This sermon is by George Müller. We don’t know the date or place he gave this, but may his insight into the friendship we have in Jesus give confidence to call our Lord just that: Friend!
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity. (Proverbs 17:17, NIV)
One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. (Proverbs 18:24, NIV)
The precious Lord Jesus Christ is our Friend. Oh, let us seek to realize this! It is not merely a religious phrase or statement, but truly He is our Friend. He is the Brother "born for a time of adversity," the One who "sticks closer than a brother, " the One who will never leave and never forsake us.
How precious, even on earth, to have a heavenly Friend, for this brings the joys of heaven, even in small degrees, into our hearts now. This is just what our heavenly Father desires for His children, that they might be as happy as they are capable of being while here in the body. Have we all understood this, that the One who is "altogether lovely" (Song of Solomon 5:16, NIV), is ready hour by hour, to be our Friend?
When we cannot sleep at night, say to Christ, "My precious heavenly Friend, would you please give me a little sleep?" When in pain, say, "My precious heavenly Friend, if it’s Your will, would you please take away this pain? But if not, if You see it better that it continues, then sustain, help, strengthen me, my precious heavenly Friend!" When we feel lonely and tired, turn to the worthy Lord Jesus; He is willing to be our friend in our loneliness. For sixty-two years and five months, I had a beloved wife, and now in my ninety-second year, I am left alone. But I turn to my precious Lord Jesus as I walk up and down in my room, and say, "My precious Lord Jesus, I am alone, and yet not alone, for You are with me. You are my Friend. Lord, comfort and strengthen me! Give to me, Your poor servant, everything You know I need!”
Oh, this is a reality, not a fable, that the Lord Jesus Christ is our Friend. We should not be satisfied till we are brought to understand this, that we know the Lord Jesus Christ experientially to be our Friend and unfailingly be our friend. Just ponder this! Steadfast, never leaving, never forsaking us, at all times and under all circumstances, ready to prove Himself to be our Friend!
He is willing not merely to grant this for a few months, or a year or two, but to the very end of our earthly pilgrimage. David, in Psalm 23:4 (NIV) says: "Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me"! Oh, how amazing this is. For this loving One is coming again—and soon. Soon He will come again; and then He will take us home, and there we shall be forever with Him.
Oh, how precious is that bright and glorious promise! Here, again, the practical point is to secure this for ourselves. "He is coming to take me—a poor, guilty, worthless, hell-deserving me! He is coming to take me to Himself." And to the degree in which we enter into these glorious promises, the joys of heaven have already commenced! Let us trust our heavenly Friend. He delights to call us His. May we grow in a deeper friendship with this worthy One. Amen!
Essene Press Team
