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Words in Season

AUTHOR:

Oliphant, James H.

“AFFLICTIONS, THOUGH THEY SEEM SEVERE, are oft in mercy sent.” In affliction, worldly things lose their importance in our minds, and prepares us to look to the great beyond for rest. Toil and labor prepare us for rest naturally, and it is true spiritually. There we learn that the earth’s best comforts will not suffice—we cannot rest in its honors, for they are empty and misapplied, and in deep affliction we see this. The wealth of earth may say there is no rest here for you, it is more likely to prove a snare and an idol. You may seek it and worship at its altar all your days, and in affliction you will reproach yourself for your wasted life and misspent years. See a man worth his thousands and mark his thoughts; he is often still studying how to draw more from the sweat and labor of his poorer neighbors; there is no rest. There was one who said, when his barns were filled, his garners overflowing with plenty, “Soul, take thy rest,” but the reply was, “This night shall thy soul be required at thy hands.” We often see men who have had their hearts set on wealth, and have labored hard to obtain it, but no sooner is the new house done, the estate made sure, and home crowned with plenty, than he is called to go, a widow and orphan children are left to mourn his loss, and lose his earnings by the cunning of others.

Worldly things are not a rest to God’s children; its pride and fashion must go. They will go from his heart, and he must learn that God is the place of rest. Are you too proud to be a Christian, are the ways of Jesus too plain for you, are his people too low and out of style to make you good companions? Affliction will one day change your mind, and you will see that your idols will be insufficient. God will have our hearts; by affliction, disappointment, bereavement, tears, sadness of heart, grief, woe and distress, we often learn that nothing is so good, lovable and precious as God. We cannot love God too much.

How often have God’s people had their sweetest comforts in affliction and death. The martyrs by the thousand were made happy in death; when they knew that earth had nothing for them, they rejoiced in God. Stephen died with his face aglow with love and hope—forsaken of earth and hated of men, but chosen of God and precious. The rich man had his good things all here, but alas for that man in the world to come. Oh, Christians, is your heart set on God, on your blessed Redeemer? If this is the object of your worship you will not reproach yourself at death for the devotion. Oh, that the Lord would draw us away from our idols, and wean us from every undue attachment to earth. God’s end in giving us the good things of earth is thwarted when we idolize them.