Morning & Evening Devotional Reading–

August 11– Evening

by C. H. Spurgeon, revised and edited by W. C. Neff

“[God, in Christ, gave us] everlasting consolation.'”

—2 Thessalonians 2:16

Consider the word “consolation.” There is music in a word like that! Like David’s harp, it charms away the evil spirit of melancholy. It was a distinguished honor to Barnabas to be called “the son of consolation.” And it is one of the illustrious names of One greater than Barnabas, for the Lord Jesus is called “the consolation of Israel.”

“Everlasting consolation”: here is the cream of all, for it is the crown and glory of all eternity! And what is this “everlasting consolation”? It first includes a sense of pardoned sin. A Christian man has received in his heart the witness of the Spirit that his iniquities are put away from him. And if sin is put away from us, nevermore to condemn us, is not that an everlasting consolation?

After our sins are pardoned, the Lord gives his people an abiding sense of acceptance in Christ. The Christian knows that God looks upon him as standing in union with Jesus. Union to the risen Lord is a consolation that continues and remains; indeed, it lasts forever!  Even if sickness comes to us and lays us out, have we not seen hundreds of believers as happy in the weakness of disease as they would have been in the strength of blooming health? Let death’s arrows pierce us to the heart, and yet our comfort does not die! Haven’t our ears often heard the songs of saints rejoicing because the living love of God was shed abroad in their hearts in their dying moments? Yes, a sense of acceptance in our Beloved Jesus is an everlasting consolation.

Finally, the Christian is given a humble conviction of his security in Christ. God has promised to save those who trust in Christ, and the Christian believes that God will be as good as his word and will save him as he promised. The Christian is safe by virtue of his being united with Jesus who is our “Everlasting Consolation.” [M&E]