2 Thessalonians 2:16 Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which has loved us… Trouble of some kind is universally diffused among men, and in the generality pretty equally distributed. Few of God's own children get through the world and into the heavenly home without trouble by the way. There is a sense in which Christians drink more deeply of the bitter cup than others, for in proportion as they are really Christians, they have refined and developed sensibilities. Trouble is to us what we ourselves are, and so is joy, and so is everything. Sympathy is a precious thing, but beyond a certain point every one has to bear his own burden; and since there is promised grace, let each one bear it like a man. But Christianity is not stoicism, and the Christian heart must have consolation. I. THERE ARE FALSE CONSOLATIONS. 1. The desperate consolation of complete thoughtlessness. 2. The presumptuous consolation of concluding that God is bound to make all turn out well in the end, and that therefore we need not trouble ourselves. 3. The superficial consolation which soothes the mind without going down to the roots of things. "If things are dark today — well, then, they will be brighter tomorrow." True enough; but what of the morrow beyond tomorrow? The darkness may be back again. We want the "everlasting consolation"; anything short of it is deplorably less than we need. II. THERE IS THE TRUE CONSOLATION. It is everlasting because it comes from an everlasting source — the unchangeable God. Never can we be consoled for the sorrow of the world, or our own share of it, until we meet with Him — the Father of our spirits, the God of our salvation, and receive what we need from Him. All consolation is in Him. He is everlasting; and He says that He has loved us from everlasting. Believe the gospel, accept its grace, hold its truth, do its duty, breathe its spirit, and you have the everlasting consolation of God. Observe, this is how it is to end for us here practically — in the comfort of our hearts, and stablishment in every good word and work; the everlasting comfort realized everywhere, amid the manifold cares of the household, in the honest trade of the city, in the pure speech and godly habits. God knows all, and that is enough; so I can go on with a quiet, yea, singing heart, seeking that steadfastness in every thing and place which the Father has promised. (A. Raleigh, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, |
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