Originally written by Charles H. Spurgeon, published in “Mornings & Evenings,” entry for May 11th, AM. Updated to modern English by Darren Hewer, 2009.

“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).

It is good that there is One who never changes, and who is always with us. It is good that there is one stable rock standing strong against the crashing waves of the sea of life.

My friend, in times of struggle, don’t trust rusting, moth-eaten, decaying treasures. Instead, set your heart on God, who is forever faithful to you. Don’t build your house on the moving quick sands of a deceitful world, but found your hopes on this rock, which, despite shifting sands, will stand immovably secure. Store up your treasure in the only secure cabinet. Store your jewels where you can never lose them. Put everything you own in Christ. Pour your affections on Him alone, all your hope in His merit, all your trust in His Holy blood, and all your joy in His presence. In doing so, you can laugh at loss, and defy destruction.

Remember that all the flowers in the world’s garden fade at the right time. Death’s black extinguisher will eventually put out your candle, ending your life in this world. How sweet it will be to have sunlight when the candle is gone! The dark flood must someday roll between you and all you have. So wed your heart to Him who will never leave you. Trust yourself with Him who will go with you through the black and surging current of death’s stream, and who will land you safely on the heavenly shore. Then you will sit with Him in heavenly places forever.

If you are experiencing sorrow, tell your troubles to the Friend who sticks closer than anyone else ever could. Trust all your cares to Him who never can be taken from you, who will never leave you, and who will never let you leave Him. Remember that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).

“I am with you always” is enough for me to live on, and enough to sustain me even if all others forsake me.

Questions: In your time of struggle where do you place your trust?

About this Author Charles H. Spurgeon

Daily audio podcast: A second daily devotional, The Consequences of Compromise, today on the Men’s Devotional Blog

“For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light” (2 Cor.11:13).

Last week, the “trail boss” of our church motorcycle group organized a ride to a place called “Spook Hill,” where it appears that vehicles defy the law of gravity and roll uphill. In reality, it is an optical illusion that makes it look like an uphill roll, but the law of gravity has not yet been repealed and objects still roll downhill, no matter what ancient spirits may allegedly be lurking around.

We had a good time, but on the ride back, I couldn’t help but draw a spiritual comparison to our visit. Satan often disguises that which is bad to appear as good. The enemy often tries to portray himself as good, a friend who cares for you or as truth.

That is not the case though, Peter said “your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about seeking whom he may devour”.  He lays traps and waits for you to fall.  He is after the result and may work on traps that take years to develop in your life when he can rise up and pounce on you.

No need to fear though as God says “Greater is He who is in your than he that is in the world”.  God will take care of it if you let Him. But, we must know the source and not trust what we see or feel in a worldly sense.

We always need to be on alert and use caution.  Things are not always as they appear.  At times we can allow what we find desirable to overshadow and hide the truth we do not want to see that is in details.  If we are not careful, we will only see what we want to see.

Other times, we may find something or someone that appears to be good only to find out later that we were deceived.  We often are not aware of all the facts or know the end result.

The real question is whether we see things with worldly eyes……. eyes conditioned by the educational system, the media, the entertainment industry and others that would mould our minds to be unlike the mind of Christ or with spiritual eyes, the way God sees things.

How do I acquire spiritual eyes? I do it by constantly worshiping God throughout my daily routine, by being in the Word daily, by regularly participating in public worship and Bible fellowship with other Christians.

Lord, please mold my eyes, my mind and my perspective to be like that of You. Give me the spiritual eyes to see as You see, no matter how deceptive things may be from a non-Biblical world view. Thank you, Lord. I ask this in Your name, amen.

(a thought on life from John Grant)

Questions: How can one acquire spiritual eyes?  Can you tell us about an experience when things were not what they appeared to be?

About the Author John Grant

Daily audio podcast: A second daily devotional, Mercy and Grace, today on the Men’s Devotional Blog

A Discover Channel documentary boldly proclaimed that the “Lost Tomb of Jesus” had been found, including an ossuary (bone box) which purportedly contained the remains of Jesus himself. The documentary was derided by both Christian clergy and secular scholars as being misleading and deceitful, the critical conclusion being that this was not, nor was it ever, Jesus’ tomb, and rather another example of sensational journalism in order to get ratings.

As believers in God’s Word, we know that this sort of discussion is foolishness from the start. In Matthew’s gospel we read:

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earth-quake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven … The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. … So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me” (Matthew 28:1-10).

“He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.” When the women heard this, they were “afraid yet filled with joy”. This is because, while they had knowledge of the events that had occurred, they had not yet met the risen Christ. When Jesus appeared to them for the first time in his renewed, transformed body a short time later, he said to the “Do not be afraid.”

As you reflect upon Jesus’ resurrection during this Easter period, consider his glorious re-appearing which assures us that “By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also” (1 Corinthians 6:14). In repudiation to the “Lost Tomb of Jesus”, the angel proclaims “He is not here; He is risen.” Do not be afraid, as someone who does not know Jesus personally, but instead open your heart to experience the joy that flows from a fully formed relationship with the God who lives.

Thank you Lord, that the grave is empty, You are alive and You walk with me daily. I praise Your name! Amen.

Questions: Take time to reflect on what Easter is really all about and how it has affected your life personally.

About this Author Darren Hewer

Daily audio podcast: Hear today’s daily devotional, He is not here; He is risen, read aloud, today on the Men’s Devotional Blog