SIMPLE FAITH by H. A. St. John

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Dec 17, 1894

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 20, No. 58.

SIMPLE FAITH.

By H. A. St. John

BY ELDER H. A. ST. JOHN.

"And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou Son of David, have mercy on us. And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him, and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord. Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you. And their eyes were opened." Matt. 9: 27-30.

We note, as the first lesson in the above instructive narrative, persistency in prayer. These men followed Jesus, "crying, and saying." We know not for how long a time, or how long a distance, they thus followed Jesus, imploring mercy, without the least attention being paid to their prayer; Jesus, apparently at least, heeded them not. At last he reached the place of his destination, and, evidently without an act or word of interest in their cases, he enters the house. We have no thought that they were even invited to enter the house after him. Many petitioners would have been utterly discouraged at this juncture, concluding that it was of no use to pray longer, for the Lord did not regard their cry. Had these two men done so, they might have remained blind all the rest of their lives. But not thus did they do. They followed to the door; they went into the house; they went up close to Jesus, and pressed their petition. God is pleased with this kind of persistent importunity, not because he is unsympathizing, or his ear heavy, but because it indicates that intense soul-absorbing desire necessary to properly appreciate the blessing craved.

Jesus now regards their plea. In answer to a question from Jesus, these two blind men unhesitatingly affirm their faith in the ability of Jesus to restore their sight, and, on the ground of this faith—according to this faith—Jesus touched their eyes, and their sight was at once restored. Their importunity, which was but the expression of their faith, was most gloriously rewarded, and they could not be restrained from sounding abroad everywhere the praises of the great Physician.

The reader no doubt will be struck with the simple quality of the faith that Jesus called for on this occasion. "Believe ye that I am able to do this?" What sick or afflicted Christian of to-day has even the shadow of a doubt as to the ability or power of Jesus to heal them. His ability or power to heal, even in the most distressing and dangerous cases, is not questioned for a moment seemingly by even the weakest saint. "Lord, is it thy will?" is the great question now for faith to

answer, and that too in each individual case. We know he can do the work if he wills to do it. But how shall the will of God in a specified case be known? Undoubtedly in many instances it is not known, and in all such cases it is manifestly all the petitioners can do to commit the case to the Lord, saying, "According to thy will be the result." But if in any particular case the Lord reveals to parties concerned what his will is in that instance, just what would be for his glory, then faith may take that revelation, and claim and obtain the blessing sought. According to such faith, upon such basis, will the work be done.

May we ever live in such close and constant communication with God that we can better understand his will in the many cases of extremity that come in our pathway, in this world of suffering, affliction, and death, and then we will oftener sense his divine power.