p. 88 | VICTORIES OF FAITH by C. A. Osgood

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Feb 24, 1881

VICTORIES OF FAITH.

By C. A. Osgood

BY C. A. OSGOOD.

FAITH in God produces wonderful results. It raises men from the slough of sin to become sons of God. It leads the blind in a way they knew not, so that they walk in paths they had not before known. Many instances of the victory of faith are given in the eleventh chapter of Paul's epistle to the Hebrews. Noah was one of those believing souls. He is described as having been "a just man," one that "walked with God." We think of him as one who had enjoyed the favor of God for many years when God made known to him his purpose to destroy the wicked inhabitants of the earth by a flood. But this was not all; God commanded him to make special preparation for that event by building an ark for the saving of his household. To do this, would change all his plans in life. It would cost an immense sum of money, and long-continued labor and thought, together with an unlimited amount of contempt from the unbelieving multitude.

Had he possessed no more faith than many professing Christians at the present time, we may well imagine that he would have answered: Lord, I have enjoyed the conciousness of thy favor these many years. I am satisfied with my present condition. I will pursue the way I am now going, I shall get to Heaven safe enough; but as to incurring this great expense and labor, and enduring the ignominy that must result from doing such a work, I beg leave to be excused!

What would have been the consequence if Noah had thus talked and acted? Doubtless he would have perished by the waters of the flood, with the wicked multitude, notwithstanding all the religion he had before possessed. But Noah believed God. He built the ark. The flood took away all the unbelieving world, but he and his family were saved.

The influence of faith shone out gloriously in the person and work of Moses. He "was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and deeds." He was heir apparent to the throne of Egypt. Egypt was then a rich and powerful kingdom. He might have possessed those riches, and ruled that mighty nation. There he might have enjoyed "the pleasures of sin" to the full. The luxuries which unbounded wealth could give, might have been his. But God called him away to do another work. This was a humble work, as men esteemed it. It had very much of sorrow connected with it. But under the influence of faith he "chose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season." By faith "he endured as seeing him who is invisible." And though afflicted and poor, his faith "looked forward to the recompense of reward" which God had in reserve for him.

For men to act thus in the present age would be accounted the height of folly, even by those who bear the name of Christian. Let a man with high political prospects exchange these for the humble work of proclaiming the unpopular truths of the third angel's message, receiving merely a sustenance, and looking to the time "when the chief Shepherd shall appear," for a full reward of his labors, would subject him to pity and scorn. To do this would really be the height of wisdom. And though such a man were despised in the present, yet in the near future, if faithful, he would "shine as the stars forever and ever."

Again, the power of faith was shown in the case of the Hebrew children in Babylon. They were worshipers of the true God. They felt that the ten commandments were sacred, every one of them. They knew that the second commandment was God's precept forbidding them to worship any image. The king of that great empire had set up a great image of gold. A certain day was appointed for its dedication. A vast assemblage from all parts of the empire was there. The decree went forth that every one of them should fall down and worship the image, under pain of being cast into a burning furnace. What did these three men do? They resolved to risk the consequences, they dared not disobey God. And so while the vast multitude fell prostrate before the idol, these three men stood erect as the servants of the Most High God. True, they

were cast into the burning, fiery furnace, heated seven times hotter than it was wont to be heated.

But God honored their faith. He delivered them. The heat had no power upon their bodies, there was not a hair of their heads singed, their coats were not changed, neither had the smell of fire passed upon them. Oh! for a like faith in these days! Had a similar command gone forth in our day, how few would have had faith enough to have done as these illustrious men did! How many to save their lives would have fallen down and yet would excuse themselves by saying, I will not worship the image in my heart, though I bow down to save my life? But in the days of Nebuchadnezzar, men had not become so shrewd as now, and now their shrewdness will not deliver them in the day of the Lord.

The sacred writings bring to view the cases of other believers who were not saved from persecution and death, and yet remained faithful. Some "were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection." "Others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover, of bonds and imprisonments. They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword, they wandered about in sheep-skins and goat-skins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; they wandered in deserts and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth." Faith with them was a powerful principle. It sustained them amidst these sore trials. This power enabled them to hold on to truth and right, while they viewed from afar the glorious home that God had promised to the faithful.

So also those Christians who lived and died during the times of the pagan and papal persecution had great faith. They believed the truth of God; it was precious to them. They would not renounce it for any consideration. They were not afraid to die for the truth's sake. They laid hold on Almighty strength and triumphed in hope of a glorious resurrection. But how little of such faith is there now upon the earth? What an age of self-indulgence is this? How little are men willing to do or suffer for Christ's sake, and the truth's sake? When God calls upon men to make diligent efforts to prepare for the great and dreadful day of the Lord, which hasteth greatly, how many are willing to be rocked to sleep in the cradle of carnal security! How few are willing to forego their own convenience and brave the scoffs of the people, for the sake of obeying God's commandments, and so, of having a right to the tree of life, and an entrance into the holy city! Oh! how much is needed that faith which men of old possessed; that faith which overcomes the world!