Iron Saints
Suffering can lead to spiritual growth and make us strong and brave, as it is a means of imparting iron to our moral nature.
Charles E. Cowman preaches about the transformative power of suffering and hardship, drawing inspiration from Psalms 105:18 where 'Iron entered his soul' is interpreted as a metaphor for the strength and endurance developed through trials. He encourages believers to embrace suffering with patience and resignation, recognizing it as God's way of infusing iron into their spiritual lives to build noble character and fortitude. Cowman emphasizes the importance of enduring hardships without flinching, as it is through these challenges that God shapes 'iron saints' who possess unwavering strength and bravery.
Text
"His soul entered into iron" (Ps. 105:18).
Turn that about and render it in our language, and it reads thus, "Iron entered his soul." Is there not a truth in this? That sorrow and privation, the yoke borne in the youth, the soul's enforced restraint, are all conducive to an iron tenacity and strength of purpose, and endurance or fortitude, which are the indispensable foundation and framework of a noble character.
Do not flinch from suffering; bear it silently, patiently, resignedly; and be sure that it is God's way of infusing iron into your spiritual life. The world wants iron dukes, iron battalions, iron sinews, and thews of steel. God wants iron saints; and since there is no way of imparting iron to the moral nature but by letting people suffer, He lets them suffer.
Are the best years of your life slipping away in enforced monotony? Are you beset by opposition, misunderstanding, and scorn, as the thick undergrowth besets the passage of the woodsman pioneer? Then take heart; the time is not wasted; God is only putting you through the iron regimen. The iron crown of suffering precedes the golden crown of glory. And iron is entering into your soul to make it strong and brave. --F. B. Meyer
"But you will not mind the roughness nor the steepness of the way,
Nor the chill, unrested morning, nor the searness of the day;
And you will not take a turning to the left or the right,
But go straight ahead, nor tremble at the coming of the night,
For the road leads home."
Sermon Outline
- The Value of Suffering
- God's Way of Infusing Iron
- The Iron Regimen
- The time of suffering is not wasted
- The iron crown of suffering precedes the golden crown of glory
Key Quotes
“Iron entered his soul.” — Charles E. Cowman
“The iron crown of suffering precedes the golden crown of glory.” — Charles E. Cowman
“For the road leads home.” — Charles E. Cowman
Application Points
- Do not flinch from suffering, but bear it silently, patiently, and resignedly.
- Take heart and know that the time of suffering is not wasted, as it precedes the golden crown of glory.
- Stay strong by going straight ahead and not taking a turning to the left or the right.