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Morning and Evening

May 26, Evening

C. H. Spurgeon · Modern retelling

"Continue in the faith." — Acts 14:22 · KJV

Perseverance is the badge of true saints. The Christian life is not merely a beginning in the ways of God but a continuing in them as long as life lasts. It is with a Christian much as it was with a famous conqueror who said that conquest had made him what he was and conquest must maintain him. So, under God, dear brother in the Lord, conquest has made you what you are, and conquest must sustain you. Your motto must be "Higher still." Only the one who keeps going until the trumpet of war sounds no more is a true conqueror and will be crowned at the last. Perseverance is therefore the target of all our spiritual enemies. The world does not object to your being a Christian for a while, if only it can tempt you to break off your pilgrimage and settle down to buy and sell in Vanity Fair. The flesh will try to trap you and keep you from pressing on toward glory: "Being a pilgrim is weary work; come, give it up. Am I always to be denied? Am I never to be indulged? Give me at least a leave of absence from this constant warfare." The enemy of souls will make many fierce attacks on your perseverance; it will be the mark for all his arrows. He will try to hinder you in service, hinting that you are doing no good and that you need rest. He will work to make you weary of suffering and whisper that you should curse God and die. Or he will attack your steadfastness: "What is the use of being so zealous? Be quiet like everyone else; sleep as others do, and let your lamp go out like the other virgins." Or he will assault your convictions: "Why hold on to these old creeds? Sensible people are becoming more open-minded; the old landmarks are being moved; get in step with the times." So keep your shield close to your armor, Christian, and cry mightily to God that by His Spirit you may endure to the end.