Faithfulness

God is faithful in glorifying his people. "Faithful is he which calleth you, who also will do" (1 Thess. 5:24). The immediate reference here is to the saints being "preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." God deals with us not on the ground of our merits (for we have none), but for his own great name's sake. God is constant to himself and to his own purpose of grace: "whom he called. . . them he also glorified" (Rom. 8:30). God gives a full demonstration of the constancy of his everlasting goodness toward his elect by effectually calling ing them out of darkness into his marvelous light, and this should fully assure them of the certain continuance of it. "The foundation of God standeth sure" (2 Tim. 2:19). Paul was resting on the faithfulness of God when he said, "I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day" (2 Tim. 1:12). The apprehension of this blessed truth will preserve us from worry. To be full of care, to view our situation with dark forebodings, to anticipate the morrow with sad anxiety, is to reflect poorly upon the faithfulness of God. He who has cared for his child through all the years will not forsake him in old age. He who has heard your prayers in the past will not refuse to supply your need in the present emergency. Rest on Job 5:19, "He shall deliver thee in six troubles: yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee." The apprehension of this blessed truth will check our murmurings. The Lord knows what is best for each one of us, and one effect of resting on this truth will be the silencing of our petulant complainings. God is greatly honored when, under trial and chastening, we have good thoughts of him, vindicate his wisdom and justice, and recognize his love in his very rebukes. The apprehension of this blessed truth will beget increasing creasing confidence in God. "Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator" ator" (1 Pet. 4:19). When we trustfully resign ourselves, and all our affairs into God's hands, fully persuaded of his love and faithfulness, the sooner shall we be satisfied fied with his providences and realize that "he doeth all things well."

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