Eight years ago today, my little brother, Daniel, entered into eternity. Even at the young age of 13, he understood his need for a Savior and had trusted joyfully in Jesus who is the only way to the Father. "Jesus said to him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6). He now sees clearly what we see still dimly.(1 Corinthians 13:12) He is now with the Father as I long to be. What a joy it is to remember on this day, the riches of mercy we have in Christ Jesus...the comfort God has given us in our sorrows...the joy he has given us amidst the pain of loss...the increased longing he has given us for our true home...the increased desire to live our remaining days for what truly matters. In celebration of this day (even though it was a sad one for us, it was a joyous one for Daniel), I thought I'd post some of Spurgeon's words unpacking Daniel's favorite verse... "We know that all things work together for good to them that love God."
--Romans 8:28
Upon some points a believer is absolutely sure. He knows, for instance, that God sits in the stern-sheets of the vessel when it rocks most. He believes that an invisible hand is always on the world's tiller, and that wherever providence may drift, Jehovah steers it. That re-assuring knowledge prepares him for everything. He looks over the raging waters and sees the spirit of Jesus treading the billows, and he hears a voice saying, "It is I, be not afraid." He knows too that God is always wise, and, knowing this, he is confident that there can be no accidents, no mistakes; that nothing can occur which ought not to arise. He can say, "If I should lose all I have, it is better that I should lose than have, if God so wills: the worst calamity is the wisest and the kindest thing that could befall to me if God ordains it." "We know that all things work together for good to them that love God." The Christian does not merely hold this as a theory, but he knows it as a matter of fact. Everything has worked for good as yet; the poisonous drugs mixed in fit proportions have worked the cure; the sharp cuts of the lancet have cleansed out the proud flesh and facilitated the healing. Every event as yet has worked out the most divinely blessed results; and so, believing that God rules all, that He governs wisely, that He brings good out of evil, the believer's heart is assured, and he is enabled calmly to meet each trial as it comes. The believer can in the spirit of true resignation pray, "Send me what thou wilt, my God, so long as it comes from Thee; never came there an ill portion from Thy table to any of Thy children."
(Spurgeon, Morning & Evening, August 5th)
"I am still in the land of the dying; I shall be in the land of the living soon."
— John Newton (his last words)
