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Morning and Evening

June 29, Evening

C. H. Spurgeon · Modern retelling

"Howbeit, in the business of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent unto him to enquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left him, to try him, that He might know all that was in his heart." — 2 Chronicles 32:31 · KJV

Hezekiah was growing so great in his own eyes, priding himself so much on God's favor, that self-righteousness crept in, and because of that careless confidence the more active workings of God's grace were withdrawn for a time. That alone explains what happened with the visitors from Babylon; for if the grace of God were to leave the very best Christian, there is enough sin remaining in his heart to make him the worst of offenders. Left to yourselves, those of you who burn hottest for Christ would cool into a sickening lukewarmness. You who are sound in the faith would break out with the disease of false doctrine. You who now walk before the Lord in integrity would stagger and reel like someone drunk on evil passion. Like the moon, we shine with borrowed light; bright as we are when grace shines on us, we are darkness itself the moment the Sun of Righteousness withdraws. So let us cry out to God never to leave us. Lord, do not take Your Holy Spirit from us. Do not withdraw the grace that lives within us. Have You not said, "I the Lord do keep it; I will water it every moment: lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day"? Lord, keep us everywhere. Keep us in the valley, that we may not complain against Your humbling hand; keep us on the mountain, that we may not grow dizzy from being lifted up. Keep us in youth, when our passions are strong; keep us in old age, when we may grow so conceited about our wisdom that we prove even greater fools than the young and reckless. Keep us when we come to die, so that at the very last we may not deny You. Keep us living, keep us dying, keep us working, keep us suffering, keep us fighting, keep us resting, keep us everywhere, for everywhere we need You, O our God.