Not Left to Perish

Not Left to Perish, March 3
Author: Charles H. Spurgeon From the book: Faith's Checkbook

"For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither will thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption." - Psalm 16:10

This word has it proper fulfillment in the Lord Jesus; but it applies also, with a variation, to all who are in Him. Our soul shall not be left in the separate state, and our body, though it see corruption, shall rise again. The general meaning, rather than the specific application, is that to which we would call our readers' thoughts at this particular time.

We may descend in spirit very low till we seem to be plunged in the abyss of hell; but we shall not be left there. We may appear to be at death's door in heart, and soul, and consciousness; but we cannot remain there. Our inward death as to joy and hope may proceed very far; but it cannot run on to its full consequences, so as to reach the utter corruption of black despair, We may go very low, but not lower than the Lord permits; we may stay in the lowest dungeon of doubt for a while, but we shall not perish there. The star of hope is still in the sky when the night is blackest. The Lord will not forget us and hand us over to the enemy. Let us rest in hope, We have to deal with One whose mercy endureth forever. Surely, out of death, and darkness, and despair we shall yet arise to life, light, and liberty.

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Its amazing how the Lord of Lords coordinates things. Just yesterday I was having serious doubts about a lot of things. I felt as though everything was broken, that I was losing faith and doubting truth and promises of the Lord because the enemy was reminding me how putrid the world really is. My husband and I had an argument, I went to bed upset, I dreamt all night of no hope. Then what do I read today? That even when I feel like I'm "in the lowest dungeon of doubt", I'm reminded that I "shall not perish there." I'm reminded that the star of hope is still in the sky when the night is blackest. Praise the Lord for reaching into my heart, giving me joy all day, letting me be encouraged by this devotional entry and thank you Lord for letting me use it in my day to day life and encourage others with it too. Agape.

"67. Resolved, after afflictions, to inquire, what I am the better for them, what am I the better for them, and what I might have got by them." - Jonathan Edwards, 70 Resolutions.