Evening, May 26

Charles Spurgeon · Morning and Evening: Daily Readings

"Continue in the faith."

  Acts 14:22

   Perseverance is the badge of true saints. The Christian life is not a
   beginning only in the ways of God, but also a continuance in the same
   as long as life lasts. It is with a Christian as it was with the great
   Napoleon: he said, "Conquest has made me what I am, and conquest must
   maintain me." So, under God, dear brother in the Lord, conquest has
   made you what you are, and conquest must sustain you. Your motto must
   be, "Excelsior." He only is a true conqueror, and shall be crowned at
   the last, who continueth till war's trumpet is blown no more.
   Perseverance is, therefore, the target of all our spiritual enemies.
   The world does not object to your being a Christian for a time, if she
   can but tempt you to cease your pilgrimage, and settle down to buy and
   sell with her in Vanity Fair. The flesh will seek to ensnare you, and
   to prevent your pressing on to glory. "It is weary work being a
   pilgrim; come, give it up. Am I always to be mortified? Am I never to
   be indulged? Give me at least a furlough from this constant warfare."
   Satan will make many a fierce attack on your perseverance; it will be
   the mark for all his arrows. He will strive to hinder you in service:
   he will insinuate that you are doing no good; and that you want rest.
   He will endeavour to make you weary of suffering, he will whisper,
   "Curse God, and die." Or he will attack your steadfastness: "What is
   the good of being so zealous? Be quiet like the rest; sleep as do
   others, and let your lamp go out as the other virgins do." Or he will
   assail your doctrinal sentiments: "Why do you hold to these
   denominational creeds? Sensible men are getting more liberal; they are
   removing the old landmarks: fall in with the times." Wear your shield,
   Christian, therefore, close upon your armour, and cry mightily unto
   God, that by his Spirit you may endure to the end.