THE AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF FAITH.
By I. D. VAN HORN
In the eleventh chapter of Hebrews, the apostle Paul mentions a number of ancient worthies who were noted for their faith. Their life was exemplary before God, and they had their faith tested by the many trials and persecutions they suffered. These are the “great cloud of witnesses” referred to in chap. xii, 1. With these witnesses of the faith that is pleasing to God before us, we are exhorted to “lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and run with patience the race set before us.” The laying aside every weight, means the same as “cleansing ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. 2 Cor. vii, 1.” The subject upon which the apostle is writing, is faith. Hence the besetting sin is the opposite of faith, or unbelief. All who are not really and truly the children of the Lord by faith, are, to a greater or less extent, laboring under the deceptive influence of unbelief. Here is Satan’s stronghold on the human race. If he can make them doubt the truth of God in any way, he is quite sure to make them stumble, and fall into sin. But we are not left to run the race in our own strength. How thankful we should be to God for this. We are to look to Jesus, “the author and finisher of our faith.” But how is Jesus the author and finisher of faith? A few thoughts, we trust, will make this clear to every mind. We look back to Adam in the garden of Eden. He was pure and holy, and by obedience alone he might have retained his favor with God. In his holy state, he needed no faith in a Saviour, for he was unfallen; and, as long as he obeyed God, his right to the tree of life was secure, and no plan of salvation was necessary. But he sinned, and was driven from the garden under the sentence of death. He was now without hope. But Jesus looks upon man in pity. He offers to take the penalty upon himself, suffer in man’s stead, and thus open a way for him to be redeemed. “God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth [has faith] in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John iii, 16. God gave a promise to man that a Saviour should be provided. He took hold of this promise by faith. Christ came into the world, suffered and died,61and thus verified the promise of the Father. He becomes the anchor of faith in that he is the great center of the plan of salvation, and the only one in whom man can hope. But he is also the finisher of faith. We look down a little way in the future, and we see the Lord coming the “second time without sin unto salvation.” He comes in all the glory of his Father with the holy angels. Loud and clear the last trump sounds throughout the earth. The graves of the sleeping saints are thrown open, and they spring forth to immortal life. The living righteous are not forgotten, but they are changed in a moment. They join the resurrected saints, and are all caught up together to meet their Lord in the air. Their
“Hope is changed to glad fruition,
Faith to sight and prayer to praise.” Jesus leads the mighty triumph on, and they all ascend to the city—the mansions he has prepared for them. He has finished their faith, and their measure of happiness is full, to remain to all eternity. O day of joy, speed on thy flight, that the sufferings of earth may soon be over! Dear reader, probation lingers yet for a little season. Be diligent to make your calling and election sure before it is too late. “Earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” If you pass through trials and afflictions, be patient, “that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.”