The Christian in Complete Armor - Choice Extracts!

twinkling of an eye . . . we shall be changed" (1 Corinthians 15:52). In one
moment sick and sad — in the next well and glad, never to know more what
groans and tears mean. Now clad with the rags of mortal flesh, made
miserable with a thousand troubles that attend it — in the twinkling of an
eye arrayed with the robes of immortality, enriched with a thousand times
more glory than the sun itself wears in that garment of light which now
dazzles our eyes. Who can wonder to see a saint cheerful in his afflictions —
who knows what good news he expects to hear from Heaven, and how soon
he knows not?
The saints' hope is laid up in Heaven — and yet it heals all the wounds which
they receive on earth. If Christ sends his disciples to sea, He means to be with
them when they most need His company. "When you pass through the
waters, I will be with you!" (Isaiah 43:2).
8. STRIFE AND CONTENTION
"Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds!"
Habakkuk 1:3
Contention is uncomfortable, with whoever we fall out: neighbors or friends,
wife or husband, children or servants; but worst of all with God.
Consider the unhappy contentions and divisions that are found among the
people of God. Contentions ever portend ill. Christ sets up the light of His
gospel to walk and work by — not to fight and wrangle. And therefore, it
were no wonder at all, if He should put it out, and so end the dispute. If these
storms which have been of late years upon us, and are not yet off, had but
made Christians, as that did the disciples (Mark 6:48), ply their oars, and
lovingly row all one way — it would have been happy. We might then have
expected Christ to come walking toward us in mercy, and help us safely to
land; but when we throw away the oar, and fall to strife in the ship, while the
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