Charles Spurgeon lived in the 1800s. Almost every morning, Ken and I read Morning Evening which was written by him and a chapter in the Bible. We read the one for August 20th on the morning after the Josh Duggar affair and it reminded us of the fact that nothing is new under the sun. Many in the church have always flirted with the world’s ways, yet it all seems to be getting worse and coming closer to the day of Christ’s return. Therefore, we must stay faithful and believe until the end, as Hebrews exhorts us over and over again. This is possible since Christ lives mightily within us! Here is Charles Spurgeon’s exhortation to the church which is still as relevant today as it was back then.
Cities well fortified have broad walls, and so had Jerusalem in her
glory. The New Jerusalem must, in like manner, be surrounded and preserved by a
broad wall of nonconformity to the world, and separation from its customs and spirit. The tendency of
these days break down the holy barrier, and make the distinction between the
church and the world merely nominal. Professors are no longer strict and
Puritanical, questionable literature is read on all hands, frivolous pastimes
are currently indulged, and a general laxity threatens to deprive the Lord's
peculiar people of those sacred singularities which separate them from sinners.
It will be an ill day for the church and the world when the proposed
amalgamation shall be complete, and the sons of God and the daughters of men
shall be as one: then shall another deluge of wrath be ushered in. Beloved
reader, be it your aim in heart, in word, in dress, in action to maintain the
broad wall, remembering that the friendship of this world is enmity against
God.
The broad wall afforded a pleasant place of resort for the inhabitants of Jerusalem,
from which they could command prospects of the surrounding country. This
reminds us of the Lord's exceeding broad commandments, in which we walk at
liberty in communion with Jesus, overlooking the scenes of earth, and looking
out towards the glories of heaven. Separated from the world, and denying
ourselves all ungodliness and fleshly lusts, we are nevertheless not in prison,
nor restricted within narrow bounds; nay, we walk at liberty, because we keep
His precepts. Come, reader, this evening walk with God in His statutes. As
friend met friend upon the city wall, so meet thou thy God in the way of holy
prayer and meditation. The bulwarks of salvation thou hast a right to traverse,
for thou art a freeman of the royal burgh, a citizen of the metropolis of the
universe.
The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be;
and that which is done is that which shall be done:
and there is no new thing under the sun.
Ecclesiastes 1:9
and that which is done is that which shall be done:
and there is no new thing under the sun.
Ecclesiastes 1:9
