Lessons from the Past:—Faith and Unbelief.
By Mary A. Davis
Our first parents stood in the garden of Eden, in the perfection of beauty and innocence, surrounded, by their Creator, with everything that could minister to their happiness, themselves the crowning glory of his creative work, when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy, and he, looking over his fair creation, pronounced it very good. Every tree that was good for food, or pleasing to the eye, was theirs to enjoy; but in the midst of the garden stood one tree, only one, of which they might not partake; for God had said, “In the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” Instead of believing and obeying him who had freely given them so many blessings, they chose to heed the insinuations of a stranger, a usurper, who, without a single claim to their confidence, boldly dared to question the truth of the Creator’s word. They listened to his voice, and, yielding to the temptation, they plucked and ate the fruit of the forbidden tree, and found, alas! too late, only a knowledge of the good which might have been their own, but which they by transgression lost; and a sad, bitter experience of evil, that would darken all their earth-life with its baneful shadow. Then God, touched with pity for the misery which sin had wrought, provided for the fallen race a way of escape—a Saviour was promised, who would render perfect obedience to the law of God and, by giving his life a ransom, redeem lost man and open up, once more, the way to life’s fair tree, forfeited by their sin. Still faith and unbelief contended for mastery in the human heart. Abel humbly offered a lamb in sacrifice, obedient to God’s command, and found the pardon which he sought; while Cain, in proud rebellion, brought only a thank-offering of the fruit of the earth and was turned away, rejected of him whose commands he dared to disregard. When the children of Israel cried for deliverance from bondage in the land of Egypt, Jehovah, mindful of his promise to their fathers, revealed himself for their salvation. He brought them forth with such manifestations of his power in those terrible judgments on their oppressors as should have awakened the most unbounded confidence in his love and care for them; yet, when tested at the Red Sea, how soon did their faith fail and unbelief and murmuring come in. Again the Lord delivered them; while their cruel foes were drowned in the mighty waters. Through all their journeyings in the wilderness, his tender watchcare was untiring. He fed them with the bread of Heaven, he guided them by a pillar of cloud by day and of fire by night; their clothing did not grow old, nor their shoes wear out, in all their travels; and, more than this, the mighty God promised to go before them, to drive out their enemies, and bring them to a good land, flowing with milk and honey, if they would serve and obey him. Surely, if any people ever exercised unwavering faith in God, we might expect to find it in the history before us. But, alas! when temptation came, they disbelieved him, murmured at the trials of the way, and limited the Holy One of Israel. After the dread exhibitions of his power and majesty at Mount Sinai, when their leader was, for a little time, withdrawn from them, instead of patiently awaiting his return, they formed a calf of gold and raised the Heaven-daring cry, “These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt!” No wonder that Moses, coming from the presence of the Infinite, with his light and glory still resting upon him, was filled with indignation at the sight, and cast the tables of stone upon the ground, breaking them in pieces. Still, God in mercy bore with their unbelief, and led them on till they came to the very borders of the promised land. At his command, spies were sent up to view the country, and, returning laden with the rich fruits of the land, all but two repeated the disheartening story, “There are great giants in the land, in whose sight we were but as grasshoppers.” Caleb and Joshua, with true courage and faith in God, replied, “If God delight in us, then he will bring us into this land and give it us; the Lord is with us—fear them not.” The people listened to the words of unbelief, and uttered the impious wish, “Would God we had died in the wilderness”! and the Lord granted them their desire. He bade them turn back into the wilderness, and there they wandered till, of all the men of war who left Egypt, only Caleb and Joshua remained, who followed the Lord with all their hearts. These things were written as examples unto us on whom the ends of the world are come, that we should not fall after the same example of unbelief. This is the evil root from which springs disobedience, sin in every form; while faith in God, a confiding trust in him and belief of his word, lies at the foundation of all true obedience. It is simply taking God at his word, yielding ourselves to obey him, and trusting him for the result. In its very simplicity is strength; for it is by faith that human weakness becomes linked to Infinite Power, so the apostle could say, “When I am weak, then am I strong.” Yes; when the sinner falls on Christ, broken, helpless, and penitent, believing his promises, and trusting to his atoning sacrifice, he has a power that can move the Eternal. But how shall we discern this faith? How distinguish between the true and false? for we may be sure that Satan will have numberless counterfeits with which to deceive the unwary. Say the Scriptures, “By their fruits ye shall know them.” If the tree is good, the fruit will be good also; but if the fruit is corrupt, we may be sure it springs from an evil heart of unbelief. All the spirits which are gone out into the world come from one of these two sources. There are only two ways, the narrow and the broad. The Saviour says, “He that is not for me is against me, and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.” As we draw near to the great consummation, this subject is of especial importance. God has given us sufficient evidence in his word, in the signs of the times, as seen in the political and religious world, in the sun, moon, and stars, in the elements, everywhere, so we may know our position in the world’s history. The exact fulfillment of every prophecy in the past insures the realization of those which are still future. And it is the part of reason, of sound judgment and good sense, to believe God and obey his word. As it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be when the Son of man is revealed. He and his family alone, of all the world, believed God’s word and obeyed it. All the rest had the light, but they rejected it and perished. It is safe to obey God. We find in every instance recorded in Holy Writ that those who accepted the warnings given, and moved in faith and obedience, received just the help they needed. God never fails. He has given us the greatest proof of love possible for even God to give, in sending his own Son, the majesty of Heaven, into the world. And he has promised, with him freely to give us all things that we need. Have faith in God. With this, nothing indeed can separate us from his love, which is in Christ Jesus. Sin only, the bitter fruit of unbelief, can accomplish it. If the Bible is the word of God, then it is true, all true, its precious promises are recorded for us, and we honor God by believing and claiming them for our own. Like God’s ancient people, we have come up to the very borders of the heavenly Canaan; let us not be discouraged by the trials of the way, but with unwavering faith in him cry out with those leaders of old, In the strength of God, we are well able to go up and possess the goodly land. Those who are for us are more than all they who can be against us. All the heavenly hosts, God, Christ, and the innumerable company of pure, sinless angels, are interested in man’s salvation. Very soon will faith be lost in sight, the disgrace of sin be forever wiped out, and once more from all His glorious creation arise the glad ascription—“Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb forever and ever.”