Morning, August 24
Go To Evening Reading
“The breaker is come up before them.”
Micah 2:13
Inasmuch as Jesus has gone before us, things remain not as they would
have been had he never passed that way. He has conquered every foe that obstructed the way. Cheer up now thou faint-hearted warrior.
Not only has Christ travelled the road, but he has slain thine enemies.
Dost thou dread sin? He has nailed it to his cross. Dost thou fear
death? He has been the death of Death. Art thou afraid of hell? He
has barred it against the advent of any of his children; they shall
never see the gulf of perdition. Whatever foes may be before the Christian,
they are all overcome. There are lions, but their teeth are broken;
there are serpents, but their fangs are extracted; there are rivers,
but they are bridged or fordable; there are flames, but we wear that
matchless garment which renders us invulnerable to fire. The sword
that has been forged against us is already blunted; the instruments
of war which the enemy is preparing have already lost their point.
God has taken away in the person of Christ all the power that anything
can have to hurt us. Well then, the army may safely march on, and
you may go joyously along your journey, for all your enemies are conquered
beforehand. What shall you do but march on to take the prey? They
are beaten, they are vanquished; all you have to do is to divide the
spoil. You shall, it is true, often engage in combat; but your fight
shall be with a vanquished foe. His head is broken; he may attempt
to injure you, but his strength shall not be sufficient for his malicious
design. Your victory shall be easy, and your treasure shall be beyond
all count.
“Proclaim aloud the Saviour’s fame,
Who bears the Breaker's wond'rous name;
Sweet name; and it becomes him well,
Who breaks down earth, sin, death, and hell.”