How to find my eternal happiness in keeping God's word.

Posted : 29 Apr, 2013 02:22 AM

Psalm 119:67 Before I was afflicted I went astray; but now have I kept Your word.





The teaching of good judgment and knowledge will lead us to

deprecate, instead of desiring, a prosperous state. But should

the Christian, by the appointment of God, be thrown into the

seductive atmosphere, he will feel the prayer that is so often

put into his lips, most peculiarly expressive of his need-"In all

time of our wealth-Good Lord, deliver us!" (Litany.) A time of

wealth is indeed a time of special need. It is hard to restrain

the flesh, when so many are the baits for its indulgence. Such

mighty power is here given to the enemy, while our perception

of his power is fearfully weakened! Many and affecting instances are recorded of the hardening of the heart even of

the Lord's people, in the deadening influence of a proud and

worldly spirit. But the fate of the ungodly is written as with a

sunbeam for our warning-"When Jeshurun waxed fat, he

kicked-I spoke to you in your prosperity; but you said, I will not

hear." But how awful will be the period, when the question

shall speak to the conscience with all the poignancy of selfconviction-"What fruit had you then in those things whereof

you are now ashamed?" What is the end of this flowery path?

"Death!" "Surely You set them in slippery places: You cast

them down into destruction. How are they brought into

desolation as in a moment! They are utterly consumed with

terrors" "the prosperity of fools shall destroy them."

Our Savior's allotment for His people-"In the world you shall

have tribulation"-marks not less His wisdom than His love.

This is the gracious rod, by which He scourges back His

prodigal children to Himself. This is the wise discipline, by

which He preserves them from the poisoned sweetness of

carnal allurements, and keeps their hearts in a simple

direction towards Himself, as the well-spring of their

everlasting joy. With all of them this one method has been

pursued. All have been taught in one school. All have known

the power of affliction in some of its varied forms of inward

conflict or outward trouble. All have found a time of affliction a

time of love. All have given proof, that the pains bestowed

upon them have not been in vain. Thus did Manasseh in

affliction beseech "the Lord, and humble himself greatly

before the Lord God of his fathers." Thus also in afflictions the

Lord "heard Ephraim bemoaning himself;" and beheld Israel

"seeking Him early," and the forlorn wandering child casting a

wishful, penitent look towards his Father's house, as if the

pleasures that had enticed his heart from home, were now

embittered to the soul. And thus the Christian can give some account of the means,

by which his Father is leading and preparing him for heaven.

Perhaps he did not at first see the reason. It was matter of

faith, not of consciousness. But in looking back, how clear the

path, how valuable the benefit, Before I was afflicted, I went

astray: but now have I kept Your word. 'I never prized it

before. I could indeed scarcely be said to know it. I never

understood its comfort, until affliction expounded it to me. I

never until now saw its suitableness to my case.' But what an

heightened aggravation of guilt, when these especial mercies

fail of their gracious end-when vanity, worldliness, and sin still

reign with uncontrolled sway! Ah! when sinners are

unhumbled "under the mighty hand of God"-when they are

afflicted, and not purged by affliction-when it is said of them-

"They received not correction"-it seems the forerunner of that

tremendous judgment-"Why should you be stricken any

more?"

Heavenly Father! keep Your poor, weak, erring child from this

fearful doom. Let not that measure of prosperity, which You

may be pleased to give, prove my curse. But especially let

every cross, every affliction which You are pleased to mingle

in my cup, conform me more to my Savior's image, restrain

my heart from its daily wanderings, endear Your holy ways

and word to my soul, and give me sweeter anticipations of

that blessed home, where I shall never wander more, but find

my eternal happiness in keeping Your word.



by

Charles Bridges

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