FAITH by H. C. Balsbaugh

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, Cal. · Aug 8, 1906

FAITH.

By H. C. Balsbaugh

GOD requires a complete faith. This is for the highest welfare of man, because there is a reasonable foundation for it. God therefore justly holds men accountable for it.

The Foundation of Faith.

The life of God reaches into the past and future beyond our thought and historical record. The things of nature everywhere testify that there is a Creator, and His works and workings bear witness of knowledge, wisdom, and power as much greater than the works of man as the heavens are higher than the earth. In this is abundant evidence of the Creator's fitness to govern the world.

Nature attests the truthfulness of the Bible. An honest mind may be confirmed in this by the record found in the first chapter of Genesis, which is only an example of many others found in the Bible. The works and word of God are a harmony. Before making the living moving creature He provided for its necessities—air, water, and food; and further for the highest gratification of all the senses with which He endowed the creature. See Gen. 2:8, 9. This declares God's goodness and love from the beginning, while the boundless variety of creation declares the perfect knowledge and wisdom of God. Let all, including the infidel, consider that this truth of harmony is a great witness of condemnation against all unbelievers.

Because of men's imperfections upon every side they can not see as God sees. Therefore the natural man is at variance with God. After the same manner there is unlikeness between father and child. Tho the father's knowledge is not perfect, it is much greater than the child's. How unreasonable then that God should ever be called unrighteous. The natural man lives but a short time; God lives forevermore. Think, by comparison, how small at best is the knowledge and wisdom of man, and how small must be his view of life and duty, while God ever has a full, perfect view, since He knows all things. In this reasonable light read Acts 15:18.

These evidences of God's fitness to instruct and direct man are an open and standing appeal to believe God in the way He has chosen to reveal Himself. Truly, God has been mindful to furnish for every man an intelligent and satisfying foundation for faith. Read Rom. 10:17.

Faith and Its Purpose.

We must learn to see as God sees. How?—By faith in God. A child has an inner sense, a something to make him know that he is connected with some one greater than himself, or a helper. That helper is his father. The child becomes acquainted with his father through the father's words and actions, and thus learns to have confidence in his father. And while learning the lesson of faith he is learning to see as the father sees, thereby seeing far beyond his own experience and knowledge. So is man's relation to God. According to his faith in God he sees things and life as God sees. The Bible reveals the mind and will of God, and gives an account of the world by history and prophecy from the creation to the end of time. Thus the man of faith has a view of the whole human race, of heaven, and of earth, and knows that "The Lord is righteous in all His ways and holy in all His works." Ps. 145:17; also Hosea 14:9.

Jesus is the perfect example of faith for every man. Rev. 14:12; John 14:6. His life, His words and acts, reveal His faith. In Jesus we see perfect obedience by reason of perfect faith. And this record is given that men everywhere may have Christlike faith. "Without faith it is impossible to please God." Heb. 11:6. Read the whole chapter for many illustrations of faith.

By Faith Is Peace and Refuge in God.

The Scriptures prophesy a time (Luke 18:8) when true faith will be very small on the earth. That condition of the world is a sign of the near coming of Christ, and that very condition is true of the world now. Unbelief of the Scriptures is the cause of it. In 2 Tim. 3:1-5, is a prophecy of the state of the professed church in the last days. In Luke 21:25-27 is a prophecy of the state of the world. These prophecies portray the sins, calamities, and signs that are fulfilling now.

Ponder the fearful state of men's minds as now, in the more frequent visitations of earthquakes, tidal waves, volcanic eruptions, storms, floods, and fires, they experience how helpless is the arm of flesh. These things are both signs and judgments, to instruct and warn men that they may turn to God in faith and make Him their sure peace and refuge. Isa. 26:3; Ps. 46:1-3. Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matt. 6:33), and will to do His will (John 7:17). In these references are words of solemn, sober truth. By the words of Scripture all men will be judged. John 12:46-50.