2 Corinthians 1:3-4 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;… I. THIS WORLD IS NOT AN ORB BROKE LOOSE AND SNARLED WITH IMMEDICABLE EVILS. 1. If we would know what this world is coming to, we must not look too low. Have you never noticed, in summer days, when the sun stands at the very meridian height, how white and clear the light is — how all things are transparently clear? But let the sun droop till it shoots level beams along the surface of the earth, and those beams are caught and choked up with a thousand vapours, and the light grows thick and murky. And so, when men's eyes glance along the surface of the world, looking at moral questions, they look through the vapours which the world itself has generated, and cannot see clearly. Therefore it is that many men think this world is bound to wickedness, and that all philanthropic attempts are mere efforts of weakness and inexperience. And no man who does not take his inspirations from the nature of God can have right views of human life. No man can be a charitable man who does not believe that his fellow-men are depraved. And then, no man can be charitable with men who does not believe that it is the essential nature of God to cure, and not to condemn. God is Himself a vast medicine. And as long as God lives, and is what He is — "the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort" — so long this world is not going to rack and ruin. Let men despond as much as they please, the earth is not for ever to groan. 2. Work on, then! Not a tear that you drop to wash away any person's trouble, not a blow that you strike in imitation of the strokes of the Almighty arm, shall be forgotten. The world shall be redeemed, for our God's name is Mercy and Comfort. II. THERE ARE NO TROUBLES WHICH BEFALL OUR SUFFERING HEARTS FOR WHICH THERE IS NOT IN GOD A REMEDY, IF ONLY WE WISH TO RECEIVE IT. Now, there is victory for each true Christian heart over its troubles. 1. Not by disowning them. Every man's prayer to God is, "Lord, remove this thorn in the flesh." "My grace shall be sufficient for you." Then bear. 2. But how? — resignedly? Yes, if you cannot do any better. That is better than murmuring. But resignation is a negative thing. It is the consent of the soul to receive without rebellion. It is giving up a contest. 3. But is the disciple better than the Master? Would you, if you could, reach forth your hand and take back one single sorrow that made Christ to you what He is? Is it not the power of Jesus to all eternity that He was the Sufferer, and that He bore suffering in such a way that He vanquished it? Now you are His followers; and will you follow Christ by slinking away from suffering? Do not seek it; but, if it comes, remember that no sorrow comes but with His knowledge. And what is trouble but that very influence that brings you nearer to the heart of God than prayers or hymns? But sorrows, to be of use, must be borne, as Christ's were, victoriously, carrying with them intimations and sacred prophecies to the heart of Hope that by them we shall be strengthened and ennobled. 4. How is it, brother? I do not ask you whether you like the cup which you are now drinking, but look back twenty years — at the time which seemed to you like midnight, Now it is all over, and it has wrought out its effect on you; and I ask you, Would you have removed the experience of that burden which you thought would crush you, but which you fought in such a way that you came out a strong man? What has made you so versatile, patient, broad, rich? God put pickaxes into you, though you did not like it. He dug wells of salvation in you. And you are what you are by the grace of God's providence. You were gold in the rock, and God played miner, and blasted you out of the rock; and then He played stamper, and crushed you; and then He played smelter, and melted you; and now you are gold free from the rock by the grace of God's severity to you. And as you look back upon those experiences, and see what they have done for you, and what you are now, you say, "I would not exchange what I learned from these things for all the world." What is the reason you have never learned to apply the same philosophy to the trouble of to-day? III. NO PERSON IS ORDAINED UNTIL HIS SORROWS PUT INTO HIS HANDS THE POWER OF COMFORTING OTHERS. Sorrow is apt to be very selfish and self-indulgent, but see how sorrow worked in the apostle. When the daughter is married, and goes from home, how often her heart returns! As time goes on, the daughter suffers from sickness, children are multiplied, and the mother comes and tarries in the family. The children are sick, there is trouble in the household; but the daughter says, "Mother is here." And she says, "My dear child, I have gone through it all," and while yet she is telling her story, strangely, as if exhaled, all these drops of trouble that have sprinkled on the child's heart have gone, and she is comforted. Why? Because the consolations by which the mother's heart was comforted have gone over and rested on the child's mind. Now, the apostle says, "When Christ comforts your grief He makes you mother to somebody else." I know some people who, when they have griefs, become mendicants, and go around with a hat in their hand, begging a penny of comfort from this one and that one. What does the apostle say? That when God comforts your griefs He ordains you to be a minister of comfort to others who are in trouble. (H. W. Beecher.) Parallel Verses KJV: Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; |
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