He may run
away from it, as did Jonah, and find a waiting ship to favour his
flight; but he will also find fierce storms and bellowing seas
overtaking him, and big-mouthed fishes of trouble and disaster
ready to swallow him.
But if he heeds the call, and cheerfully goes where God appoints,
God will go with him; he shall nevermore be left alone. The Holy
Spirit will surely accompany him, and he may be one of the
happiest men on earth, one of the gladdest creatures in God's
universe.
"Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world," said
Jesus, as He commissioned His disciples to go to all nations and
preach the Gospel. "My presence shall go with thee," said Jehovah
to Moses, when sending him to face Pharaoh and free Israel, and
lead them to the Promised Land.
And to the boy Jeremiah, He said, "Be not afraid of their faces:
for I am with thee to deliver thee.... And they shall fight
against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am
with thee" (Jeremiah i. 8, 19).
I used to read these words with a great and rapturous joy, as I
realised by faith that they were also meant for me, and for every
man sent of God, and that His blessed presence was with me every
time I spoke to the people or dealt with an individual soul, or
knelt in prayer with a penitent seeker after God; and I still
read them so.
Has He called you into the work, my brother? And are you
conscious of His helpful, sympathising, loving presence with you?
If so, let no petty offence, no hardship, nor danger, nor dread
of the future, cause you to turn aside or draw back.
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