Evening and Morning
By Charles Haddon Spurgeon
March 13
MORNING
ÒWhy sit we here
until we die?Ó — 2 Kings 7:3
Dear reader, this little book was mainly intended for
the edification of believers, but if you are yet unsaved, our heart yearns over
you: and we would fain say a word which may be blessed
to you. Open your Bible, and read the story of the lepers, and mark their
position, which was much the same as yours. If you remain where you are you
must perish; if you go to Jesus you can but die. ÒNothing venture, nothing
win,Ó is the old proverb, and in your case the venture is no great one. If you
sit still in sullen despair, no one can pity you when your ruin comes; but if
you die with mercy sought, if such a thing were possible, you would be the
object of universal sympathy. None escape who refuse to look to Jesus; but you
know that, at any rate, some are saved who believe in Him, for certain of your
own acquaintances have received mercy: then why not you? The Ninevites said, ÒWho can tell?Ó Act upon the same hope, and
try the LordÕs mercy. To perish is so awful, that if there were but a straw to
catch at, the instinct of self-preservation should lead you to stretch out your
hand. We have thus been talking to you on your own unbelieving ground, we would
now assure you, as from the Lord, that if you seek Him He will be found of you.
Jesus casts out none who come unto Him. You shall not perish if you trust Him;
on the contrary, you shall find treasure far richer than the poor lepers
gathered in SyriaÕs deserted camp. May the Holy Spirit embolden you to go at once,
and you shall not believe in vain. When you are saved yourself, publish the
good news to others. Hold not your peace; tell the KingÕs household first, and
unite with them in fellowship; let the porter of the city, the minister, be
informed of your discovery, and then proclaim the good news in every place. The
Lord save thee ere the sun goes down this day.
EVENING
ÒThen he put
forth his hand, and took her, and pulled her in unto him into the ark.Ó — Genesis 8:9
Wearied out with her wanderings, the dove returns at
length to the ark as her only resting place. How heavily she flies — she
will drop — she will never reach the ark! But she struggles on. Noah has
been looking out for his dove all day long, and is ready to receive her. She
has just strength to reach the edge of the ark, she can hardly alight upon it,
and is ready to drop, when Noah puts forth his hand and pulls her in unto him.
Mark that: Òpulled her in unto him.Ó She did not fly right in herself, but was
too fearful, or too weary to do so. She flew as far as she could, and then he
put forth his hand and pulled her in unto him. This act of mercy was shown to
the wandering dove, and she was not chidden for her wanderings. Just as she was
she was pulled into the ark. So you, seeking sinner, with all your sin, will be
received. ÒOnly returnÓ — those are GodÕs two gracious words —
Òonly return.Ó What! nothing else? No, Òonly return.Ó
She had no olive branch in her mouth this time, nothing at all but just herself
and her wanderings; but it is Òonly return,Ó and she does return, and Noah
pulls her in. Fly, thou wanderer; fly thou fainting one, dove as thou art, though
thou thinkest thyself to be black as the raven with
the mire of sin, back, back to the Saviour. Every
moment thou waitest does but increase
thy misery; thine attempts to plume thyself and make
thyself fit for Jesus are all vanity. Come thou to Him just as thou art.
ÒReturn, thou backsliding Israel.Ó He does not say, ÒReturn, thou repenting
IsraelÓ (there is such an invitation doubtless), but Òthou backsliding one,Ó as
a backslider with all thy backslidings about thee, Return, return, return!
Jesus is waiting for thee! He will stretch forth His hand and Òpull thee inÓ
— in to Himself, thy heartÕs true
home.