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Faith—Growth

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Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Jul 22, 1908

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 34, No. 30.

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Faith—Growth.

FAITH is a matter of growth. Abraham, the great example of faith, was a faithful seeker of truth in the midst of the error of heathenism. God found him to be sincerely worshiping, teaching, living; and He called him out from his heathen surroundings that He might reveal to him greater light. “So Abraham departed, as the Lord had spoken unto him,” not knowing whither he went, but with faith that he could follow safely. God rewarded his faith by giving him a view of the land of Canaan, where He renewed the promise of the inheritance and the great nation. With the renewed promise came another test, the long wait for the promised son. The old patriarch became impatient at times, and in his human strength and wisdom endeavored to do for himself that which only God could do; but at length Isaac was born.
Thru all the years that Isaac was growing to manhood, the Lord was training Abraham in obedience that prepared him for the greatest test of his life—the offering of that beloved son on the altar of sacrifice. In all the years that he had walked with God, Abraham had become stronger and stronger in faith; so when the command came, without delay he “rose up early in the morning,” and started toward Moriah, where with the same unflinching trust he bound his only son upon the altar, and raised the gleaming knife to slay him.
This was the climax in the life of Abraham, and he met it; not because his faith was strong that day alone, but because with a foundation of a life of faith, his character was fixed. The death on the cross of Calvary was the climax in the earthly career of the Saviour of men; but the suffering of that hour was but the cumulation of a life filled with cruel crosses and crowns of thorns. Day by day the life of the Christian must be such a growth in faith and consequent strength of character that the crucial tests will find him strong to endure the most fiery trial.
H.