The Purpose of Afflictions

I hope I may one day see clearly why many painful things have been permitted. I think, indeed, I am getting more light upon them. The Lord has delivered me from some very trying temptations and seems of late to be drawing me nearer to Himself. When we are under guilt and condemnation, all things seem against us, and there is a fleeing when none pursues. All things in providence and in grace have a veil over them, and we see nothing clearly. But as the Lord draws us out of these feelings by drawing us nearer to Himself as the God of all grace, light begins to dawn upon the soul, and many perplexities are cleared up.

It is a blessed thing to be drawn out of the world and from things hateful and evil by tasting that the Lord is gracious. It is the power of sin which needs breaking; and this can happen only by being brought under the power of grace. I have had many trials, afflictions, persecutions, and temptations; and I hope these have all worked together for my soul’s profit. It is not often at the time that we see the good of our trials and afflictions. But what poor useless beings we should be without them — a burden and a nuisance to the children of God! I was thinking the other day that there were only two things really worth living for: to be blessed ourselves, and be made a blessing to others. Without this, what is life? To eat so many pounds of bread and meat, drink so many tumblers of water, sleep so many hours — is this life? But to be blessed and made a blessing, to have the hope of immortality in one’s breast, and for some of God’s children to bless the Lord that we have ever lived — this is worth living for, and dying for, too.

Let us live twenty years longer, and it will only be the old scene over again, and we will have less strength to bear it. The world, sin, and Satan will not change. But if by living, we are made instruments in the Lord’s hands to the spiritual good of His people, this will be a blessing for eternity. May this reconcile us to our trials, that through them we may be made a blessing to the heirs of glory.

It was on December 9, 1869, 125 years ago, that Joseph Charles Philpot breathed his last breath and entered into the eternal rest. As his death approached, he was heard to say, “Better to die than to live! Mighty to save! Mighty to save! I die in the faith I have preached and felt. The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin. Oh, if I could depart and be with Christ, which is far better! Praise the Lord; bless His holy Name. ” Then at the last he looked up earnestly, and closing his eyes said, “Beautiful!” His wife asked, “What is beautiful?” But he made no direct answer, only with failing voice said presently, “Praise the Lord, O my soul!”

Deze tekst is geautomatiseerd gemaakt en kan nog fouten bevatten. Digibron werkt voortdurend aan correctie. Klik voor het origineel door naar de pdf. Voor opmerkingen, vragen, informatie: contact.

Op Digibron -en alle daarin opgenomen content- is het databankrecht van toepassing. Gebruiksvoorwaarden. Data protection law applies to Digibron and the content of this database. Terms of use.

Printen