nation and around the world, perhaps even within your own home. It is a reminder, a message of hope and encouragement that regardless of what the world brings, we are children of the Lord Most High. He has promised us blessings beyond anything we can imagine. But the greatest blessing is that in spite of any change we may see in our lives, He is our Father still.

I pray Spurgeon's words are deeply planted in your heart as well.

"That those things which cannot be shaken may remain." Hebrews 12:27

"Many things in our possession at the present moment can be shaken, and it ill becomes a Christian to set much store by them, for there is nothing stable under these rolling skies; change is written on all things. Yet we have certain 'things which cannot be shaken', and I invite you this evening to think about them.

If the things that can be shaken would all be taken away, you may derive real comfort from the things that cannot be shaken, which will remain. Whatever your losses have been, or may be, you enjoy present salvation. You are standing at the foot of His cross, trusting alone in the merit of Jesus' precious blood. No rise or fall of the markets can interfere with your salvation in Him. No breaking of banks, no failures, no bankruptcies can touch that. You are a child of God this evening. God is your Father. No change of circumstances can ever rob you of that. Although by losses, you are brought to poverty and stripped bare, you can say, 'He is my Father still. In my Father's house are many mansions; there, I will not be troubled.'

You have another permanent blessing, namely, the love of Jesus Christ. He Who is God and Man loves you with all the strength of His affectionate nature - nothing can affect that. The fig tree may not blossom, and the flocks may 'be cut off from the fold' (Hab 3:17). These things do not matter to the one who can sing, 'My Beloved is mine, and I am His' (Song 2:16). We cannot lose our best portion and richest heritage.

Whatever troubles come, let us act like adults. Let us show that we are not such little children as to be cast down by what may happen in this poor, fleeting state of time. Our country is Immanuel's land, and our hope is above the sky; therefore, calm as the summer's ocean, we will see the wreck of everything earthborn, yet rejoice in the God of our salvation."