THOUGHTS ON FAITH by M. C. W.

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Dec 21, 1888

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 14, No. 49.

THOUGHTS ON FAITH.

By M. C. W.

FAITH concerning that which pertains to the Christian life, should not be based on anything which man may say, unless what he says is supported by the Bible. He may say that what he says is thus supported, but let him produce the evidence. Relying on man's word alone is presumption, not faith. God brings to us solemn and sweet messages through man; but the message should not be received as from man, but as from God. 1 Thess 2:13. We may honor the messenger as the Lord's servant, for Christ's sake. He has not spoken his own, if he has spoken good; he has spoken only what he has received from God. If we depend upon the word of man, the man upon whom we lean, in whom we trust, may fail. Then our support proves a broken reed, which pierces us in the breaking. But if the word of God be our foundation, it will stand. "For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof fadeth away; but the word of the Lord endureth forever." 1 Peter 1:24, 25.

We should not judge of our condition or relation to God by feeling. Feeling may be one thing to-day, another to-morrow. It is at least modified by condition of health, surrounding circumstances, confirmed habits, and the conflicts through which we pass. Feeling is the result of faith, not faith of feeling. Feeling is inconstant, faith is abiding. Therefore what we feel should never be used as the evidence of our condition. It is not by feeling that we are to know that God has accepted us. Feeling alone may be a true criterion; it may not. It should never be depended upon. If it is, it will often leave us in discouragement, despondency, or despair. Because of faith, joyous feeling is often present. Sometimes we have joyous feelings with but little exercise of

faith. God gives them to encourage trust and love, just as the eagle bears up her wearied and fearful young ones when teaching them to fly. The joy and peace and happiness are little morsels of the blessings of strong faith which lies before. It was thus that God dealt with discouraged Jacob, as he was leaving home because of his sins. In discouragement he lies down upon the cold ground and hard pillow, under what seemed to him the closed heavens. But God's mercy has not left the despondent "supplanter." In his dreams God's tender providence is revealed by the shining ladder and ministering spirits, and it forces from Jacob's grateful heart, "Surely the Lord is in this place; and I knew it not." Gen 28:16. It is even thus that God deals at times with us.

We should not confound mere belief with faith. Belief is the assent of the understanding, and may be, and often is, exercised by the unregenerate. "The devils also believe." James 2:19. Mere belief rests in theory; but faith is operative. It makes application of the promises to ourselves. Belief may only affect the mind, but faith affects the life. There may be belief without faith, but there can be no faith, no trust, without belief. We trust God, or have faith in him, because we believe him. And this faith is based on God's promises. If we believe them, and have complied with the conditions on which they are fulfilled, the promise is ours. We know that it is; for God has said so. So Paul says, "For we know that, if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God," etc. 2 Cor. 5:1. He knew by faith in God's word. So our Saviour says that we may know when his coming is near, even at the doors. Matt. 24:33. True faith in, and understanding of, the word of God is absolute knowledge. We know by faith. We not only believe God's promises; we appropriate them to ourselves as individuals; and by the appropriation of those promises, we become partakers of the divine nature, sons and daughters of God, with power to overcome sin. 2 Peter 1:4; 2 Cor. 6:17, 18; 7:1; 1 John 5:4.

But feeling will not do this for us. Faith generally operates without the feeling, that is, joyous or happy feeling. It is in this way that it becomes strong, and attains its most stalwart growth. Had we the feeling first, we would act because it pleased the sensuous nature, and not because of confidence in God. But God withholds the ecstasy and joy in order to develop the faith. The eaglet would ever remain weak were it always upborne by the parent wings, so it is left on the empty air to develop its powers. It may be fearful at the depth below, but the discipline is necessary. Even so would our faith exist in name only were we to walk by feeling. We would be "only strong for lack of test." God in his rich mercy casts us out where we cannot see or know what lies below or beyond; but—

"The steps of faith Fall on the seeming void, and find The rock beneath."

It is only in this way that faith can grow. So the apostle teaches concerning those who are "kept by the power of God through faith" in the last days. "Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations; that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ." 1 Peter 1:6, 7. The sweetest songs, the greatest triumphs, the truest love, come from a tried faith. "We walk by faith, not by sight," or by sense of any kind.

Then let the basis of all our relations to God, and our condition before him, be abiding trust in his holy word, and not the evidence given by our changeable, sensuous nature. The latter will fail. We will seek for it, and just when we long for it the most, it will be wanting. But faith in the word of God abides. Darkness may arise, clouds may hide the sun, trials may encompass us about, foes may assail us on every side; but God's word abides. Our faith can rest on the rock of truth, Christ Jesus our Lord, and on his precious promises. And such faith will bring the sweetest joy, the purest praise, the holiest peace we ever knew. The prison cell of our surroundings will become the reception-room of holy angels. And thus we will be kept by the power of God through faith, till faith is lost in sight.