Evening and Morning
By Charles Haddon Spurgeon
July 25
Morning
"He left
his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out."—Genesis 39:12.
In contending with certain
sins there remains no mode of victory but by flight.
The ancient naturalists wrote much of basilisks, whose eyes fascinated their
victims and rendered them easy victims; so the mere gaze of wickedness puts us
in solemn danger. He who would be safe from acts of evil must haste away from
occasions of it. A covenant must be made with our eyes not even to look upon
the cause of temptation, for such sins only need a spark to begin with and a
blaze follows in an instant. Who would wantonly enter the leper's prison and
sleep amid its horrible corruption? He only who desires to be leprous himself
would thus court contagion. If the mariner knew how to avoid a storm, he would
do anything rather than run the risk of weathering it. Cautious pilots have no
desire to try how near the quicksand they can sail, or how often they may touch
a rock without springing a leak; their aim is to keep as nearly as possible in
the midst of a safe channel.
This day I may be exposed
to great peril, let me have the serpent's wisdom to keep out of it and avoid
it. The wings of a dove may be of more use to me to-day
than the jaws of a lion. It is true I may be an apparent loser by declining
evil company, but I had better leave my cloak than lose my character; it is not
needful that I should be rich, but it is imperative upon me to be pure. No ties
of friendship, no chains of beauty, no flashings of talent, no shafts of
ridicule must turn me from the wise resolve to flee from sin. The devil I am to
resist and he will flee from me, but the lusts of the flesh, I must
flee, or they will surely overcome me. O God of holiness preserve
thy Josephs, that Madam Bubble bewitch them not with her vile suggestions. May
the horrible trinity of the world, the flesh, and the devil,
never overcome us!
Evening
"In
their affliction they will seek Me early."—Hosea 5:15.
Losses and adversities are
frequently the means which the great Shepherd uses to fetch
home His wandering sheep; like fierce dogs they worry the wanderers back to the
fold. There is no making lions tame if they are too well fed; they must be
brought down from their great strength, and their stomachs must be lowered, and
then they will submit to the tamer's hand; and often have we seen the Christian
rendered obedient to the Lord's will by straitness of
bread and hard labour. When rich and increased in
goods many professors carry their heads much too loftily, and speak exceeding
boastfully. Like David, they flatter themselves, "My mountain standeth fast; I shall never be moved." When the
Christian groweth wealthy, is in good repute, hath
good health, and a happy family, he too often admits Mr. Carnal Security to
feast at his table, and then if he be a true child of God there is a rod
preparing for him. Wait awhile, and it may be you will see his substance melt
away as a dream. There goes a portion of his estate—how soon the acres
change hands. That debt, that dishonoured
bill—how fast his losses roll in, where will they end? It is a blessed
sign of divine life if when these embarrassments occur one after another he
begins to be distressed about his backslidings, and betakes himself to his God.
Blessed are the waves that wash the mariner upon the rock of salvation! Losses
in business are often sanctified to our soul's enriching. If the chosen soul
will not come to the Lord full-handed, it shall come empty. If God, in His
grace, findeth no other means of making us honour Him among men, He will cast us into the deep; if we
fail to honour Him on the pinnacle of riches, He will
bring us into the valley of poverty. Yet faint not, heir of sorrow, when thou
art thus rebuked, rather recognize the loving hand which
chastens, and say, "I will arise, and go unto my Father."