"WAXED STRONG THROUGH FAITH."
By H. A. St. John
WAXED strong through faith, giving glory to God.” Thus did Abraham, as the Word of the Lord declares, “This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” 1 John 5:4. Then the weapon of victory is faith. With strong faith that did not stagger at the promises of God, Abraham received the things promised, and gave glory to God for them long before coming into actual possession of the things promised. In fact he died before receiving all the Lord had promised him, but his faith waned not, but continued steadfast unto the end of life, and he died in the triumphs of a living faith, giving glory to God for His promises until life ceased. His faith will be victorious. It will be honored, gloriously and eternally honored, when the Lifegiver comes to call to life and immortality his faithful servant Abraham, together with all who have overcome in like manner. If we would only take God at His word, comply with the conditions, and claim His promises, whether they be for time or eternity, then hold on by giving glory to Him, He never could, and never would, fail fully to fulfil all His promises to us in His own good time and way. And that time and way would always exactly accord with our highest and best good, and His glory. O, that men, all men, would praise the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! If we would but consider how good the Lord is; how necessary, valuable, and constant His mercies are to us; how that we live, move, and have our being in Him; how that every good and perfect gift cometh from Him; and how He daily loadeth us with benefits; then we would feel to cry out as one of old, “What shall I render unto the Lord for all His benefits toward me?” Then, like David, we would accept the cup of salvation from the hand of the Lord, and praise Him with unfeigned lips, and a heart filled with gratitude. Then it would be much easier to exercise constant and implicit faith in all His promises to us. We would make our requests known unto the Lord always, with thanksgiving, and grow strong through faith.