Only Believe by A. M. Lindsley

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 8, 1873

Only Believe.

By A. M. Lindsley

The difficulty with many honest souls in getting out into the light seems to be in not comprehending, in its simplicity, the channel by which the grace of God is brought to the soul. And it may be asked, in view of God's willingness to bless and save, if this is not one of the chief hindrances to the growth of those professors who have long been in the way. Do we not too often approach him with a set form of requests for things that we feel that we stand in need of, without a very definite expectation that we shall receive the petitions we desire of him? It is very much the case with a reading of the Bible, that we pass in a careless, formal manner over important passages and ideas, from which we might glean a rich harvest of good, if read with an anxious desire to apprehend truly the lessons they were designed to convey. So in prayer, we may bring, as the heathen do, vain repetitions before God, and fail to receive because we ask amiss. It would be out of his order to work for us and bless us largely, while not in harmony with his divinely instituted way. No doubt our Saviour, seeing the proneness of the natural heart to unbelief, took occasion to illustrate the necessity of faith, and by demonstration exhibited his power to forgive sins, heal the sick, cast out devils, raise the dead, still the tempest, &c., to fix the attention, and lead the minds of his followers to this fundamental truth. Without faith, it is impossible to please God; and he that cometh to him, must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of such as diligently seek him. Now if we come to him in his appointed way, by repentance and confession, we are to take him at his word, and by simple faith lay hold of his promises and claim them as ours—believe, and receive. So surely as we are in earnest in seeking him, just so surely shall we receive a blessing at his hand.

“Prayer was appointed to convey The blessings God designs to give.”

Often the burdened soul goes mourning for months, and years even, while seeking God as the chief good, knowing there is nowhere else to go for help; and instead of laying his burdens down, or rolling (margin) them on God, if, from their crushing weight, he be not able to lift them to cast them on the Lord, he continues to carry them, not apprehending that help has been laid on One mighty to save, even Jesus, the Burden-bearer. It is quite as pleasing to God that we believe, and trust, as that we should turn at all from our evil ways, for even after we do this, if we struggle along in our own strength to overcome, we are in great danger of falling of the grace of God. Our own strength is weakness, our wisdom, folly. Let us give to God, so to speak, the benefit of all our weakness, our folly, our doubts and fears; and moving only in his strength, trusting only his wisdom, let such confidence spring up in our hearts toward him that we can lie passive in his hands, trusting him in the darkness as in the light. We are in the furnace. The great Refiner is watching our cases with all that love and interest, that sent him down from the courts of Heaven to earth, to die for us. He will only by these tests prove our faith till he sees it is enough. By-and-by, he will say, Child, come up higher.

Said a dear sister to me, a few days since, Sister L., I am in Christian's slough of despond. Well, dear sister, I have been there too, and not only there, but, for a period of years, in the worse than iron-bound castle of giant despair—bound as it were with chains to the wall of his dungeon, forgetting, meanwhile, that I carried in my own bosom the key by which I ought to effect my escape.

“Be not afraid, only believe,” said Jesus to Jairus, the ruler of the synagogue, and believing, he received his daughter restored to life, by a word from the Life-giver. So, at the grave of Lazarus, he mildly reproved Martha for her unbelief: “Said I not unto thee, that if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?” Troubled soul, would you find rest? If you ever do, it will be by grace, through faith. Doubting, fearful one, do you want an assurance of your acceptance with him? “Bring forth fruits meet for repentance.” “Fear not, but believe only.” Perhaps Satan will tempt us to think our unworthiness is so great that freedom and salvation are not for us. Do not listen to his insinuations. Think how much has been done for us. That our Heavenly Father should condescend to answer our requests, is wonderful, yet it is nevertheless true.

Careful one, burdened and overcharged with the cares of this life, who think you can see no time for prayer, do not let this snare of the enemy prove effectual. It is his device to occupy all your energies. Stop at once. Bid your cares to wait, while you go and pray yonder. Time must be devoted to this work, or you will not be prepared to overcome. Do not give up with a slight effort, or think that at some future time you will not be so crowded; for if he knows so well how to hinder you now, he will not be at a loss how to continue to attract your attention. To the sinner I would say, There is an open fountain for sin and uncleanness; angels of God are troubling the waters. Only believe in their efficacy—step in and be healed. The car of salvation is on its way to the heavenly city; the last and only through train, carrying the third angel's message, propelled by the angels of God and his Holy Spirit, is on its way. Believe, and act accordingly. “Get on board, get on board,” secure a through ticket at once by a consistent faith. Honor God and save your own souls, and as many others as you can pluck from ruin. “Be not afraid, only believe.”

“Ye weary, heavy laden, come, Will you go? will you go? In the blest house there still is room, Will you go? will you go? The Lord is waiting to receive, If thou wilt on him now believe, He’ll give thy troubled conscience ease, Come, believe! Come, believe!”

A. M. LINDSLEY.