This is the time
of year when many make New Year’s resolutions. Why do people set New
Year’s resolutions? Because they are not pleased with some characteristics
of their life. What might be examples of unacceptable personal
characteristics of a person’s life? Inability to lose weight or inability
to quit smoking or inability to get a better job or inability to get along
with people or displeasure with the workings of an organization one is
associated with. There’s an unlimited list of such problems. Unacceptable
personal characteristics have led many to be discouraged with the way
their life has led them. How many of us have been discouraged sometime in
our life? Probably all of us.
I guess we should
begin by asking, "What is discouragement?" Webster says of discouragement:
To deprive of courage, make less confident or hopeful; dishearten.
How discouraged
can one become? Discouragement's extreme is the self-destruction of the
mind. When the mind destructs, it destroys you. The final result of
extreme discouragement can even be suicide.
Today I want to
give you 10 common causes of discouragement; then give you some pointers
on how to avoid ever being discouraged:
1. Self-pity
Self pity is
developed to gain attention. Many walk the streets every day feeling sorry
for themselves because they think no one likes them. If you want love,
affection, admiration, attention - you must earn it. Feeling sorry for
yourself will gain you nothing.
2. Some people set
a time limit on God. When the time runs out, they become discouraged.
Rev 2:1-5 "To
the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who
holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden
lampstands: {2} I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance.
I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those
who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. {3} You
have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not
grown weary. {4} Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your
first love. {5} Remember the height from which you have fallen!
Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will
come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.
This message was
written to describe the church of Ephesus. Now I happen to believe that
Rev 2 and 3 are describing church eras, so to me, this message is
describing how the people in the times of the apostles clambered to be a
part of the church and then, even before Paul's death, they began to fall
away with former church leaders. Like Paul, they expected Christ to return
soon, to evict the Romans, and set up his Kingdom on earth. When He did
not, they became discouraged and went with other charismatic leaders, or
returned to what seemed like the easy way of the world.
Whole church areas
fell away during this era or period of time.
2 Th 2:1-12 [NIV]
Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to
him, we ask you, brothers, {2} not to become easily unsettled or
alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from
us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come. {3} Don't let
anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the
rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed
to destruction. {4} He will oppose and will exalt himself over
everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself
up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God. {5} Don't you
remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things? {6}
And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at
the proper time. {7} For the secret power of lawlessness is already at
work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he
is taken out of the way. {8} And then the lawless one will be revealed,
whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and
destroy by the splendor of his coming. {9} The coming of the lawless one
will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of
counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, {10} and in every sort of evil
that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused
to love the truth and so be saved. {11} For this reason God sends them a
powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie {12} and so that all
will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in
wickedness.
Yes, Paul knew
what was holding up Christ's return. In verse 7 he says that the secret
power of a law breaking religion and church leaders (the Wicked one or
mystery of iniquity in the KJV and NAS) was already at work. The Wicked
one must still be around doing it, because Christ hasn't returned yet.
What Wicked one was around during Paul's day and is still around? Satan?
The Catholic church, orthodox churches, main stream Protestant churches
who are daughters of older churches?
In verse 3 Paul
points out that there will be a falling away first... before Christ
returns. We saw this in the WCG’s demise and can probably apply this event
as a fulfillment of this prophesy. At least as a rebellion of the many who
have left religion all together. Others saw the whole WCG as falling away
and were glad to be able to then follow God’s instructions rather than
leaders they questioned. My point is that some people are prophesied to
give up waiting on God and for Christ's return. After they give up
waiting, some just plain give up. Are any of us in this group or lean in
that direction?
(Mat 24:13 NKJV)
"But he who endures to the end shall be saved.
We must stick it
out in spite of the wait and any adversity.
3. Some people
seek self importance in this life. Some raise their expectations too high
in this world. Both make distresses harder to bear.
(Jer 45 NKJV)
The word that Jeremiah the prophet spoke to Baruch the son of Neriah,
when he had written these words in a book at the instruction of
Jeremiah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of
Judah, saying, {2} "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, to you, O
Baruch: {3} 'You said, "Woe is me now! For the LORD has added grief to
my sorrow. I fainted in my sighing, and I find no rest."' {4} "Thus you
shall say to him, 'Thus says the LORD: "Behold, what I have built I will
break down, and what I have planted I will pluck up, that is, this whole
land. {5} "And do you seek great things for yourself? Do not seek
them; for behold, I will bring adversity on all flesh," says the
LORD. "But I will give your life to you as a prize in all places,
wherever you go."' "
The frowns of the
world would not disquiet us if we did not so eagerly covet its smiles.
There are times when it can be folly to seek great things for ourselves,
especially when everything is deteriorating and nothing is certain. We
must look at ourselves in the light of God’s end time plans and not expect
too much for ourselves other than the hope for His mercy.
4. People become
discouraged when they compare themselves with others. We should be
thankful for other's blessings; not envy them.
(2 Cor 10:12
NKJV) For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those
who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves,
and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
(1 Cor 4:3-5
NASB) But to me it is a very small thing that I should be examined by
you, or by any human court; in fact, I do not even examine myself. {4}
For I am conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not by this
acquitted; but the one who examines me is the Lord. {5} Therefore do
not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord
comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and
disclose the motives of men's hearts; and then each man's praise will
come to him from God.
We should not even
try to compare with others. Many use verse 5 to explain why they
will not sit on a jury but let's look at what verse 5 really says: Paul is
simply saying that we should not be concerned about the judgment of
others on us. In fact verses 3 and 4 show that if we are forgiven of a
sin by God, we do not even have to worry about the judgment of a court
or our own conscience. We may not be innocent of the sin or crime or
weakness but if God forgives us, the judgment of others on us, and the
judgment of ourselves on us means nothing.
As a sidelight,
since I mentioned jury duty, let's look at scriptures often used to
condemn our participation in jury duty and other situations where we judge
others:
(Mat 7:1 NKJV)
"Judge not, that you be not judged.
The word "judge"
here comes from the Greek word "krino" and means to condemn or criticize.
The central theme in Mat 7 verses 1-5 is about criticizing someone else's
faults while ignoring your own. In other words, work on your own big
problems before you worry about the problems of someone else. In today's
world we might say, "don't criticize your neighbor's yard while you sleep
with his wife."
(Luke 12:13-14
NKJV) Then one from the crowd said to Him, "Teacher, tell my brother to
divide the inheritance with me." {14} But He said to him, "Man, who made
Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?"
Notice here that
Christ did not say that someone should not be an arbiter between the two
inheritors. Christ knew well the situation in Exodus 2:14 when Moses was
rejected as he tried to settle an argument between two Hebrews. The
influence of religious teachers in the external relations of life has
always been immense as long as it is only the indirect effect of their
teaching. But whenever they inter-meddle directly with secular and
political matters, the spell of their influence is broken.
(2 Cor 5:20 NKJV)
Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading
through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God.
The usual
explanation of this scripture is that ambassadors do not judge. The point
of the scripture, however, is that we are representing Christ wherever we
go, as is indicated in the second sentence of verse 20.
(Rev 18:4 NASB)
And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, "Come out of her, my
people, that you may not participate in her sins and that you may not
receive of her plagues;
This verse is used
by some to indicate that God's people should not participate in the
world's affairs, including jury duty. The chapter, of course, is talking
about the fall of Babylon. I believe a Christian can associate with the
government without being a part of the government. Christ associated with
publicans to the dismay of the religious leaders of his day. Babylon seems
to be the Roman church dominated political system of the end time and it
is with this that we must have no part. The European Union will probably
be the prime mover of this political system but there may be other very
influential supporters who are equally deceived.
(Phil 3:20 NKJV)
For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for
the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
Some will say that
if we are citizens of heaven, we should have nothing to do with earthly
governments. But Christ said to give unto Caesar that which is Caesar's.
There are situations when we must fulfill our duty to both God and
country.
(1 Cor 6:1-5
NASB) Does any one of you, when he has a case against his neighbor, dare
to go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? {2} Or
do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world
is judged by you, are you not competent to constitute the smallest law
courts? {3} Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more,
matters of this life? {4} If then you have law courts dealing with
matters of this life, do you appoint them as judges who are of no
account in the church? {5} I say this to your shame. Is it so, that
there is not among you one wise man who will be able to decide between
his brethren,
Paul is
instructing the Corinthians to set up their own jury to judge disputes in
the church instead of taking the matter to an earthly jury or judge. Isn't
he here encouraging the use of juries? He admits that judgments must be
made by someone, but wants them made by believers instead of the ungodly.
I would say that these verses encourage the use of juries instead of
condemning them.
Back to the
subject of discouragement.
5. Discouragement
can come from wanting your own way and not getting it. Obedience precedes
entrance to God's Kingdom.
(1 Sam 15:23
NKJV) For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as
iniquity and idolatry.
(Mat 26:39 NKJV)
He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, "O My
Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not
as I will, but as You will."
Christ did not
want to die the death he knew was ahead of him. Yet he was willing to obey
the wishes of our Father whatever they were. Neither he nor we can get
into God's Kingdom without obedience.
6. Discouragement
can come from negative viewpoints. If you can't change your facts, change
your attitude. My mother frequently used a saying which fits this
situation: "Whatever can not be cured must be endured."
7. Discouragement
comes from too many burdens.
In Numbers 11,
there is an example of how Moses felt extremely discouraged and wanted to
give up:
(Num 11:10-15
NASB) Now Moses heard the people weeping throughout their families, each
man at the doorway of his tent; and the anger of the LORD was kindled
greatly, and Moses was displeased. {11} So Moses said to the LORD, "Why
hast Thou been so hard on Thy servant? And why have I not found favor in
Thy sight, that Thou hast laid the burden of all this people on me? {12}
"Was it I who conceived all this people? Was it I who brought them
forth, that Thou shouldest say to me, 'Carry them in your bosom as a
nurse carries a nursing infant, to the land which Thou didst swear to
their fathers'? {13} "Where am I to get meat to give to all this people?
For they weep before me, saying, 'Give us meat that we may eat!' {14} "I
alone am not able to carry all this people, because it is too burdensome
for me. {15} "So if Thou art going to deal thus with me, please kill me
at once, if I have found favor in Thy sight, and do not let me see my
wretchedness."
As you may
remember, at this point, God told Moses to select leaders to help him lead
the people. The point is that God helped Moses when he needed it.
In 1 Kings, Elijah
was ready to give up from apparent failure:
(1 Ki 19:4-13
NASB) But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came
and sat down under a juniper tree; and he requested for himself that he
might die, and said, "It is enough; now, O LORD, take my life, for I am
not better than my fathers." {5} And he lay down and slept under a
juniper tree; and behold, there was an angel touching him, and he said
to him, "Arise, eat." {6} Then he looked and behold, there was at his
head a bread cake baked on hot stones, and a jar of water. So he ate and
drank and lay down again. {7} And the angel of the LORD came again a
second time and touched him and said, "Arise, eat, because the journey
is too great for you." {8} So he arose and ate and drank, and went in
the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the
mountain of God.
Let’s pause at
verse 8 to read another reference to the Mountain of God. Please hold your
place in 1 Kings.
(Exo 3:1 NKJV)
Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest
of Midian. And he led the flock to the back of the desert, and came to
Horeb, the mountain of God.
OK. Back to 1
Kings, this time verse 9.
{9} Then he came
there to a cave, and lodged there; and behold, the word of the LORD came
to him, and He said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"
Recent explorers
of Mount Horeb in Arabia state that the cave is still there.
{10} And he
said, "I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of hosts; for the
sons of Israel have forsaken Thy covenant [like Israel today], torn down
Thine altars and killed Thy prophets with the sword. And I alone am
left; and they seek my life, to take it away." {11} So He said, "Go
forth, and stand on the mountain before the LORD." And behold, the LORD
was passing by! And a great and strong wind was rending the mountains
and breaking in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not
in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in
the earthquake. {12} And after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was
not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of a gentle blowing. {13}
And it came about when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his
mantle, and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. And behold,
a voice came to him and said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"
Elijah was
discouraged and ready to give up life. Then God displayed His awesome
power.
(1 Cor 10:13
NASB) No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and
God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you
are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also,
that you may be able to endure it.
Our temptations
are no different than anyone else's. But God will provide us all a way of
escape through the power of His Holy Spirit. The more of His Spirit you
have, the greater the power of your resistance to temptations.
(Psa 30:5 NASB)
For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for a lifetime; Weeping
may last for the night, But a shout of joy comes in the morning.
A lot of times in
bad or difficult stages of our life we tend to despair but this is a
mistake. God will help us especially if we do our best to help ourselves
according to our ability and the opportunities that come our way. By being
good, praying, and learning the Bible we often develop an inner instinct
that tells us what right decisions to make.
8. Discouragement
comes from defeat.
(Josh 7:7-9 NIV)
And Joshua said, "Ah, Sovereign LORD, why did you ever bring this people
across the Jordan to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to
destroy us? If only we had been content to stay on the other side of the
Jordan! {8} O Lord, what can I say, now that Israel has been routed by
its enemies? {9} The Canaanites and the other people of the country will
hear about this and they will surround us and wipe out our name from the
earth. What then will you do for your own great name?"
Joshua was
discouraged. But Joshua did not know the cause of the defeat which
resulted in his discouragement. When God told him in verse 10 to get up
off the ground and correct the sins which caused the defeat, Joshua's
discouragement was over and he went forward.
(Josh 7:10 NASB)
So the LORD said to Joshua, "Rise up! Why is it that you have fallen on
your face?
9. Discouragement
can come from serious illnesses.
(Isa 38:9-20 NIV)
A writing of Hezekiah king of Judah after his illness and recovery: {10}
I said, "In the prime of my life must I go through the gates of death
and be robbed of the rest of my years?" {11} I said, "I will not again
see the LORD, the LORD, in the land of the living; no longer will I look
on mankind, or be with those who now dwell in this world. {12} Like a
shepherd's tent my house has been pulled down and taken from me. Like a
weaver I have rolled up my life, and he has cut me off from the loom;
day and night you made an end of me. {13} I waited patiently till dawn,
but like a lion he broke all my bones; day and night you made an end of
me. {14} I cried like a swift or thrush, I moaned like a mourning dove.
My eyes grew weak as I looked to the heavens. I am troubled; O Lord,
come to my aid!" {15} But what can I say? He has spoken to me, and he
himself has done this. I will walk humbly all my years because of this
anguish of my soul. {16} Lord, by such things men live; and my spirit
finds life in them too. You restored me to health and let me live. {17}
Surely it was for my benefit that I suffered such anguish. In your love
you kept me from the pit of destruction; you have put all my sins behind
your back. {18} For the grave cannot praise you, death cannot sing your
praise; those who go down to the pit cannot hope for your faithfulness.
{19} The living, the living--they praise you, as I am doing today;
fathers tell their children about your faithfulness. {20} The LORD will
save me, and we will sing with stringed instruments all the days of our
lives in the temple of the LORD.
Notice the change
of attitude between verses 14 and 15. When you have a serious illness,
most are pretty discouraged. But when God intervenes and you are healed,
your spirits pick up in a hurry.
10. Discouragement
comes when a person gets a good look at himself.
(Rom 7:21-25 NIV)
So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there
with me. {22} For in my inner being I delight in God's law; {23} but I
see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against
the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work
within my members. {24} What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me
from this body of death? {25} Thanks be to God--through Jesus Christ our
Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the
sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.
Paul was
discouraged because what he knew what was right, but he had to
force himself to do right because he continually wanted to do what
was wrong. He then asked how he could be delivered from his sinful body.
(Mat 26:69-75
NIV) Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came
to him. "You also were with Jesus of Galilee," she said. {70} But he
denied it before them all. "I don't know what you're talking about," he
said. {71} Then he went out to the gateway, where another girl saw him
and said to the people there, "This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth."
{72} He denied it again, with an oath: "I don't know the man!" {73}
After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said,
"Surely you are one of them, for your accent gives you away." {74} Then
he began to call down curses on himself and he swore to them, "I don't
know the man!" Immediately a rooster crowed. {75} Then Peter remembered
the word Jesus had spoken: "Before the rooster crows, you will disown me
three times." And he went outside and wept bitterly.
Peter finally had
a good look at himself that overcame his fear but caused him great
discouragement and grief.
(Psa 51 NIV) For
the director of music. A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to
him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba. Have mercy on me,
O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great
compassion blot out my transgressions. {2} Wash away all my iniquity and
cleanse me from my sin. {3} For I know my transgressions, and my sin is
always before me. {4} Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what
is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and
justified when you judge. {5} Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from
the time my mother conceived me. [indirect proof that fetuses are human]
{6} Surely you desire truth in the inner parts ; you teach me wisdom in
the inmost place. {7} Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash
me, and I will be whiter than snow. {8} Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones you have crushed rejoice. {9} Hide your face from my
sins and blot out all my iniquity. {10} Create in me a pure heart, O
God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. {11} Do not cast me from
your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. {12} Restore to me the
joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
{13} Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn
back to you. {14} Save me from bloodguilt, O God, the God who saves me,
and my tongue will sing of your righteousness. {15} O Lord, open my
lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. {16} You do not delight in
sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt
offerings. {17} The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken
and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
(2 Cor 7:10 NIV)
Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no
regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.
Now let’s look at
examples of becoming encouraged.
Notice what God
did when Elijah was discouraged. We read verses 4-13 but lets pick it up
in verse 9 again and read through verse 18:
(1 Ki 19:9-18
NIV) There he went into a cave and spent the night. And the word of the
LORD came to him: "What are you doing here, Elijah?" {10} He replied, "I
have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have
rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets
to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying
to kill me too." {11} The LORD said, "Go out and stand on the mountain
in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by." Then a
great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks
before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there
was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. {12} After
the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after
the fire came a gentle whisper. {13} When Elijah heard it, he pulled his
cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.
Then a voice said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" {14} He
replied, "I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The
Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put
your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now
they are trying to kill me too." {15} The LORD said to him, "Go back the
way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there,
anoint Hazael king over Aram. {16} Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king
over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to
succeed you as prophet. {17} Jehu will put to death any who escape the
sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword
of Jehu. {18} Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel--all whose knees
have not bowed down to Baal and all whose mouths have not kissed him."
Don’t be
discouraged by all the problems of our lives. God’s way is above and
outside all the problems. Let’s look at some more scriptures which tell us
why and how we should be encouraged.
(Psa 55:22 NIV)
Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let
the righteous fall.
Moral: If we are
discouraged, ask God to help us. God will never let the righteous fall.
(Mark 6:31NIV)
Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not
even have a chance to eat, he said to them, "Come with me by yourselves
to a quiet place and get some rest."
When you are
discouraged, one of the best cures is to go to a quiet place, rest and
meditate on God's word, especially His promises.
(Luke 21:28 NIV)
When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads,
because your redemption is drawing near."
The coming of
God's Kingdom is closer every day. Look at today’s fulfillment of prophesy
and have hope. The end of our troubles draws closer every day.
Sorrow must
generate change, not discouragement. Each of us must get rid of his
own discouragement. Others can offer encouraging words but can't do it for
you.
Hebrews 12
probably provides the most encouraging words of all.
(Heb 12 CJB)
So then, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let
us, too, put aside every impediment—that is, the sin which easily
hampers our forward movement—and keep running with endurance in the
contest set before us, {2} looking away to the Initiator and Completer
of that trusting, Yeshua [Jesus] who, in exchange for obtaining
the joy set before him, endured execution on a stake as a criminal,
scorning the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the
throne of God. [See Psa 110:1] {3} Yes, think about him who endured such
hostility against himself from sinners, so that you won’t grow tired or
become despondent. {4} You have not yet resisted to the point of
shedding blood in the contest against sin.
{5} Also you
have forgotten the counsel which speaks with you as sons:
"My son,
don’t despise the discipline of
{18} For you
have not come to a tangible mountain, to an ignited fire, to darkness,
to murk, to a whirlwind,
{22} On the
contrary, you have come to Mount Tziyon, that is, the city of the living
God, heavenly Yerushalayim [Jerusalem]; to myriads of angels in festive
assembly; {23} to a community of the firstborn whose names have been
recorded in heaven; to a Judge who is God of everyone; to spirits of
righteous people who have been brought to the goal; {24} to the mediator
of a new covenant, Yeshua [Jesus]; and to the sprinkled blood that
speaks better things than that of Hevel [Abel].
{25} See that
you don’t reject the One speaking! For if those did not escape who
rejected him when he gave divine warning on earth, think how much less
we will escape if we turn away from him when he warns from heaven. {26}
Even then, his voice shook the earth; but now, he has made this promise:
In conclusion, the
Saints of God need never be discouraged. They have the greatest future
imaginable.