December 31

December 31, the time of making resolutions seeing the old go, and the new come. What better time to consider the cross of Christ. To think upon the death of Jesus, the Son of God, who by his death reconciled believers to God, justified sinners, made peace with renegades, and brought the wayward home. Reader: before you read know this: that I write this with all the love that is in my heart, that you see and savor, "the light of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ," above all. Thus consider this quote from C.H. Spurgeon from his "Morning and Evening" daily devotional book, this is what the "Prince of Preachers" says on the final day of the old year.
"The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved" Jeremiah 8:20
"Not saved! Dear reader, is this your mournful plight? Warned of the judgment to come, bidden to escape for your life, and yet at this moment not saved! You know the way of salvation, you read it in the Bible, you hear it form the pulpit, it is explained to you by friends, and yet you neglect it, and therefore are not saved. You will be without excuse when the Lord shall judge the quick and the dead. The Holy Spirit has given more or less of blessing upon the word which has been preached in you hearing, and times of refreshing have come from the divine presence, and yet you are without Christ.
All those hopeful seasons have come and gone- your summer and your harvest have passed- and yet you are not saved. Years have followed on another into eternity, and your last year will soon be here: youth has gone, manhood is going, and yet you are not saved. Let me ask you- will you ever be saved? Is there any likelihood of it? Already the most propitious seasons have left you unsaved; will other occasions alter your condition? Means have failed with you- the best of means, used perseveringly and with the utmost affection- what more can be done for you?
Affliction and prosperity have alike failed to impress you; tears and prayers and sermons have been wasted on you barren heart. Are not the probabilities dead against your ever being saved? Is it not more than likely that you will abide as you are till death forever bars the door of hope? Do you recoil from the supposition? Yet it is a most reasonable one: he who is not washed in so many waters will in all probability go filthy to his end. The convenient time never has come, why should it ever come?
It is logical to fear that it never will arrive, and that Felix-like, you will find no convenient season till you are in hell. O bethink you of what that hell is, and of the dread possibility that you will soon be cast into it!
Reader, suppose you should die unsaved, your doom no words can picture. Write out your dread estate in tears and blood, talk of it with groans and gnashing of teeth: you will be punished with everlasting destruction from the glory of the Lord, and from the glory of his power. A brother's voice would fain startle you into earnestness. O be wise, be wise in time, and ere another year begins, believe in Jesus, who is able to save to the uttermost. Consecrate these last hours to lonely thought, and if deep repentance be bred in you, it will be well; and if it lead to a humble faith in Jesus, it will be best of all. O see to it that this year pass not away, and you an unforgiven spirit. Let not the new year's midnight peals sound upon a joyless spirit! Now, Now, NOW believe and live.
'Escape for thy life;
Look not behind thee,
Neither stay thou in all the plain;
Escape to the mountain,
Lest thou be consumed.'"