Welcome, friends, to another
broadcast of Morsels for Zion's Poor. The Apostle Paul said,
For whether we live, we live unto the Lord, and whether we
die, we die unto the Lord. Whether we live, therefore, or
die, we are the Lord's. What a great comfort such a thought
is to the true children of God! That man who has been indwelt
by the Spirit of God has only a secondary interest in this
world, even though he must occupy that place which the Lord has
given him, until such time as his course is finished and the
Lord sees fit to bring him to his long home. God shall be with
his people in the time of their death, just as surely as he will
be with them in the life which they now live. Overcoming a fear
of the dark is something that nearly all children and many
adults have had to wrestle with. I can still remember conjuring
up in my immature mind all sorts of pictures of various hobgoblins
and monsters that I was certain must surely inhabit the darkness.
Even a foray of just a few yards into the dark alone was enough
to strike terror in my heart. Whatever errand I was sent on
was accomplished with great speed in order to get back to the relative
safety of the light at the back porch. I can still remember the
feeling of strength that I felt when one day I finally realized
that there was nothing lurking in the darkness that could not
be seen clearly in the light of day. Regardless of the empty
promises of the health and wealth crowd, the truth is that the
lives of God's elect children are filled with ups and downs.
Sometimes things don't turn out as we planned, and sometimes
they get even worse. Poverty may lurk around the corner
even though we enjoy the prosperity of this world's goods at the
present time. Though a man may rejoice in good
health today, tomorrow may bring great sickness, disease, or even
the very shadow of death. Pain and suffering is often the
lot which God has designed for His sheep, and God's people are
not promised a life of ease or a deliverance from the pitfalls
of this life. David testified that the Lord
would give him a song in the night. The Hebrew word, which
is translated as night, can also be translated as adversity. Revelation
21, 25 and 22, 5 both tell us that there will be no night in
that city which the Lord Jesus has gone to prepare for us. We're
told this so that we might behold what a great contrast there is
in that place to which we're called, and this sin-benighted
world in which we now dwell. The Lord has designed the heartache
of this present world so that his elect sons might not become
enamored with it, but that these trials and afflictions might
cause us to value those heavenly places where moth and rust cannot
corrupt nor thieves break through and steal. Rather than murmuring
and complaining about the maladies that may befall us, We should
rejoice at every heartache and be thankful for every trial,
which are but harbingers of those blessings which the glad day
brings. The men of this world may murmur and complain about
the circumstances which befall them, but the true sons of God
must not. We sore not as others which have
no hope. Regardless of what comes to pass
in our lives, we must endeavor to be thankful. Paul said, Rejoice
in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice. The men of this
world live only for the moment. The sons of God, however, have
the hope of eternal life, and He has in them a well of water
springing up into everlasting life. The men of this world are
primarily concerned with their comfort and ease in this life,
but those whom the Lord calls have been given grace to look
beyond this present veil of tears. For here we have no continuing
city, but we seek one to come. By him, therefore, let us offer
the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit
of our lips giving thanks to his name. There is no virtue
in trying to be uncomfortable, but neither is there any virtue
in constantly fretting about the maladies that may befall
us. Paul said, I have learned in whatsoever state I am therewith
to be content. He is our song in the night. As men age, they often spend
a great deal of time discussing their illnesses and the source
of all of their physical woes. The children of God should have
no more regard for these things than the Apostle Paul did, regardless
of their age or physical condition. For in that he himself has suffered
being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted.
He is our song in the night. Therefore I say unto you, take
no thought for your life, what ye shall eat and what ye shall
drink. Behold the fowls of the air, for they sow not, neither
do they reap, nor gather in the barns, yet your heavenly Father
feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? Is Christ your song in the night?
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