The Practical Nature of Assurance

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Assurance makes a difference. Remembering "who" before "do" is vital.

J.C. Ryle, the great 19th century Anglican Bishop, reminds us:

This Assurance will enable a man to praise God, and be thankful, even in a prison, like Paul and Silas.

This Assurance will enable a man to sleep, with the prospect of death the next day, like Peter.

This Assurance can make a man rejoice to suffer shame for Christ’s sake, like the Apostles.

This Assurance enables us to feel that the great business of life is a settled business, the great debt a paid debt, the great disease a healed disease, and the great work a finished work; and all other business, diseases, debts, and works, are then by comparison small.

This Assurance sweetens bitter cups, lessens the burden of crosses, smooths rough places, and lightens the valley of the shadow of death.

It makes him always feel that he has something solid beneath his feet, something firm under his hands, a sure friend by the way, and a sure home at the end.


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