Trust in the Lord for He is good.

John Bunyan , author of The Pilgrim's Progress suffered much persecution, was imprisoned, his first wife that died, a child born blind and later died, one son was born premature and died... he knew much suffering throughout his life. At one point he was so scared to die and for the welfare of his family, that felt tempted to recant his faith. But could not do it. This is what he wrote:

"... I was greatly troubled, for I was ashamed to die as a coward with tottering knees for such a cause as this. So I was tossed about for many weeks, and knew not what to do. At last this thought came upon me with great weight: It was for the Word of God that I was imprisoned, so I determined not to flinch at all, I also thought that God could choose whether He would give me comfort now or at the hour of death, but I could not choose whether or not to hold my profession.  I was bound, but He was free; yes it was my duty to stand to His Word, whether or not He would ever look upon me or save me at the last. With this thought, I was for going on, and venturing my eternal state with Christ, whether I have comfort here or not. If God does not come in, I will still leap of the ladder even blindfolded into eternity, sink or swim, come heaven, come hell. Lord Jesus, catch me if You will; if not, I will still risk my life for Thy name."

His mercy

Have you noticed that the same sin that Lucifer committed against God which caused him to be expelled from Heaven forever, is the very same sin that he seduced Adam and his wife Eve in the garden of Eden? He knew the consequences. He hated God. He wanted us to be expelled from Heaven and suffer like him... not because he wanted us to suffer, but because he hated God. He wanted to hurt God, to ruin His plan, to bring God down from His throne and wanted to find more allies to war against God.

Lucifer, created perfect, thought he knew more than God. He did not want to stay in the position of created creature, he thought higher than himself that he ought to, he had a very high "self-esteem". He decided to not take orders from God anymore, he wanted to be the one in charge. He wanted to be like God.

He came to the garden. And the same strategy that used in Heaven, used against Adam and Eve. "You will be like God" he told them, all he had to do, was to convince them of the same rotten idea he once thought to be a great plan. And he did. The lie of becoming more than simple created creatures, thinking as something to be desired to be like Him who created them, to think that they could know more than God himself was a very attractive thought. And they believed Satan, rather than God.

What a sad day that was! To this day, I cry when I read the story of Adam's sin. To this day, my heart aches. But oh what a shock was to Satan!, what a pain it must have felt, when he realized he had no hope... yet... God had pity on us! He had no pity on him and his angels; God had pity on US!. Guilty of the same sin as Satan, guilty of the same treachery against our Creator, same penalty should have been fair and just. But He had pity on us!

Oh blessed Saviour! Oh blessed Lord!
Forbid it Lord that I should boast, forbid it Lord that I will take any credit on my salvation, that I may not see that cross and see the lamb in the place I should have been.

Oh blessed Jesus! Oh blessed day when You came! Oh blessed Redeemer! Oh blessed cross! Oh blessed resurrection!

Thank to Him that had mercy on us!

The Valley of Vision

O my Saviour, Help me, I am slow to learn, so prone to forget, so weak to climb; I am in the foothills when I should be on the heights; I am pained by my graceless heart, my prayer less days, my poverty of love, my sloth in the heavenly race, my sullied conscience, my wasted hours, my unspent opportunities.

I am blind while light shines around me; take the scales of my eyes, grind to dust the evil heart of unbelief. Make my chiefest joy to study thee, meditate on thee, gaze on thee, sit like Mary at thy feet, lean like John on thy breast, appeal like Peter to thy love, count like Paul all things dung.

Give me increase and progress in grace so that there may be more decision in my character, more vigor in my purposes, more elevation in my life, more fervor in my devotion, more constancy in my zeal.

As I have position in this world, keep me from making the world my position; May I never seek in the creature what can be found only in the Creator; let not faith cease from seeking thee until it vanishes into sight. Ride forth in me, thou King of kings and Lord of lords, that I may liver victoriously, and victory attain my end.

Amen.