Evening, May 15
Charles Spurgeon · Morning and Evening: Daily Readings
Hebrews 12:23
"Made perfect."
Hebrews 12:23
Recollect that there are two kinds of perfection which the Christian
needs--the perfection of justification in the person of Jesus, and the
perfection of sanctification wrought in him by the Holy Spirit. At
present, corruption yet remains even in the breasts of the
regenerate--experience soon teaches us this. Within us are still lusts
and evil imaginations. But I rejoice to know that the day is coming
when God shall finish the work which he has begun; and he shall present
my soul, not only perfect in Christ, but perfect through the Spirit,
without spot or blemish, or any such thing. Can it be true that this
poor sinful heart of mine is to become holy even as God is holy? Can it
be that this spirit, which often cries, "O wretched man that I am! who
shall deliver me from the body of this sin and death?" shall get rid of
sin and death--that I shall have no evil things to vex my ears, and no
unholy thoughts to disturb my peace? Oh, happy hour! may it be
hastened! When I cross the Jordan, the work of sanctification will be
finished; but not till that moment shall I even claim perfection in
myself. Then my spirit shall have its last baptism in the Holy Spirit's
fire. Methinks I long to die to receive that last and final
purification which shall usher me into heaven. Not an angel more pure
than I shall be, for I shall be able to say, in a double sense, "I am
clean," through Jesus' blood, and through the Spirit's work. Oh, how
should we extol the power of the Holy Ghost in thus making us fit to
stand before our Father in heaven! Yet let not the hope of perfection
hereafter make us content with imperfection now. If it does this, our
hope cannot be genuine; for a good hope is a purifying thing, even now.
The work of grace must be abiding in us now or it cannot be perfected
then. Let us pray to "be filled with the Spirit," that we may bring
forth increasingly the fruits of righteousness.