CHILDLIKE FAITH by S. S. Bartlett

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 21, 1868

CHILDLIKE FAITH.

By S. S. Bartlett

We sometimes hear people say, in speaking of the Testimonies, “I can't see it,” “I don't understand it.” Well, suppose you do not! Is it for us to question the Almighty? Shall poor, frail, mortal man, say to the Ruler of the universe, What doest thou? or Why doest thou thus? “Jesus said to Peter, “What I do, thou knowest not now, but thou shalt know hereafter.” John xiii, 7.

Said Thomas, when told by the other disciples that the Saviour had risen, and that they had seen him, “Except I shall see in his hands the prints of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side I will not believe.” Jesus saith unto him, “Reach hither thy finger and behold my hands, and reach hither thy hand and thrust it into my side; and be not faithless, but believing.” And Thomas answered and said unto him, “My Lord and my God.” “Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed; blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.” John xx, 25, 27–29. There is such a thing as a blind faith, a believing without seeing, and I believe it is well pleasing unto the Lord.

Not long since a little child came to my house on Sunday. My little girl told her that Sunday was the Pope's day. She inquired of me “Who was the Pope?” I told her he was a wicked man who wished to make every one keep the first day of the week, instead of the holy Sabbath of the Lord. Soon she ran home to her mother, saying, “O ma! you're keeping the Pope's day.” I stood rebuked before the unquestioning faith of this little child. An older person would have said, “How do you know which is the Sabbath-day?” “Has not a day been lost?” “Has not time been changed?” or “The world is round, therefore we cannot keep the Sabbath day,” &c., &c. But this little one, unlearned in the wisdom of this world, had no arguments to bring, no doubts to solve, not even a question to ask. I had said it and that was enough.

This is the faith we need; a simple, childlike trust and confidence in the wisdom and goodness of our Heavenly Father. Such had David when he said, “I was dumb; I opened not my mouth, because thou didst it.” Ps. xxxix, 9. “Though he slay me yet will I trust in him.” Job xiii, 15.

Oh! let us buy largely of this “gold tried in the fire, that we may be rich; and may our prayer continually be, ‘Lord I believe, help thou my unbelief.’” S. S. BARTLETT.

Oakland Co., Mich.