Perseverance
“This is the rest 7uherewith ye may cause the weary to rest, and this is the refreshing’” —
“?tjr ir!)trlj Ijatlj irgun a gooti ioorft in gou, ioill perforin it ttnto tijc ting of Srsiis Cijrist.” — Phil. i. 6.
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“SMc sfjall not tiic.” — Hab. i. 12.
In looking from underneath the shade of the pahn-trees, on the long untrodden journey ere the true Canaan can be reached, the thought cannot fail at times to obtrude itself, Can we trust to be safeguarded through this great and terrible wilderness? Can we rely on the God of the Pillar-cloud conducting us to the brink of Jordan and thence to “the shining fields” beyond? Rather, is there no danger to be apprehended of spiritual drought and famine, or spiritual death, overtaking us? May it not be sadly fulfilled, with us, in a spiritual sense, as it was with the Pilgrim Hebrews in a literal,- that through apostacy, unbelief, and backsliding, “we shall never enter into His rest “?
No. We have the sure word of promise of “a God who cannot lie,” “Ye shall go over and possess that good land” (Deut. iv. 22).” But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and He that formed thee, O Israel,
Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art Mine, When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour” (Isa. xliii. 13). All is guaranteed to us in what the old writers call “the charter-deed of the Everlasting Covenant.” The immutability of the Divine counsel has been confirmed unto us by oath. In the first of our motto-verses the great Apostle speaks with unhesitating assurance; — “being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you, will perform it unto the day of Jesus Christ.” He does not, indeed, aver, that “good work” is never to be impeded. God has never given promise in Scripture, with regard to spiritual experience, of an unclouded day — uninterrupted sunshine. “The morning without clouds” is a heavenly emblem. The earthly one is “a day in which the light shall neither be clear nor dark” (Zech. xiv. 6). The analogy of the outer world of nature, at least under these our chequered and ever-varying skies, teaches us this. Spring comes smiling, and pours her blossoms into the lap of Summer. But the skies lower, the rain and battering hail descend, the virgin blossoms droop their heads and almost die. Summer again smiles, and the meadows look gay; the flowers ring merry chimes with their leaves and petals and swing their fragrant censers. But all at once drought comes with her fiery, merciless footsteps. Every blade and floweret, gasping for breath, lift their blanched eyelids to the brazen sky; or the night winds rock the laden branches and strew the ground. Thus, we see, it is not one unvarying, unchecked progression, from the opening bud to the matured fruit. But every succeeding month is more or less scarred by drought and moisture, wind and rain and storm. Yet, never once lias Autumn failed to gather up her golden sheaves; ay, and if you ask her testimony, she will tell that the very storm, and blackened skies, and descending torrents you dreaded as foes, were the best auxiliaries in filling her garners. Be not desponding now, because of present passing shadows, but “thank God, and take courage.” “Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with His hand” (Ps. xxxvii. 24). It is written, that “at evening time it shall be light” (Zech. xiv. 7). The sun may wade all day through murky clouds, but he will pillow his head at night on a couch of vermilion and amber. “Though ye have lien among the pots, yet shall ye be as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold” (Ps. lxviii. 13).
The second of our motto-verses forms part of an impassioned appeal of the Prophet Habakkuk in the prospect of impending national calamity. The great military power of that era of the world was menacing the cities and homes of Palestine. “Terrible and dreadful” — their horses “swifter than the leopards, and more fierce than the evening wolves” (i. 7, 8). Overwhelmed at the thought of imminent judgment and desolation; the seer can discern no silver lining in the earthly cloud. He turns from man to God. He takes refuge in that sublime truth — the Immutability of a covenant Jehovah; and breaks out in these beautiful words of calm confidence, “Art Thou not from everlasting, O Lord, my God, mine Holy One? we shall not die!” No: though the hosts of the Chaldeans sheuld sweep the battle-plains; though they should leave behind them a track of blood and ashes and smoke; though the cry of suffering thousands shoul-d ascend apparently unsuccoured to heaven, “We shall not die.” The God of our Fathers will not be untrue to His oath, or unmindful of His covenant. He will not cast off for ever, or root out our name and remembrance from the earth.
“/ give unto them,” is His own blessed word and guarantee to His true Israel still, “eternal life, and they shall never perish.” “What God hath spoken, He is able also to perform.” The good work begun, He will also finish. Let this ever be our rallying call when wounded in the fight, “This is mine infirmity: but / will remember the years of the right hand of the Most High!”
“He will never fail us,
He will not forsake;
His eternal covenant,
He will never break.
‘Onward, then, and fear not,
Children of the Day!
For His Word shall never,
Never pass away!”
“IT IS GOOD THAT A MAN SHOULD BOTH HOPE AND QUIETLY WAIT FOR THE SALVATION OF GOD.’’