Knowing That Christ Is at the Father's Right Hand (5)

Christ's ascension gives comfort when the church is experiencing affliction. When the church is afflicted, does the church have a glorious Head in heaven who sits and does nothing? No. He sits at the right hand of God and rules his church, even when the church is in the midst of his enemies. If he gives chains to them, it is for special ends. Nothing can befall his church without his control. He lets loose the enemies only so far, and then he restrains them, subdues and conquers them. The enemies seem to domineer now, but before long they will become the church's footstool. He is fitting his church by these afflictions, for greater grace in the world, and for eternal glory in the world to come.
Let us not be offended at the present state of things. For our comfort let us consider that Christ has been taken up to glory, and he sits in heaven and rules his church, and will guide all wars to a good and gracious end. The ship may be tossed where Christ sleeps, but it cannot be drowned (Luke 8:23). The house that is built upon a rock, it may be blown upon, it will never be overthrown (Matt. 7:25). The church may be tossed, but it will never be overcome and subdued (Matt. 16:18). No, in all the things the church suffers, Christ rules, and exercises his church's graces, and mortifies his church's corruptions. As standing waters breed frogs and other low creatures; so it is with Christians. If there isn't some exercise by afflictions, what kind of vices grow? As we see in times of peace, God is so merciful to continue his truth in a proud company who lead lives, under the gospel, no better than if they were in paganism. If troubles come, many of us would be better for it; afflictions are far from doing us harm; they refine us. In all trouble we lose nothing, but that which hurts us, that which we may easily do without, and that which hinders our joy and comfort.

Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Richard Sibbes 'Refreshment for the Soul.'
The Fountain Opened, Works, vol. 5, pp. 531-32
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