Spurgeon Quote of the Day 3-11-13

“As for me, I will behold Your face in righteousness;

I shall be satisfied when I awake with Your likeness.”

Psalm 17:15.

"And again, upon this point, you can see that David, at the time he wrote this, was full of faith. The text is fragrant with confidence. “As for me,” says David, no perhaps about it. “I will behold Your face in righteousness; I shall be satis- fied when I awake up in Your likeness.” If some men should say so now, they would be called fanatics and it would be considered presumption for any man to say, “I will behold Your face, I shall be satisfied.” And I think there are many now in this world who think it is quite impossible for a man to say to a certainty, “I know. I am sure. I am certain.” But, Beloved, there are not one or two, but there are thousands and thousands of God’s people alive in this world who can say with an assured confidence—no more doubting of it than of their very existence—“I will behold Your face in righteous- ness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness.” It is possible, though perhaps not very easy, to attain to that high and eminent position wherein we can say no longer do I hope, but I know. No longer do I trust, but I am persuaded. I have a happy confidence—I am sure of it. I am certain. For God has so manifested Himself to me that now it is no long- er, “if,” and, “perhaps,” but it is the positive, eternal, “shall.” “I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness.” How many are there here of that sort? Oh, if you are talking like that, you must expect to have trouble, for God never gives strong faith without fiery trial! He will never give a man the power to say that, “shall,” without trying him. He will not build a strong ship without subjecting it to very mighty storms. He will not make you a mighty warrior if He does not intend to try your skill in battle. God’s swords must be used! The old Toledo blades of Heaven must be smitten against the armor of the Evil One and yet they shall not break, for they are of true Jerusalem metal which shall never snap! Oh, what a happy thing to have that faith to say “I shall.” Some of you think it quite impossible, I know. But it “is the gift of God,” and whoever asks for it shall obtain it—and the very chief of sinners now present in this place may yet be able to say long before he comes to die, “I shall behold Your face in righteousness.” I think I see the aged Christian. He has been very poor. He is in an attic where the stars look between the tiles. There is his bed. His clothes ragged and torn. There are a few sticks on the hearth—they are the last he has. He is sitting up in his chair. His paralytic hand quivers and shakes and he is evidently near his end. His last meal was eaten yesterday at noon. And as you stand and look at him—poor, weak and feeble, who would desire his lot? But ask him, “Old man, would you change your attic for Caesar’s palace? Aged Christian, would you give up these rags for wealth and cease to love your God?” See how indignation burns in his eyes at once! He replies, “As for me, I shall, within a few more days, behold His face in righteousness. I shall be satisfied soon. Here I never shall be. Trouble has been my lot and trial has been my portion, but I have a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” Bid high. Bid him fair—offer him your hands full of gold—lay all down for him to give up his Christ. “Give up Christ?” He will say, “no, never!”—

“While my faith can keep her hold,

I envy not the miser’s gold.”

Oh, what a glorious thing to be full of faith and to have the confidence of assurance, so as to say, “I will behold Your face; I shall be satisfied when I awake with Your likeness.”

C.H. Spurgeon- The Hope of Future Bliss