Morning & Evening Devotional Reading–
August 17– Evening
by C. H. Spurgeon, revised and edited by W. C. Neff
“[Lazarus’s] illness is not unto death.”
—John 11:4
From our Lord’s words, we learn that there is a limit to sickness. It leads “unto” something which is its ultimate end; the illness itself can only go so far. Lazarus might pass through death, but death was not the ultimate ending point of his sickness. In all sickness, the Lord says to the waves of pain “You can go this far but no further.” His fixed purpose is not the destruction but the instruction of his people. Wisdom hangs up the thermometer at the furnace’s vent and regulates the heat.
First, the fact that there is a limit is encouragingly comprehensive. The God of providence has limited the time, manner, intensity, repetition, and effects of all our sicknesses; each throb is decreed, each sleepless hour predestined, each relapse ordained, each depression of spirit foreknown, and each sanctifying result eternally purposed. Nothing great or small escapes the ordaining hand of him who numbers the hairs of our head.
Second, this limitation is wisely adjusted to our strength, to the end designed, and to the grace apportioned to us. Affliction does not come haphazardly—the weight of every stroke of the rod is accurately measured. He who made no mistakes in balancing the clouds and meting out the heavens commits no errors in measuring out the ingredients which compose the medicine for our souls. We cannot suffer too much nor be relieved too late.
Third, the limitation is also tenderly appointed. The knife of the heavenly Surgeon never cuts deeper than is absolutely necessary. “He does not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men.” A mother’s heart cries, “Spare my child;” but no mother is more compassionate than our gracious God. When we consider how hard-mouthed we are, it is a wonder that God doesn’t use a sharper bit. The thought is full of consolation that he who has fixed the bounds of our habitation has also fixed the bounds of our tribulation.” [M&E]
