Look to the Lord by E. K. SLADE

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 30, 1916

Look to the Lord

By E. K. SLADE

E. K. SLADE

“Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other.”

In this parable we have an illustration of two kinds of faith. That exercised by the Pharisee is a faith in one's self. The faith of the publican looks to the worthiness of God, and recognizes his power to save. It is not an uncommon thing for men to look to themselves, taking account of what they are doing, or of how well they have done, instead of looking to the Helper and Saviour of sinners. The faith that saves, the faith by which men are justified, as was the publican, is a faith that takes no account of one's own worthiness, but trusts wholly and always in the merits of Christ and in the power of God to save.

In the life and experience of Moses we see these two kinds of faith prominently revealed. After he had received many years of training in Egypt, realizing in some way that he was to be an instrument in the hands of God for leading Israel out of bondage into the Land of Promise, he looked to and relied upon his own ability in undertaking that great task. He failed in the very beginning. That circumstance led him into an experience that taught him that his only hope of accomplishing anything worth while for God was to look to the Source of all strength and wisdom. Moses had but little confidence in himself, when, after forty years, God called him to bear his message to Pharaoh, “Let my people go.” He begged to be excused on account of his inability. As was evident from all the experiences that followed, every victory that was won and all the advancement that was made in that wonderful deliverance of the people of God from Egypt and bondage, came because Moses had learned the lesson of looking to the One from whom his strength must come.

The psalmist had learned to say, “My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.” One of the lessons that every Christian must learn is that of having no confidence in the flesh, and of looking up to the source of every good gift. There is a tendency on the part of every one to do as Moses did in his early experience, and as the Pharisee and the Jewish nation did. The disciples were not free from the tendency to look to themselves and their own works during the days when the Saviour was with them.

“Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to show him the buildings of the temple.” And one of his disciples said, “Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!” This was typical of the feelings of the Jewish people. Their confidence was placed more in their system, their religion, and in what they had accomplished than in the power of God, and in the worthiness of God, by which alone a people can be saved. In the presence of their Saviour it was difficult for them to get their minds off their own accomplishments and off what they supposed to be their own worthiness.

There is danger that Christians will begin wrong. One who turns from a course of sin to follow the Lord, should have the experience described in the following words: “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” “He that cometh from above” has promised to come into our lives and dwell in our hearts. The faith that looks to God is the faith that gains the victory. “This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” Unless we cultivate the faith that looks away from self and from placing confidence in our own flesh or in that of another man, we are sure to meet defeat.

“My faith looks up to thee, Thou Lamb of Calvary, Saviour divine!”

is good to sing, and better to practice.

There is a remarkable lesson in the experience of Peter at the time when he, with the other disciples, was commanded by the Saviour to go across the lake, with the promise that the Saviour would meet them on the other side. In the night they were overtaken by a severe storm. In the midst of the awful darkness, the flashes of lightning, the deafening thunder, the raging wind and rolling waves, there appeared what they supposed to be a ghost. Much to their relief, a voice was heard, saying, “It is I; be not afraid.” Peter quickly responded, “If it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.” The Saviour said, “Come.” Peter stepped out of the boat, and in full view of his comrades, under these remarkable circumstances, he walked toward his Saviour with his eyes fixed upon divine power. But very shortly he began to look upon the scenes about him, and to think of what he was able to do. Then as he began to sink, he again reached up to his Lord, and appealed for help; and when the Saviour reached down his hand, he upbraided Peter for not continuing to trust in the power that had made his walk upon the water possible. Thousands will sink in the midst of the earthly elements that surround them, because they cease to look out and up.

While Elisha was stationed at Dothan, he was informed by his servant that the Assyrians had encamped near them, with horses and chariots and a great host. The servant inquired what they should do. The reply of the man of God was, “Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with

them.” Then Elisha prayed, asking the Lord to open the eyes of the young man that he might see. “And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.” The man of God had learned to look to the Lord. This was one of the greatest lessons that this young man, his servant, had to learn. He was to learn that men in this world may accomplish great things for God and experience great victories in their own lives through looking to him.

We are constantly confronted by the danger of fixing our eyes upon our own attainments, upon our religion, and upon the church and the accomplishments of the church, and fall into that self-satisfied condition that Israel experienced. We are in danger of saying to the world, “See what manner of stones and what buildings are here!” We are inclined to think as Peter evidently did, not realizing that in the sight of heaven the only possible way we can walk “unto all pleasing” is through constantly looking to Jesus.

Mount Vernon, Ohio.