I did a search for the book mentioned in the title of this post and ran across another wonderful web site. This one is called Christian Classics Ethereal Library and it is full of treasures.
The following is an excerpt from the Watson book and it is both rich with truth and a great comfort:
25. As Paul’s friends accompanied him to the ship, and there left him (Acts 20: 38), so all our earthly comforts will but go with us to the grave, and there leave us. You cannot say you have health, and shall have it for ever; you have a child, and shall have it for ever; but if God be your God, you shall have him for ever. ‘This God is our God for ever and ever.’ If God be our God, he will be a God to us as long as he is a God. ‘Ye have taken away my gods,’ said Micah (Judges 18:14). But it cannot be said to a believer, that his God is taken away; He may lose all things else, but cannot lose his God. God is ours from everlasting in election, and to everlasting in glory.
(8) If God be our God, we shall enjoy all our godly relations with him in heaven. The great felicity on earth is to enjoy relations. A father sees his own picture in a child; and a wife sees herself in her husband. We plant the flower of love among our relations, and the loss of them is like the pulling off a limb from the body. But if God be ours, with the enjoyment of God we shall enjoy all our pious relations in glory. The gracious child shall see his godly father, the virtuous wife shall see her religious husband in Christ’s arms; and then there will be a dearer love to relations than there ever was before, though in a far different manner; then relations shall meet and never part. ‘And so shall we be ever with the Lord.’ (page 17)
I have been thinking about faith recently. If you don't have true, saving faith in Christ, it is impossible for you to comprehend what it means. The writer of Hebrews defined it in the first verse of the eleventh chapter of his epistle, Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. That truth is what is reflected in Watson's words above. And it is that same truth that makes a believer able to endure the trials of this world.
We are having another one now. We are having our roof replaced and this old house has a couple of layers of cedar shingles and a layer of asphalt. Getting those things off is a big, dirty job. Two guys came over three weeks ago and tore off half of one side in a day, put down the plywood (particle board sheeting) and tar paper. That night (Thursday) we had what is a rare commodity in southernIdaho
Today, three weeks later, we finally have someone on the roof to complete the job that was started on the 4th. There has been much ado in those three weeks, and we are still trying to work things out with the original contractor. It has been a tough time. My praise: through all of this, God has ministered to me (us) regularly: through His word, through a ladies' Bible study I am a part of, through other believers encouraging, supporting, listening, admonishing. I am astounded at God's faithfulness.
He does not promise that His children will live without trials. What He does promise is that whatever happens, He will work it out for the believer's good (Romans 8:28). His fulfillment of that promise in the past (as witnessed in the lives of believer's testimonies recorded in Scripture, as well as what can be witnessed first hand in a believer's own life and the lives of others) helps to build faith.
I personally have assurance of things not seen because I have learned that God and His word are trustworthy. And though I have not seen Jesus' physical person, I have no doubt that He is alive and actively working on my behalf, for His glory.
The following is an excerpt from the Watson book and it is both rich with truth and a great comfort:
25. As Paul’s friends accompanied him to the ship, and there left him (Acts 20: 38), so all our earthly comforts will but go with us to the grave, and there leave us. You cannot say you have health, and shall have it for ever; you have a child, and shall have it for ever; but if God be your God, you shall have him for ever. ‘This God is our God for ever and ever.’ If God be our God, he will be a God to us as long as he is a God. ‘Ye have taken away my gods,’ said Micah (Judges 18:14). But it cannot be said to a believer, that his God is taken away; He may lose all things else, but cannot lose his God. God is ours from everlasting in election, and to everlasting in glory.
(8) If God be our God, we shall enjoy all our godly relations with him in heaven. The great felicity on earth is to enjoy relations. A father sees his own picture in a child; and a wife sees herself in her husband. We plant the flower of love among our relations, and the loss of them is like the pulling off a limb from the body. But if God be ours, with the enjoyment of God we shall enjoy all our pious relations in glory. The gracious child shall see his godly father, the virtuous wife shall see her religious husband in Christ’s arms; and then there will be a dearer love to relations than there ever was before, though in a far different manner; then relations shall meet and never part. ‘And so shall we be ever with the Lord.’ (page 17)
I have been thinking about faith recently. If you don't have true, saving faith in Christ, it is impossible for you to comprehend what it means. The writer of Hebrews defined it in the first verse of the eleventh chapter of his epistle, Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. That truth is what is reflected in Watson's words above. And it is that same truth that makes a believer able to endure the trials of this world.
We are having another one now. We are having our roof replaced and this old house has a couple of layers of cedar shingles and a layer of asphalt. Getting those things off is a big, dirty job. Two guys came over three weeks ago and tore off half of one side in a day, put down the plywood (particle board sheeting) and tar paper. That night (Thursday) we had what is a rare commodity in southern
Today, three weeks later, we finally have someone on the roof to complete the job that was started on the 4th. There has been much ado in those three weeks, and we are still trying to work things out with the original contractor. It has been a tough time. My praise: through all of this, God has ministered to me (us) regularly: through His word, through a ladies' Bible study I am a part of, through other believers encouraging, supporting, listening, admonishing. I am astounded at God's faithfulness.
He does not promise that His children will live without trials. What He does promise is that whatever happens, He will work it out for the believer's good (Romans 8:28). His fulfillment of that promise in the past (as witnessed in the lives of believer's testimonies recorded in Scripture, as well as what can be witnessed first hand in a believer's own life and the lives of others) helps to build faith.
I personally have assurance of things not seen because I have learned that God and His word are trustworthy. And though I have not seen Jesus' physical person, I have no doubt that He is alive and actively working on my behalf, for His glory.
2 comments:
AMEN AND AMEN....!!!!! GOTTA LOVE HIM !!! :-)++ and you too.!MOM
: ) Thanks, Mom!
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