p. 6 | THE DOUBTFUL MIND by S.

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Sep 3, 1902

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 28, No. 36.

THE DOUBTFUL MIND.

By S.

THERE is a blessed stability about the experience of the true Christian. It is because there is a solid foundation to the Christian life. It is built upon the Rock Christ Jesus, which no storms of doubt or fear, or waves of opposition, can hope to overthrow. Having that, we have the blessed peace which comes of settled conviction and assurance.

As outside of this there is no hope, no promise, so outside of this there can be no settled conviction, no assurance, no true rest. On the other hand, there is doubt and fear and a continual yielding to the forces that oppose the principles of Christ, the godly life.

It was never God’s design for man that he should be continually harassed by doubt, or ever so harassed. The admonition of our Saviour is, “Neither be ye of doubtful mind.” The assurance which the Father desires we should have is beautifully expressed in that wonderful 23d Psalm: “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; He leadeth me beside the still waters. . . . Yea, tho I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for Thou art with me.”

It is also well expressed by the prophet Isaiah: “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee; because he trusteth in Thee.” Isa. 26:3. But with the ungodly it is not so. Doubt and perplexity are their continual portion, and perfect trust and confidence they never know. The reward of belief is a bulwark of eternal strength. It is a divine shield which the arrows of the enemy can not pierce. “We have a strong city; salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks. Open ye the gates that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in.” Isa. 26:1, 2. Again: “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous runneth into it and is safe.” Prov. 18:10. Whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe.” Ch. 29:25.

There is no occasion for doubt here. He who holds the universe in His hand, who made it and all that in it is, has made Himself surety for every promise that His Word contains. It is more substantial than the mighty hills, for they are but the creatures of His hands. At His word they consume, and at His word they come into being; but His promises can never fail, and He will not amend or nullify the thing that has gone out of His mouth. He who trusts in that stability can never be moved; he who is surrounded by that bulwark can never be overthrown; he who carries that shield can never be pierced by the fiery darts of the wicked one; and he who has this hope in him “purifies himself even as He is pure.”

How much better, more restful, more satisfying, is this than the condition of him who doubts God and His Word and refuses to be in harmony with Him and His ways and works. “The wicked are like the troubled sea, when it can not rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.” Isa. 57:20, 21. That peace “which passeth understanding” never comes to the man of the doubtful mind, nor to the “double-minded man;” for he “is unstable in all his ways.” His condition is proof positive that his mind is not “stayed” on God. If it were, he would be “in perfect peace,” and there would be nothing unstable about him. But nowhere in the Word is there any promise to the doubter. Therefore we can not afford to be “of doubtful mind.” The purchase price of peace, assurance, hope, and trust is perfect faith in Christ. That is the key which unlocks heaven and makes its treasures ours.