Comfort thyself, tried believer, with this thought: God saith, "I
have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction." Does not the word come
like a soft shower, assuaging the fury of the flame? Yea, is it not an
asbestos armour, against which the heat hath no power? Let affliction
come--God has chosen me. Poverty, thou mayst stride in at my door, but
God is in the house already, and he has chosen me. Sickness, thou mayst
intrude, but I have a balsam ready--God has chosen me. Whatever befalls
me in this vale of tears, I know that he has "chosen" me. If, believer,
thou requirest still greater comfort, remember that you have the Son of
Man with you in the furnace. In that silent chamber of
yours, there sitteth by your side One whom thou hast not seen, but whom
thou lovest; and ofttimes when thou knowest it not, he makes all thy
bed in thy affliction, and smooths thy pillow for thee. Thou art in
poverty; but in that lovely house of thine the Lord of life and glory is
a frequent visitor. He loves to come into these desolate places, that
he may visit thee. Thy friend sticks closely to thee. Thou canst not see
him, but thou mayst feel the pressure of his hands. Dost thou not hear
his voice? Even in the valley of the shadow of death he says, "Fear not,
I am with thee; be not dismayed, for I am thy God." Remember that noble
speech of Caesar: "Fear not, thou carriest Caesar and all
his fortune." Fear not, Christian; Jesus is with thee. In all thy fiery
trials, his presence is both thy comfort and safety. He will never
leave one whom he has chosen for his own. "Fear not, for I am with
thee," is his sure word of promise to his chosen ones in the "furnace of
affliction." Wilt thou not, then, take fast hold of Christ, and say--
"Through floods and flames, if Jesus lead,
I'll follow where he goes." (Bible Gateway)
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