After Charles Spurgeon died Joseph Parker became the most famous preacher in England. People came from all over to hear him preach. His advice to young preachers was this–preach to comfort the afflicted and you will never lack for a congregation. Here is an example of what he meant:

Said Dr. Joseph A. Parker: “Some have found fault with me. They say I am old-fashioned and out of date; I am always quoting the Bible; why not turn to science this morning?

“There is a poor widow here who has lost her only son. She wants to know if she will see him again. Science shall give the answer, and I will put the Book away.” So he took the Book and put it on the seat behind. “Will this woman see her son again? Where is he? Does death end all? What has science to say?” Here a long pause. “We are waiting for an answer, the woman is anxious.” Another long pause. “The woman’s heart is breaking. Science must speak. Nothing to say? Then we must take the Book,” and here he reverently replaced it, and with great deliberation opened it and read: “I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me … The dead shall arise … for this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. O death, where is thy sting? … I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God.”

Then, closing the Book, and patting it affectionately, he said, “We will stick to the Book!”

“The Bible, like a bank, is most helpful when it is open”

“—he was marvellously helped, till he was strong. But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against the LORD his God–“ –2 Chronicles 26:15-16   There’s an old Greek story of a soldier who was suffering from a painful and deadly disease. His sickness was so serious, the doctors feared that he would soon die. The soldier, however, was a brave man. When going into battle, he was always the first to charge, for he had no fear of dying. Feeling he had nothing to lose, but the pain that tormented him, he courageously confronted the enemy.   Seeing his great bravery, his commander made arrangements for the doctors to treat his disease and he was miraculously healed. But this change brought about another—the soldier no longer displayed courage in battle. Instead, he sought a life of ease and comfort—concerned only about his life and welfare.   The same thing often happens to God’s people. When confronted with great danger or difficult problems they turn to the Lord and find strength, but when all is well they relax and become complacent. Their focus shifts from their duty to their desires. In their prosperity they begin to feel the need to protect and please themselves, rather than engage themselves in the rigors of duty. They become complacent rather than committed and courageous. Now, unknowingly, they are in greater danger than before. Safety is found only in the pathway of duty. Christians are in the greatest danger of their life when they desert their post of duty to pamper and please themselves. The safest place on earth is in the center of God’s will.   Take care of your duty and God will take care of your death

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Philippians 4:13   Shortly after trusting Christ as my Savior I discovered this wonderful verse and clung to it like a drowning man clings to a life preserver. I knew from the very beginning that I was weak and could never live as a Christian should without divine help. As I struggled to overcome various sins I quoted this verse over and over again–I still do today!   This glorious truth has helped many others as well. But some folks have misunderstood. The assurance that God will give us the strength to do His will does not mean it will be quick or easy or fun. Often times the path to victory is through blood, sweat and tears. Don’t assume that, because you are struggling, God isn’t helping you. Sometimes the difficulty is by divine design. God could make it easier, but He doesn’t. Here’s why—you are working on one thing God is working on two, your problem and you! God uses the process to develop your character, conforming you to the image of His dear Son. He knows “easy” isn’t always best.   Sometimes God delays the answer to our prayers and withholds His help because He knows we need the struggle. We long for a quick and easy way out, but God knows we need the opposite. Just as you cannot liberate the butterfly from the cocoon without killing it, we need the struggle to make us strong. Do not be discouraged when your efforts seem futile. Regardless of what you are going through, God is able to meet your need. He brought you to it and He will bring you through it. If you live in the sunshine of His bright promise it will help you to have hope when all seems doom and gloom. Claim it today!

“And let us not be weary in well doing—“ Galatians 6:9   Weary and worn from his ten year fight against the slave trade in England, a discouraged William Wilberforce opened his Bible in search of inspiration. As he leafed through it a small note fell to the floor. It was a letter written from John Wesley just before he died. The note said: “Unless the divine power has raised you up–I see not how you can go through your glorious enterprise in opposing that (abominable practice of slavery), which is the scandal of religion, of England, and of human nature. Unless God has raised you up for this very thing, you will be worn out by the oppostion of men and devils. But if God be for you, who can be against you? Are all of them together stronger than God? Oh, be not weary of well-doing. Go on in the name of God, and in the power of His might.”   That was just what Wilberforce needed to renew his vigor. We need that reminder as well. Every great enterprise has its difficulties. If we truly give ourselves to the pursuit of God’s will we can expect opposition and obstacles, but we must keep going. We might grow weary in the work, but we should not grow weary of the work. We all go through difficult and discouraging days. It is essential that we keep our focus on God and draw from the resources He provides, never fogetting that “in due season we shall reap if we faint not.”   It is always too soon to quit.

“I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”—Philippians 3:14   “He died climbing” is inscribed on a monument erected to an Alpine guide, who perished when attempting to reach the top of a mountain. In that tribute we see a reminder of what our attitude should be. We should be looking upward, pressing onward, and climbing higher. We should always press on in the pathway of duty.   “He died climbing” could be said of numerous Christians who refused to quit, who pressed on in the face of great difficulties and danger. Rather than give up many became martyrs for Christ sake. We read their stories and marvel, but we ought to do more than that—we need to follow their example.   Let us not be one of those who became content and stopped pressing on, as though we had gone as far as we needed to go. Neither let us be in the camp of those who became fearful and ceased to go on because of the danger. Our life is in God’s hands whether we be sitting on the plain or inching our way up the steep mountain side, hanging on by our finger tips. If our cause is nobel and our motive pure we have nothing to fear. All is well.   Fear belongs to those who quit climbing. Indeed, the way may be rough and tough, even painful, but we are never at liberty to stop. Press on dear pilgrim! The prize will be worth the pain. One day you will stand on the summit and look back on your journey and realize that had you stopped you would have missed the best. Keep climbing until that day when it can be said of you,”He died climbing.” It will be worth it all!   “I’m pressing on the upward way”