WALKING BY FAITH | AdventAI

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jul 31, 1901

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 27, No. 31.

WALKING BY FAITH.

“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” We studied this in part in our last, and we found that tho we could not see by physical eyes the way or its end, we could see by faith farther than physical sight can reveal. He who sees by physical vision is limited by his perverted mortal sense and knowledge. He sees but the present in the light of human experience. But he who sees by faith, views matters in the visions, or seeings, of God.

Feeling after God.

But when God gives no such vision, how shall the pilgrim go forward? Let him do as do the physically blind,—feel his way. God cares for His children. Tho they can not see the way, He can see. He remembers them wherever they are, and longs that they shall seek God, “if haply they might feel after Him, and find Him, tho He be not far from every one of us.” Acts 17: 27.

Then, dear soul, passing through the dark night, seemingly shut in by impenetrable clouds, reach out the hand. Let your heart be in that reaching with infinite longing, and you will more than feel the literal touch; you will feel that “underneath are the ‘everlasting arms.’” Learn from the little child. How often have we seen the almost ill, timid little boy awake in the night, startled by some untoward dream, fearful of the darkness, seeing nothing, almost ready to cry, perhaps uttering his fear in baby fright, the next moment cuddling down to such sweet, confident feeling of rest as the strong, loving hand of the father clasped the little hand in his. So God reaches down with infinite tenderness and love to take the hand of His child, and lead him or her where even faith can not see.

And let God clasp your hand. Do not be content with touching or grasping His.

“Let me take your hand, my boy, the way is rough and slippery, and you may stumble and fall,” said the strong father.

“No, papa, let me take your hand,” said the little boy. “I can hold on.”

The next moment the little feet stumbled, the little hand lost its hold, and the little boy fell. Rising again, he reached the little hand up to the great, strong father, and said, “Papa, you hold my hand.” And the great, strong hand encloses the little one in a kind, loving grasp, and the child is safe. Let us learn from the children, and knowing our weakness, pray with one of old, “Hold up my goings in Thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.” Ps. 17: 5.

“Be Silent unto God.”

But if one can neither see nor feel, how can he go forward? He may strain his eyes, and see naught. He may reach out his hands, and feel only the thick darkness. No wall nor post nor familiar landmark can be felt. The beaten path is gone. The very earth seems unfamiliar. The pilgrim may be in a frail bark on a pathless sea. What shall he do? Do again as does the physical man in like circumstances,—listen for the guiding voice to a port of safety.

But he must know the voice. God often guides His children thus, and He has given us the one true test by which we may ever know His voice. That standard is His holy law, of which He says, “Out of heaven He made thee to hear His voice, that He might instruct thee;” and “these words [the Ten] the Lord spake . . . with a great voice; and He added no more. And He wrote them in two tables of stone.” Deut. 4: 36; 5: 22.

But the mere knowledge that God gave the Ten Words, that they are His perfect standard of morality and character will not avail. They must be written by the New Covenant life in our heart; our life must by submissive faith come into complete harmony with God, till we can say with Christ, speaking through the psalmist: “I delight to do Thy will, O My God; yea, Thy law is within My heart.” “O how love I Thy law! it is My meditation all the day.” Let faith harmonize the heart with the great eternal law of God’s love, and then in the dark, trackless night listen to God’s voice.

There are numerous other voices. Satanic agents are ubiquitous, calling, calling, till on every side is heard a very Babel of voices. And we, perhaps, are lost and know not the way. O then, listen. “Be silent to the Lord, and wait patiently for Him.” Ps. 37: 7, margin. Among the numerous voices calling the sheep, be assured that the voice of the True Shepherd will be heard. “Be silent to the Lord.” There is no voice like His to His own. “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” “I am the good Shepherd; and I know Mine own, and Mine own know Me.” Follow the Shepherd’s voice, and out of the forest and fog, from among the false shepherds, along the rocky, thorny path, through the deserts of drouth, He will lead you to the green pastures and the still waters of the glorious fields of light.

O soul, see with His seeing; reach out and let Him grasp your hand; listen and let His voice guide you; ask for the Spirit’s anointing that the senses may be quickened; so shall you walk by faith in a surer, safer way than earth can know. “Son of man, mark well, and behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears all that I say unto thee concerning all the ordinances of the house of the Lord, and all the laws thereof.” “Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; believe His prophets, so shall ye prosper.”