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Have Faith in God

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 2, 1915

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 92, No. 59.

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“Have Faith in God”

By F. A. ZAPPE

F. A. ZAPPE
“Ask, and ye shall receive.” “If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it.” “Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.”
To those who will comply with the simple conditions of receiving, this promise is made. The One who is mighty to save from sin and sinning has pledged his word, and it cannot fail. It is easier for heaven and earth to pass than for one tittle of his promise to fail. The Lord has said, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” If we come with true contrition of heart, we need not feel that we are presumptuous in asking for things which our Lord has promised to give to those who ask in faith. When we ask in faith for the blessings we need, that we may gain a complete victory over sin and perfect a character after Christ’s likeness, the Lord assures us that we are asking according to a promise that will be verified.
Jesus earnestly desires us to appreciate the mercy and loving-kindness of God. As an illustration of our need and of our Father’s willingness to give, he presents before us a hungry child asking earthly parents for food. “What man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?” No earthly parent with his heart full of parental affection, would refuse to give food to his child who is hungry and asking for bread. Will God do less for his child than we do for our own children who ask for the necessities of life?—No. Why, then, distrust and dishonor God by imagining that he will not respond to our appeals for help? Our heavenly Parent does not tantalize his child by raising his expectations only to disappoint him. He does not promise to us good and life-giving food, and then hand us a stone.
True, it is possible for our earthly parents to turn away their hungry children, but remember our Father above can never reject that prayer of faith which comes from the needy and longing heart. Does the way seem dark and discouraging? Does it seem as if the Lord has forsaken you? Hear the message that comes from the Father’s heart of love: “Zion said, The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me. Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands.”
“No grief can touch us but it touches him; With closest pang it wounds the heart divine; The pruner’s knife, that cuts the branching limb, Touches with living pain the living Vine.
“Closer than mother’s love for her babe sweet, Closer than lover’s love for one held dear, Closer than friend’s or brother’s,—more complete,— Is Christ’s love for his lonely followers here.”
Seeing that he is faithful and of great compassion who has promised, “Ask, and ye shall receive,” let us come before him as a little hungry child comes to its parents, and “ask in faith, nothing wavering,” believing that the Lord will do exactly as he has promised. Let us forever stop our doubting, and come boldly unto the throne of grace, unto him that giveth liberally and unbraideth not, and find grace to help in time of need. “For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord.” “Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.”
Faith in God is our only shield. This is the only thing that can lead us out of this wilderness of sin and give us the complete victory. The prayer of faith is the only prayer that receives a reply from the throne of God. The petition of faith is the only key that can be used in unlocking that great storehouse wherein are stored the boundless resources of our omnipotent Helper. Our Father longs to bestow his rich blessing upon his hungry and waiting children. Shall we comply with the conditions of receiving? “The gifts of him who has all power in heaven and earth are in store for the children of God. Gifts so precious that they come to us through the costly sacrifice of the Redeemer’s blood, gifts that will satisfy the deepest craving of the heart, gifts lasting as eternity, will be received and enjoyed by all who will come to God as little children. Take God’s promises as your own, plead them before him as his own words, and you will receive fullness of joy.”
Philbrook, Minn.