Mercies, Temporal—Sanctified by Christ – Charles Spurgeon

TEMPORAL mercies without Christ are like ciphers without a figure; but when you have these temporal mercies, and Christ stands in front of them, oh, what an amount they make! Temporal mercies without Christ are unripe fruit; but when Christ shines upon them, they grow mellow and sweet. Temporal mercies without Christ are the dry rivers—Christ fills them to the brim. They are like trees with leaves only, but Christ comes to give them fruit upon which we may live. Brethren, what are all the mercies of this life to us without Christ? Would they not make our souls hunger? Whom have I in Heaven but you? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside you.” The full wine vat, or the barn that needs to be enlarged, what would these be without a Savior? O God, take them all away if you will, but give us more of Christ. Fill our hearts with the love of Christ, and you may empty the cupboard and purse if you will. Mercies are blessed when we have Christ with them, but if Christ be gone, they are but empty vanities.