p. 198 | Living by Faith by F. Wheeler

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 6, 1858

Living by Faith

By F. Wheeler

Now the Just shall Live by Faith, Heb. x, 38.

This declaration is true in respect to the people of God in every age. But the Apostle appears here to have especial reference to those who should live in the close of the gospel age; when "it is but a little while and he that shall come will come and will not tarry." How important then that those who profess to believe that they are in the time of waiting, and expecting soon to behold that same Jesus return again, should heed this admonition. The importance and nature of true faith are clearly set forth in the word of God. But without faith it is impossible to please him; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Heb. xi, 6. Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Rom. v, 1. But this faith is an active principle. A dead, inactive faith will not avail with God to obtain pardon. It must be a deep moving principle that leads the sinner to throw himself on the mercy of God in Christ; and believe that God accepts him through Christ; that takes hold on the merits of Jesus for his justification. But the work of faith does not stop here. The just shall live by faith. Not simply faith as an abstract principle, but a faith that embraces and obeys (at least so far as we can comprehend it) the whole revealed will of God. And this faith must produce corresponding works. Abraham believed God, and it was imputed to him for righteousness. But his faith was perfected by works. See James ii, 21-24; Gen. xxii, 9. Noah also, a righteous man, "being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith."

As it was in the days of Noah, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Matt. xxiv, 37. As then God gave warning, and the righteous had faith; so in these last days God has given warning through his word of the approaching doom of the wicked world. The consecutive prophecies point to the present time as the closing period of the gospel age. The signs that Christ gave to precede his coming, [Matt. xxiv, 29,] have been fulfilled. The angel of Rev. x has uttered forth his mighty voice, and also with uplifted hand declared that time should be no longer; thus bringing us to the days of the voice of the seventh angel, the finishing of the mystery of God, the judgment-hour period of the angel of Rev. xiv, 6, 7, the time of the cleansing of the Sanctuary of Dan. viii, 14, when the solemn warning of the Third Angel is being given, the last message of warning to the world, ere the nations drink the wine cup of Jehovah's wrath. These are truths to be believed in the last days. These are truths, my brethren, in which we profess to have faith—faith by which we profess to live.

But is our faith active? Does it move the heart and stir us up to corresponding works? works by which our light shines out before men, carrying conviction to the honest seeker after truth, that there is a reality in our faith? "Faith without works is dead." Genuine faith works by love, purifies the heart and overcomes the world. Gal. v, 6; John v, 4; 1 Pet. i, 22. Is our faith of this character? Does it bring us nigh unto God and give us sweet communion with him? Does it give us the assurance that we love God supremely and our neighbor as ourselves? If so, all will be on the altar. Not there in word merely, but in deed and in truth. We shall seek opportunities to use the means that God has entrusted to our stewardship to advance the interests of his cause. We shall feel a labor of soul for the salvation of our fellow men. We shall seek to get deep into the work of God. Living faith will give victory over the world. It will purify the heart and enable its possessor to get the victory over every unholy passion, every wrong desire, and bring the entire affections of the heart into sweet obedience to the law of Christ. It will open the door of our hearts that Jesus may come in with all the graces of the Spirit. But alas! how many that profess to be living by faith, give fearful evidence that their faith is but a dead, inoperative one—a mere theory of present truth without the power.

Thou lukewarm one! God speaks to thee in love through the counsel of the faithful and true Witness to the Laodiceans. Wilt thou hear his voice and "be zealous and repent?" Exchange thy dead, inoperative faith for a living principle that gives joy and peace. Dream not that you are preparing for translation while your affections are on the things of earth and you are making little or no effort to set them on things above. Rest not contented with your state while unholy or unsanctified passions reign within. God's grace is sufficient to overcome them.

O for that faith that takes God at his word; that embraces present truth with confidence and enables us to act with holy boldness and zeal in the work of God; that loves to sacrifice in blessed assurance of a reward of a hundred fold here, and eternal life in the resurrection morn.

Ye desponding ones, who are honestly seeking God with all the heart, and by living faith are striving to overcome, yet feel temptations and trials severe, look up. Jesus lives above the cloud. He knows thy state, he hears thy cause before the Father. Rest on the promise of his word, and thou canst not fail.

The just shall live by faith. But if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. May we be of them that believe to the saving of the soul. F. Wheeler. Glenmore, N. Y., Apr. 19th, 1858