p. 6 | UNBELIEF by J. H. D.

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Nov 7, 1895

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 21, No. 44.

UNBELIEF

By J. H. D.

BY J. H. D.

“Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.” “And to whom sware He that they should not enter into His rest, but to them that believed not? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.” Heb. 3:12, 18, 19.

Unbelief stops the current of God’s mercy from running; it closes the orifice of Christ’s wounds, that no healing virtue will come out. “He did not many mighty works there, because of their unbelief.” Matt. 13:58. It is subtle in its nature, so that it sometimes exists and we are unconscious of its presence. When we offer a prayer for anything according to the promises of God, and we are surprised to find our prayers answered, unbelief is working in our hearts.

Unbelief is the mother of all sins. It is Satan’s seed that he plants in the heart, expecting it to become a mighty tree capable of bearing all kinds of evil fruit. “Take heed, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief.” If the heart was kept right, it would be as natural to believe as for the plant to grow in the spring.

The Source of Unbelief.

It is always well to know the source of disease; then it can be attacked in its own fortress. If unbelief originated in the mind, we could meet it with argument. But since it is a product of sin in the heart, we must meet it there, not by argument, but by the word of God. “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” On this text is said by an eminent Christian:—

“This is an eternal truth, which you can not too much reflect upon, that reason always follows the state of the heart; and what your heart is, that is your reason. If your heart is full of sentiments of penitence, and of faith, your reason will take part with your heart; but if your heart is shut up in death and dryness, your reason will delight in nothing but dry objections and speculations.”

Of the heathen it is stated that the origin of their darkened condition was that “they did not like to retain God in their knowledge.” Most of the infidelity of our day comes from the same cause. More skepticism may be traced to the neglect of secret prayer than to the arguments of the most talented infidels.

Men first depart from God, then they deny him. Then follows the fruits of unbelief, which are all Satanic in their nature.

“If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established.” Isa. 7:9. Unbelief is displeasing to God. “Without faith it is impossible to please him.” Heb. 11:6. “He that believeth not God hath made him a liar.” 1 John 5:10. To make God a liar is to not retain him in the knowledge or affections. The source, the heart, has become so contaminated that Christ can find no place within. He is driven out.

“They Could Not Enter In.”

Unbelief raised a barrier which shut out Israel from the promised blessing. Because of unbelief they could not enter. It may be the same with us. A legion of angels may be passing by your house, with the richest blessings for you; but if you do not believe the good news that they are coming, you will not go forth to meet them. Christ may be ever so near, and yet we receive no benefit unless we learn to trust him.

In studying the conditions of Israel in their unbelief we may learn some of its causes with ourselves. The first outbreak of this great body after they started from Egypt was in the Wilderness of Sin. See Exodus 16. There was no bread to satisfy their hunger. The hastily prepared provisions which they brought from the land of bondage were gone, and their kneading troughs were empty. “And the whole congregation murmured against Moses and against Aaron in the wilderness.” They murmured. They were so shortsighted that they thought their words of reproof were only against Moses and Aaron. They did not think they were doubting God, but thought they had just reasons for finding fault with these leaders. But it was Christ against whom they murmured. He was the Leader that was directing Moses and Aaron. These men were not responsible for the lack of bread, for they were obeying the direction of Jesus Christ.

How often do men and women at the present time manifest the same unbelief by murmuring against those whom the Lord has chosen to lead in his work! We may not think it a very serious thing, but “take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief.”

The second outbreak was at Rephidim. Exodus 17. There was no water to quench their thirst. While the scorching sun poured down its penetrating rays upon their heads, and their feet trod the dry, sandy bed of the brook, instead of looking to the Lord for help, they gave way to the terrible sin of unbelief. They again murmured against Moses and wished themselves back in Egypt. They did not deny the deliverance of the past, nor that God was able to help them now. But they could only see the human, and charged all the blame upon their fellow-men.

How often we go over the same road! We are loud to praise the God of heaven for some great blessings of the past, yet we are murmuring because we do not see something done to-day. We charge it all upon some unfaithful leader, as though God was hindered by frail humanity. If we keep on traveling this road, we will perish in the wilderness, as did unbelieving Israel.

Results of Unbelief.

It hardens the heart. The hardest heart was once tender and susceptible of impression. The chalk which now holds the fossil shells was once soft like clay. So, likewise, the murderer once shuddered when as a youth he crushed the worm. Unbelief gradually hardens the heart. The writer at one time saw a human being whose body was partly ossified. The muscles and flesh had become hardened like bone, so that there was neither feeling nor elasticity. This work of ossification had been going on for years. At first he did not dream that his whole body would be like one solid bone, but as years went by, he soon realized his sad condition and the inevitable doom that awaited him. It was a slow death.

And thus it is with the heart of unbelief. The constant hearing of truth without obeying it has planted the small seed in the heart, and the hardening has begun. The knowing to do good, and doing it not, the cherishing of the unholy thing, and the refusing to confess our wrongs to God, all harden the heart and advance the growth of unbelief.

“So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief. Let us therefore fear.” Those that permitted their hearts to be filled with unbelief, finally perished in the wilderness. Only Joshua and Caleb saw the promised land. Can we fare any better? “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, . . . shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone; which is the second death.” Rev. 21:8. Not only will this be their end, but Christ said they are condemned already. See John 3:18. Then how earnestly we should seek the Lord for faith to believe his word!

Unbelief looks at every molehill of difficulty as a mountain. Faith casts the mountain into the sea, and rests securely on the naked promise of the Lord. Unbelief says, “It can not be done; it is impossible to accomplish what the word says.” Faith accepts of no denial, but says, “All things are possible to him that believeth.”