Evening and Morning
By Charles Haddon Spurgeon
October 4
Morning
"At
evening time it shall be light."—Zechariah 14:7.
Oftentimes we
look forward with forebodings to the time of old age, forgetful that at
eventide it shall be light. To many saints, old age is the choicest season in their
lives. A balmier air fans the mariner's cheek as he nears the shore of immortality, fewer waves ruffle his sea, quiet reigns, deep,
still and solemn. From the altar of age the flashes of the fire of youth are
gone, but the more real flame of earnest feeling remains. The pilgrims have
reached the land Beulah, that happy country, whose days are as the days of
heaven upon earth. Angels visit it, celestial gales blow over it, flowers of
paradise grow in it, and the air is filled with seraphic music. Some dwell here
for years, and others come to it but a few hours before their departure, but it
is an Eden on earth. We may well long for the time when we shall recline in its
shady groves and be satisfied with hope until the time of fruition comes. The
setting sun seems larger than when aloft in the sky, and a splendour of glory tinges all the clouds which
surround his going down. Pain breaks not the calm of the sweet twilight of age,
for strength made perfect in weakness bears up with patience under it all. Ripe
fruits of choice experience are gathered as the rare repast of life's evening,
and the soul prepares itself for rest.
The Lord's people shall
also enjoy light in the hour of death. Unbelief laments; the shadows
fall, the night is coming, existence
is ending. Ah no, crieth faith, the night is
far spent, the true day is at hand. Light is come, the light of immortality, the light of a Father's countenance. Gather up thy feet in
the bed, see the waiting bands of spirits! Angels waft
thee away. Farewell, beloved one, thou art gone, thou wavest
thine hand. Ah, now it is light. The pearly gates are
open, the golden streets shine in the jasper light. We
cover our eyes, but thou beholdest the unseen; adieu,
brother, thou hast light at even-tide, such as we have
not yet.
Evening
"If any
man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the
righteous."—1 John 2:1.
If any man sin,
we have an advocate." Yes, though we sin, we have Him still. John
does not say, "If any man sin he has forfeited his advocate," but
"we have an advocate," sinners though we are. All the sin that
a believer ever did, or can be allowed to commit, cannot destroy his interest
in the Lord Jesus Christ, as his advocate. The name here given to our Lord is
suggestive. "Jesus." Ah! then He is
an advocate such as we need, for Jesus is the name of one whose business and
delight it is to save. "They shall call His name Jesus, for He shall save
His people from their sins." His sweetest name implies His success. Next,
it is "Jesus Christ"—Christos, the anointed. This shows His
authority to plead. The Christ has a right to plead, for He is the Father's
own appointed advocate and elected priest. If He were of our choosing He might
fail, but if God hath laid help upon one that is mighty, we may safely lay our
trouble where God has laid His help. He is Christ, and therefore authorized; He
is Christ, and therefore qualified, for the anointing has fully fitted
Him for His work. He can plead so as to move the heart of God and prevail. What
words of tenderness, what sentences of persuasion will the anointed use when He
stands up to plead for me! One more letter of His name remains, "Jesus
Christ the righteous." This is not only His character BUT His plea.
It is His character, and if the Righteous One be my
advocate, then my cause is good, or He would not have espoused it. It is His
plea, for He meets the charge of unrighteousness against me by the plea that He
is righteous. He declares Himself my substitute and puts His obedience to my
account. My soul, thou hast a friend well fitted to be thine
advocate, He cannot but succeed; leave thyself entirely in His hands.