The Word Faith in Burning Stone Lettersby IpswichSDA
11:1Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Faith is the present assurance and firm reality of what is hoped for, and the convincing proof and certainty of what is not yet seen. It is not sight or feeling, so darkness, gloom, and lack of visible sign do not mean God is absent or has not heard. True faith is simple childlike surrender to God, taking Him at His word and resting the whole weight on His promise even when feeling is unchanged. It does not wait until the end is seen or all risk is removed, but ventures, obeys promptly, claims the promise as already its own, and goes forward in daily duty in that confidence. Such living faith personally lays hold on Christ, is justified by His righteousness, works by love to purify the soul, and cannot be baffled because it lays hold on infinite help.
Meaning of the Words
Faith is the substance, assurance, firm ground and present reality of things hoped for, and the evidence, conviction, proof and certainty of things not seen. It makes what is hoped for real to the believer and gives a sure basis for trust before fulfillment is visible. As people move forward trusting the promises, things unseen by ordinary sight become visible, for God fulfills every word He has spoken. That fulfilled evidence confirms His faithfulness, strengthens courage, and guards against unbelief, since doubting God is sin. Through faith people understand that God framed the worlds by His word (Hebrews 11:3), and faith is necessary to please God, for those who come to Him must believe that He exists and rewards those who diligently seek Him. Abel's accepted offering and testimony of righteousness and Enoch's pleasing life and translation without seeing death illustrate its power and its good report among the faithful. True faith does not wait until the work is done before acting, but ventures and does what faith calls for in obedient action. In the work of God this means going forward in city work doing one's best while watching, working and praying, trusting that God hears and answers petitions and gives an experience valuable for later service. It likewise leads to trust that He will provide the property and means needed to carry the work forward, including reaching cities with the message of truth.
Faith is not sight, not feeling, not emotion, and not already-seen tangible reality. Loss of spiritual feeling, gloom, darkness, or lack of visible sign does not mean that God's blessing or nearness is gone or that He has not heard prayer. Gloomy feelings are no evidence that God has not heard, and receiving an answer or feeling free and well does not by itself prove favor, for changing feelings and a sense of well-being are not the measure of confidence in God. Faith must instead grow daily toward the full measure of spiritual stature in Christ Jesus by trusting the promise rather than trusting to seeing or feeling, believing God will do just what He said and bring prayed-for blessings when most needed. It goes about daily business in that confidence, because every petition made in belief enters into the heart of God, and it comes to the throne encircled by the rainbow of promise as the sign of God's faithfulness. To abide in faith is to put aside feeling and selfish desires, walk humbly with God, take His promises as one's own and apply them to every occasion and circumstance, trusting completely in His faithfulness to work out His plans and purposes in the heart and life. It upholds a person to keep trusting and acting on His expressed will when the next step is unseen, without consulting or measuring changing feelings and without questioning His power to perform His promises, so that all things are possible to him that believes. Faith so exercised receives God's word and puts it into practice, relies entirely and implicitly on God's power to fulfill His promises, and works by love to purify the soul, sanctify character, and bring forth the special fruits of the Spirit seen in life and character. In times of temptation to distrust, steady faith rests on what cannot be seen, directs to self-examination by God's law, recognition of faults, and cleansing through Christ's blood.
Faith turns the mind from visible, discouraging things to unseen realities for which believers hope. It enables living by faith and not walking by sight, regarding the invisible God as present, beholding Him who is invisible as Moses did, seeing beyond the veil, and taking in the future and eternal world. This seeing is personal work that no one else can do for another; each must behold for himself, and by beholding become changed. It supports seeking a better country in heaven, a city built by God, with imagination stimulated and sanctified through the virtue of Christ to take in the glories of the future eternal world and to look forward to the pure and noble devotional life that may be lived in Christ and through Christ. That faith comes through searching the Scriptures to understand what Christ is to believers and what they are to Christ. Such seeing is not merely looking forward to what will be realized when mortal puts on immortality, but the born-again soul realizing present unseen powers that move and govern life. It means cooperating with Jesus Christ, partaking of the divine nature, overcoming the corruption in the world through lust, responding to the forces of the spiritual kingdom He sets up in the soul, having life bound up with the life of Christ, cultivating the graces of the Spirit as divine agencies work through human agencies, and having a conscious title to the inheritance with the saints in light at resurrection and translation. Unfeigned faith so inspired moves cautiously step by step in the Lord's way rather than by impulsive action. It looks forward and upward to what is still to come, trusts God even when His purpose or the consequences of His dealings cannot be seen, lays hold of His power which alone can make complete in Christ, and does not murmur for blessings withheld but remembers and appreciates blessings already bestowed.
Nature of True Faith
Perfect faith is surrender of self to God and simple trust and abiding in His love according to His pledged word, to be made plain and simple even to dull minds. It is childlike trust that takes God at His word as a proven friend is trusted, believing without doubting that what He has promised for a new need will be given because past requests have not been denied. It lays the burden on the Lord and not on any human being, going forward saying the burden has been left with Him and He will hear and answer prayer. It rests the whole weight on His promise and holds that God will do just as He has said even when feeling is unchanged and miserable, answering the suggestion that nothing is better by affirming belief in the promise. It becomes as a little child sitting at the feet of Jesus, learning self-denial from Him and learning to live by faith in every word of God, and the soul that does this finds rest and peace.
Faith is simple in operation but powerful in results, not waiting for complete knowledge before trusting and not depending on intense feelings, excitement, noise, loud petitions, physical displays or outward show. Jesus hears even silent prayer, though doubt and guilt may sometimes bring involuntary cries and tears. The one who simply takes God at His word and reaches out to connect with the Saviour receives blessing in return, with the peculiar touch that brings healing virtue to the soul. The sick woman's confidence that touching Christ's garment would heal her grew as she fixed her mind on that hope, and her firm belief was answered by divine power. In the same way the repentant sinner defiled by sin who calls on Jesus with the touch of faith receives pardon that fills the soul with gratitude and joy, while cold doubt destroys confidence and refusing to believe until everything is understood brings no blessing.
Saving faith is more than opinion or intellectual agreement with truth; it personally trusts Christ, receives Him as Saviour, and makes His merits one's own. It lays hold upon the merits of the blood of a crucified and risen Saviour, so that divinity clothed with humanity clothes sinful man with Christ's righteousness and he stands acquitted before God with his life hid with Christ in God. It is wrought in the soul by the Holy Spirit revealing Christ, making things hoped for substantial and giving evidence of realities that cannot be seen. It joins the believer to God in covenant relationship, even the weakest believer to Jesus Christ, and gives the soul increasing strength, making the believer strong. Waiting for complete knowledge before exercising faith prevents receiving God's blessing.
Faith is intelligent belief in the truth, requiring clean hearts, pure minds, and thorough knowledge of the principles of faith. Its justifying and sanctifying power belongs to the science of eternal realities, which never misleads though beyond human explanation, unlike human science which can mislead. It is simple enough for a child to understand yet beyond human explanation or measurement, a work of God on the human mind and a gift of God to the humble, contrite soul. It is the victory, not feelings and good works, and it is the means by which a person takes hold of Christ's gift of salvation and grasps what Christ has done, not the ground of salvation or its end; resting and believing in Christ brings peace with God. It must be sought, cultivated and increased by trusting God's past working in personal experience and His present assurance, reaching higher to have full possession of the great salvation ready to be revealed to those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, and everything concerning future experience depends on believing. It calls for close self-examination, candid consideration of reasons for different interpretations of Scripture, readiness to vindicate truth, and coming together at once in unity for thorough examination of disputed points, because there is no time to lose.
Faith is agreement of the mind with God's words that binds the heart in willing consecration and service, giving the intellectual powers back to God and surrendering mind and will to Him who gave understanding, moved the heart, and first drew the mind to see Christ on the cross. It looks with firm and complete dependence on Jesus Christ as the only hope and the only entrance into the kingdom, seeing His righteousness as the only hope for time and eternity instead of trying to win salvation by good works or human merit, for faith itself has no merit to earn justification and justification comes freely by accepting Christ's righteousness as free gift. Living faith reveals Christ our righteousness and leaves no room to boast in own works, for faith without works is dead and genuine faith is made evident by works. Noah believed God's warning and directions about the unseen flood, began building the immense ark on dry ground without questioning or doubt despite unbelief, ridicule and contempt, obeying before fulfillment was visible, and his life shows faith acts on God's word and is made complete by works. Genuine faith rests on God's promises and provisions of Scripture, claims those promises, weaves them into daily life and labor for perishing souls, and produces obedience; presumption is its counterfeit, using promises to excuse sin and disregard conditions of mercy, as when the first parents trusted God's love would spare them from sin's consequences even as they disobeyed.
Faith is the living hand with which the soul takes hold on infinite help, even Omnipotence, and the medium by which the heart beats in unison with the heart of Christ, and therefore it cannot be baffled. It fastens upon the sure, precious promises of God even when the mind is weak, brings the unseen world and the glories of paradise into view, and rests on Christ's blood shed at Calvary as the sole foundation of hope and protection from the destroyer. It looks beyond difficulties when duty seems hard and dangerous, with ruin ahead and bondage and death behind, and obeys God's command to go forward even though sight cannot penetrate the darkness. It does not defer obedience until every uncertainty disappears and no risk remains, but clasps the hand of Christ in every emergency, and obstacles that never disappear before a halting, doubting spirit give way before it. It is confident trust in God's word and Christ's power to save and keep those who commit themselves to Him, more than mere assent, giving confidence grounded in conviction, strengthening the soul for its work and to grasp what cannot be seen, leading to right action and conformity to God's will and triumphing through discouragement with repeated victories.
Doubting God is sin, and the evidence of fulfilled promises should check every thought and word of unbelief. Unbelief is the opposite of faith, the cause of all sin and bond of iniquity, while true faith holds firmly to what is hoped for even when it cannot be seen clearly. God gives sufficient evidence on which to base faith though some truths do not appear in full distinctness, and the whole heart must be enlisted on the side of faith rather than cultivating unbelief, doubt and darkness. As people move forward trusting God's promises, things unseen by ordinary sight become visible and God fulfills every word He has spoken, verifying His word beyond all conception of the unseen, as proved by past faithful work and visible results. Faith and not doubt must win the victory, calling for every word to encourage and stimulate hope, gathering hope and courage, refusing to think or talk of failure, laboring on to teach truth and save souls despite lack of means and opposition, trusting God to provide and open the way rather than giving up.
Evidence Without Full Sight
Faith rests on the weight of evidence given, not on perfect knowledge, complete demonstration, or absolute proof. Demonstration is not faith, and faith is not sight, for complete demonstration would leave no need for faith. Demanding that every shadow of uncertainty and every possibility of doubt or mistake be removed before believing and obeying will never lead to faith, for faith and demonstration are two different things. Evidence can be sufficient even when it does not amount to absolute certainty, and faith accepts that evidence and obeys the light and voice of duty even when other voices urge a different course. It acts on piled-up evidence by walking out into the light, humbling the heart, confessing sin, and acknowledging reproof and instruction sent from God, while refusal to acknowledge sufficient evidence comes from doubt, unbelief, prejudice, and stubbornness that kills love from the soul. Faith cherishes and improves present light and blessing with a willing heart instead of waiting for louder calls or greater light, and only by that present improvement come better opportunities and greater light in the future, while neglected light loses force and may be withdrawn leaving the path in darkness.
Faith does not wait for complete knowledge, clear sight, or removal of all risk before trusting and obeying. It gives substance to what is hoped for and evidence of what is not seen, trusting promises and obeying even when understanding is clouded by uncertainty and moving forward still involves risk of failure or defeat. Waiting until everything is clear and safe would prevent obedience, and whoever refuses to believe until everything is understood will never be blessed. It is childlike trust that takes God at His word, simple in operation but powerful in results, not depending on intense feelings, excitement, noise, display, or physical exercise. Even silent prayer is heard, though doubt and guilt may sometimes bring involuntary cries and tears, and the one who reaches out to connect with the Saviour receives blessing, healing virtue, pardon, gratitude, and joy. This is illustrated by the diseased woman whose firm confidence that touching Christ's garment would heal her was answered by divine power, showing that the repentant soul defiled by sin that calls on Jesus with that touch receives pardon. Saving faith is more than opinion or intellectual agreement with truth; it personally trusts Christ, receives Him as Saviour, makes His merits one's own, joins the believer to God in covenant, and gives increasing strength.
Faith lays hold of evidence not personally seen by seeing through the eyes of eyewitness disciples and hearing through their ears. The testimony of the apostles and their contemporaries to the miracles of Jesus and to Christ coming at the appointed time and in the appointed manner in direct fulfillment of prophecy is among the strongest proofs it grasps. The apostles themselves exercised such faith by accepting Jesus on the testimony of prophets and righteous men stretching over many centuries. Christians now have a full chain of evidence in the Old Testament pointing to a Saviour to come and in the New Testament fulfilling those conditions, sufficient to establish the belief of all who are willing to believe. This evidence was given to leave fair opportunity to develop faith in the power of God and of His Son and in the work of the Holy Spirit.
Biblical Examples of Faith
Faith makes hoped-for things real and unseen things certain, and through it people understand that God framed the worlds by His word (Hebrews 11:3). Such faith is necessary to please God, for those who come to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who diligently seek Him. Abel's accepted offering with its testimony of righteousness, and Enoch's life pleasing to God crowned by translation without seeing death, illustrate its power and the good report it gains. True faith does not wait until the work is done before acting but ventures and does what faith calls for in obedient action and a life pleasing to God.
Noah trusted God's warning about the unseen flood and prepared by building the immense ark on dry ground, obeying without questioning or doubt despite the world's unbelief, ridicule and contempt. His faith rested on what God had said though the event was unseen, and it was made complete by works, showing that genuine faith acts on God's word before fulfillment is visible. Abraham likewise obeyed without knowing where he was going, abandoning home and kindred and native land to follow where God should lead, trusting the divine promise with no outward assurance of its fulfillment and obeying without question or hesitation. He lived as a stranger while looking toward the promised inheritance and city, and with the other faithful welcomed God's promises from afar and sought a heavenly country even though they died without receiving them.
Moses shows the same faith in choosing to suffer with God's people rather than enjoy sin's temporary pleasures, giving up Egypt's treasures and a kingly crown in trust in God and in the reward beyond what is visible. At the Red Sea the Hebrews showed faith by not waiting until every danger was gone or the way was clear but advancing toward the water at command before God opened a path, doing what they could while God divided the waters, so that courageous obedience brought victory. By contrast, those who delayed rebuilding the temple lacked this faith because they judged by what they could see and by visible obstacles, would not proceed beyond what seemed safe, and were easily discouraged when success appeared impossible. Faith does not depend on visible circumstances but moves forward in obedience even when the outcome is unseen and difficulties make the work appear impossible.
By such faith the elders obtained a good report, and the cloud of witnesses faced evils and difficulties and in the Lord's name stood firm successfully against opposing forces of evil. They were sustained and strengthened and held by the Lord's hand, and their fidelity to God brought their lives before the world as examples whose light can guide people in darkness and make faith visible. The ancient faithful lived out firm principles in action, showing that faith can sustain righteousness and steadfast service, and what God did through hearts of faith as channels of His power then He can do now. This same faith calls those who have lost hold to return to consecrated faith that awakens careless souls, joined to Christ as High Priest in God's presence and to entering the true tabernacle not made with hands, drawing near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, holding fast the profession without wavering because He is faithful who promised, and considering one another to provoke to love and good works while not forsaking assembling together as the day approaches.
Faith reaches beyond what can be seen and grasps eternal things, so that a heart stayed on God remains steadfast in affliction and discouraging circumstances just as in prosperity, with outward trials unable to change its faithfulness. Daniel in the lions' den remained the same Daniel who had stood before the king encircled with light and favor, the same in trial and gloom as in prosperity. Paul in the dark dungeon awaiting Nero's sentence remained the same Paul who had addressed the court of the Areopagus, just what he had been when prospects were brightened by hope and light. Such faith enables steadfast integrity with hearts as true as steel, undaunted by circumstances amid skepticism, apostasy, trial and gloom.
How Faith Acts
True faith does not wait until the work is done before acting but ventures and does what faith calls for, for faith is the sure basis for what is hoped for and the evidence of what cannot be seen. It acts its way forward even when the way is sunless and starless and everything in appearance is an intricate wilderness, taking the cause too hard and baffling for human wisdom to Jesus with expectation that He will not disappoint, because with Him nothing is impossible. It refuses to judge by visible obstacles as the Israelites did in rebuilding the Temple when they would not proceed beyond what seemed safe, but moves forward in obedience even when outcome is unseen and success appears impossible. It means trusting God rather than judging by appearances, so that when the depleted treasury seemed to threaten the work, courage and trust that the Lord will care for His own work replace discouragement. It moves forward without waiting to see every step or the end from the beginning, and when circumstances call for action and help is available God's work is advanced with courage and practical effort, going as far as can be seen and then still advancing.
True faith acts at once on what God urges even when the hoped-for result is not yet seen, following conviction from the Spirit without delay and showing faith by works by pledging means for God's cause and trusting others to follow. It walks by faith in using money wisely for the cause instead of letting it slip into speculation, even securing pledges when money is not in sight, confident that God has led those who move under His Spirit's guidance and will continue to work for them if they carefully follow the counsel He gives. It obeys even when duty looks hard, dangerous and uncertain.
Faith rests on God's word and treats His promises as real before fulfillment or before any confirming feeling appears. It is not a remarkable emotional experience but takes God at His word, reaches to Jesus, and claims His promise as one's own, so that the promise is already one's in fact when faith grasps it, and when rest, peace and other evidence come they are assurance rather than faith itself. This trust brings forgiveness and pardon whether or not a person feels them. It believes for oneself in order to receive fulfillment of the promise, praying and receiving the freedom Christ alone can give, casting the helpless soul on Christ in trust in His invitation and His promise that asking brings receiving, and doing the part that rests on the believer by believing.
Faith is present substance and proof that God has heard prayer and will give what He promised, even when feelings are gloomy and sight and feeling give no sign, for gloomy feelings are no evidence that God has not heard. It must grow daily toward the full measure of spiritual stature in Christ Jesus by trusting God's promise instead of trusting to feeling or seeing, believing God will do just what He said and bring prayed-for blessings when most needed, and going about daily business in that confidence because every petition made in belief enters into the heart of God. Such faith comes to the throne of God encircled by the rainbow of promise as the sign of God's faithfulness, and works by love and purifies the soul. Walking by faith means looking away from personal weakness and trusting Jesus for salvation, righteousness and victory, with God's promises giving grounds for confidence even when a person does not feel accepted by Him.
God does not reveal a person's duty so completely that there is no need to walk by faith, for the way is not marked out in a straight line. Faith therefore calls for prayer, belief, watchfulness, trust, and seeking the Lord to know one's duty, without watching and testing whether faith is genuine. It must be kept in exercise to give a right hold from above and rivet the soul on the eternal rock Christ Jesus. It lays hold of the promise of God and keeps the eyes fixed on Jesus the Author and Finisher of faith when Satan casts his hellish shadow across the pathway to hinder, looking to Jesus for help as a living Saviour who is not in Joseph's new tomb but rose in triumph and declared Himself the resurrection and the life.
Faith is to be exercised even when trial is severe, waiting patiently on the Lord until He sees readiness to receive and appreciate the blessings asked for, bringing help to mind and heart, and from such faith hope is born. It reaches within the veil to the treasures of heaven bestowed by God in giving His Son to all who accept Christ as Saviour, trusting the reality of unseen things that will soon be possessed by those who are faithful, and this trust fills God's children with hope and courage in the midst of trial and affliction. Faith is not sight but gives present assurance of what is hoped for and conviction about what cannot be seen, so faith and patient trust are needed when God tests His people and the outcome is not visible, and believers are to keep trusting Him rather than become discouraged or doubt His care. Tested faith enables a person to rise above self and look to Jesus through the darkness of temptation and unbelief, holding fast to God and producing active obedience, so that a person's works show the value and quality of that faith.
Faith is a living power that grows much larger by being used and calls for obeying what God requires today instead of waiting for a more favorable time. It begins with unreserved surrender to God and new birth, and continues as a spiritual life kept by praying continually and living out those prayers. It actively reaches to grasp the hand of Christ, certain that His hold is far firmer than any human hold can be and will never be released, so that everyone willing to be led will be led by Christ, continuing hopefully with no visible sign of help, with each answered evidence making belief stronger.
To abide in faith is to set aside feelings and selfish desires, walk humbly with God, take hold of His promises and apply them in every circumstance, trusting completely in His faithfulness to carry out His purposes in the heart and life. Faith is not sight, feeling, or tangible reality but gives present hold on hoped-for things and proof of unseen things, laying hold on God's power so that all things are possible to him that believes without questioning God's power to perform His promises. Through exercising faith God's Word is received and practiced, leaving no question in the heart about God's power to perform His promises. Pure faith works by love and purifies the soul, and its fruits become visible in a life and character shaped by the Spirit and sanctified in character, relying entirely and trusting implicitly on God's faithfulness so that others see the special fruits of the Spirit manifested in life and character.
Faith lays hold of God's Word and assurances and acts on them, weaving His promises into daily life and into labor for souls who are ready to perish. Such faith honors God, causes growth in grace in the last days of earth's history, makes believers true laborers together with God, and realizes being kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed at the last time. Faith cultivated by receiving the Word and weaving it into life experience is seen and felt by associates, never shows distrust of God, works by love and purifies the soul, trusts the truthfulness of God's promises, shows itself by works in word and action, and becomes an educating power that inspires the same faith in others.
Fruits and Blessings of Faith
Faith is the victory that lays hold on the merits of the blood of a crucified and risen Saviour, so that divinity clothed with humanity clothes the sinful person with Christ's righteousness and he stands acquitted before God with his life hid with Christ in God. Faith itself has no merit to earn justification, for justification comes freely by accepting the righteousness of Christ as a free gift through redemption, looking with firm and complete dependence on Jesus as the only hope for time and eternity instead of trying to win salvation by good works or human merit. It is agreement of the mind with God's words that binds the heart in willing consecration and service, surrenders mind and will and intellectual powers back to God who gave understanding, moved the heart and first drew the mind to see Christ on Calvary, and takes Christ as the only entrance into the kingdom. It is the means of grasping salvation and not its ground or end, a blessing enabling grasp of what Christ has done and trust in what is not yet seen, so that resting and believing in Christ brings peace with God. By trusting the promise believers gain spiritual knowledge confirmed by experience rather than speculation or mere theory, knowing Christ as personal Saviour and receiving the gospel remedy for sin rather than merely reading about righteousness by faith, with assurance grounded in knowing whom they have believed. Entering this faith is becoming as a little child sitting at the feet of Jesus, learning self-denial from Him and learning to live by faith in every word of God, and the soul that does this finds rest and peace.
Pure faith works by love and purifies the soul, and to abide in faith is to put aside feeling and selfish desires, walk humbly with the Lord, take His promises as one's own and apply them to every occasion, believing He will work out His own plans and purposes in heart and life by sanctifying character. It is the faculty by which the Word is received and practiced, leaving no question about God's power to perform His promises, laying hold on His power so that all things are possible to the one who believes, and relying entirely and trusting implicitly on His faithfulness. Its result is that the special fruits of the Spirit are seen in life and character, shaped by the Spirit and visible to others. Faith is not measured by changing feelings or a sense of well-being, and receiving an answer to prayer or feeling free does not by itself show favor with God; rather faith directs to self-examination by God's law, recognition of faults, and seeking cleansing through Christ's blood. The faith to be encouraged in present truth and to walk by rather than by sight quickens and uplifts the soul by the nobility of holy practice, raises it into a purer holier atmosphere, enables looking forward to higher attainments, discerning clearly the dangers of self-indulgence, looking above self, and seeing in God's work the way to gain riches to be laid up beside the throne. Such faith lays hold of God's Word and assurances and acts on them, weaving promises into daily life and labor for perishing souls, honoring God, causing growth in grace, making believers true laborers together with God kept by His power through faith unto salvation, and becoming an educating power that inspires the same faith in others by showing itself in works of word and action without distrust.
As believers move forward trusting the promises, what was unseen except by the eye of faith becomes seen, for God fulfills every word He has spoken. Moving forward in obedience turns what is first seen only by the eye of faith into seen reality, verifying His word beyond all conception of the unseen, as proved in past faithful work producing visible results such as the school in New South Wales as an object lesson despite faithless words and false reports about poverty of location and barrenness of land. The evidence already given of faithfulness of promises should check every thought and word of unbelief, confirm promises, strengthen courage, and give stability, since doubting God is sin and lack of faith lets the enemy obtain victory. This calls for sincere implicit faith to go forward unafraid trusting He can set a table in the wilderness and for united action to lift burdens such as school debt, while the reality already seen is only part, for the vision in height and depth and breadth is not yet standing out in substance, and how coming great events affect commandment-keeping people will depend on their faith. By trusting the promise believers see God and gain stability and assurance about the unseen, a knowledge confirmed by experience and not mere theory.
Faith relies upon God as able and willing to save to the uttermost all who come to Him. Such faith speaks forth God's power, showing appreciation for His constantly shown love, gratitude for mercies and favors bestowed, and a whole soul awakened to realization of His glory, with thanksgiving as the fruit of true willing obedience. It looks forward and upward to what is still to come and trusts God even when His purpose in His dealings and the outcome cannot be seen, laying hold of the only power that can make a person complete in Christ. It is a gift to be cultivated and not left neglected or misused, strengthened by still believing in whole dependence on God and by being brave and overcoming every practice that mars the soul temple.
Faith claims hoped-for restoration though not yet visible, as in trusting for an afflicted father's healing, and that confidence leads to persistent prayer until the answer is realized. It takes hold of God's promises for healing and claims them as sure, for Christ is the healing power, asking, seeking and knocking for the sick to be blessed, healed and shown His power so their voice is heard again among God's people, not giving up the battle to the enemy nor letting go of the promise to ask and receive, but keeping on praying with others and thanking God for goodness. Care of the sick is therefore to unite diligent study with careful simple treatment without poisonous drugs, including wisely and skillfully given water treatments that can save lives, with prayers of faith at the bedside and the sick themselves encouraged to claim God's promises, bringing Christ the Saviour more and more into labors and councils for healing. It is also exercised by trusting the Lord for strength to do what seems impossible, as in undertaking a journey and appointments despite severe weakness and obstacles.
Faith needed at this time reaches within the veil to the treasures of heaven bestowed in giving His Son to all who accept Christ as Saviour, trusting the reality of unseen things soon to be possessed by the faithful, and this trust fills God's children with hope and courage amid trial and affliction. It gives present reality to future hope and unseen truth, bringing all possible hopefulness and courage and faith into life even in old age and when discouragements seem to crush the soul, because Jesus keeps His people close to Himself, with privilege of inward communion with the Holy Spirit, divine protection, divine favor, and even heavenly joyfulness. Mighty faith in the Redeemer as a living reality has an influence nothing can withstand, and God comes to the aid of His tested and tempted faithful followers, for faith is necessary to please God. Learning to live by such faith, which is not sight but gives real ground for hoped-for things and proof of unseen things, turns dark and painful hours into the brightest hours, for all hope rests in Christ alone and salvation comes through this faith by grace as God's gift.
Relying on Jesus and living by faith and not by sight is living as viewing Him who is invisible as Moses did, looking forward to the pure noble devotional life that may be lived in Christ and through Christ, with imagination stimulated and sanctified through Christ's virtue taking in the glories of the future eternal world, and this faith comes through searching the Scriptures to understand what Christ is to believers and what they are to Christ, so that by beholding they become changed. Looking steadily and steadfastly to Jesus makes it possible to endure the sight of the invisible God, and by beholding Jesus believers are changed. Genuine faith is not merely selfish, formal or emotional religion but takes sin seriously and works in faithful duty and service, for doing what is right goes hand in hand with a true estimate of God's character. Even when providences are mysterious, trust lightens burdens, relieves weariness, and keeps the person walking in the path God marks out through trials, and those trials strengthen faith and prepare for service. The same faith that worked in God's servants of old, illustrated through Hebrews 11:1-40, can work now, for God works through hearts of faith as channels of His power, and clinging to Jesus and abiding in His love enables standing against evil, with Christ's righteousness alone giving power to resist it.
Faith in Work and Trial
Faith as the substance of hoped-for things and evidence of unseen things enables workers for God to go forward in city work doing their best while watching, working, and praying. Trusting that God hears and answers petitions, they gain an experience valuable for later and future service. As Noah acted on warning of unseen events and Abraham obeyed without knowing where he was going, welcoming promises not yet received while seeking a heavenly country, so present workers advance step by step heavenward in that same assurance and conviction.
Faith in God's word leads His people to trust Him to provide property and means needed to carry forward His work and reach cities with truth. It means walking and working by faith when the need to establish the work in influential places is pointed out, moving promptly to secure property for sanitarium or school work or any other branch rather than following human judgment for personal ends or waiting until money is in hand. Even when rivers of difficulty are full and overflowing their banks, God makes the work possible by revealing His will to workers in doubt, making owners willing to donate means, and gathering freewill offerings for new plants, as seen when the Loma Linda Sanitarium became the property of God's people. Praying more and carefully considering given light without unnecessary delay, as in deciding where to establish the sanitarium in Southern California, places His people in possession of property to work large cities waiting for the message.
What is unseen except by the eye of faith becomes seen as people move forward trusting promises, for God fulfills every word spoken and the evidence of fulfilled promises confirms His faithfulness and should check every thought and word of unbelief, since doubting God is sin. This calls for united action now to lift the burden of school debt, going forward unafraid in sincere implicit faith that He can set a table in the wilderness. Past faithful work proves this in visible results such as the school in New South Wales as an object lesson despite discouraging faithless words and false reports about poverty of location and barrenness of land, though the reality seen is only part and the vision in height and depth and breadth is not yet standing out in substance. Working by this faith requires putting away all criticism, all unbelief, and all desire to measure fellow workers who have had far less opportunity, and instead working and praying in all simplicity, being born again, leaving inherited and cultivated tendencies to wrong, talking and walking and working with Jesus everywhere and sitting low at His feet to learn heart-religion. When the depleted treasury seemed to threaten the work, faith should have led workers to speak with courage and trust the Lord to care for His own work rather than judging by appearances.
Faith holds fast to what is hoped for even when outward appearances are discouraging, means are small, and there has been failure, staying invincible and unclouded in advancing the third angel's message and pushing into regions beyond. To depend on visible resources is not faith, and to refuse to move unless one can walk by sight amounts to nothing, as illustrated by the disciples facing the multitude with only five barley loaves; precious things appreciated and imparted will be more abundantly bestowed, while unbelief displeases God and robs of rich treasures of grace. This faith shows itself in wise planning and pushing forward without despondency, in talking and acting with certainty and hope rather than hopeless discouraged words, with every word encouraging and stimulating hope and gathering hope and courage while refusing to think or talk of failure. It labors on to teach Bible truth and save souls despite lack of money, poor and unsuitable meeting places, opposition from pleasure-loving amusements, and unwise expenditure elsewhere, trusting God to provide means and open the way rather than giving up. Genuine faith is not mere talk about impossibilities but must grow strong enough to support devoted worldwide effort, going as far as can be seen and then still advancing with strong purpose into new poverty-stricken districts because time is short, trusting a rich Father and working onward and upward with persevering energy to plant the standard of truth even spending money to hold meetings to make advance possible.
Every family must live and work by faith in what is hoped for and not seen. That faith makes the father the house-band of his family and priest of his house, binding his family close to the throne of God and never losing interest or neglecting souls in his care. It makes him responsible to keep children, especially restless boys, from unsanctified associations and evil companionship, not leaving them wholly to the mother as too heavy a burden for her. It leads him to arrange matters for the best interests of mother and children, to take more of the burden on his own soul when the mother struggles to exercise self-control and manage wisely, to make most decided efforts to save his children, and when failure to train them properly endangers their salvation to exert strong influence to bind the children to his own soul.
Strong, active, enduring faith trusts the Lord for the future when present wants are supplied, does not sink into despondency and gloom at anticipated want, and does not murmur when brought into strait places. It endures the test by which God purifies, bears all things in love, blesses the Lord for dealing bountifully, and accepts self-denial and a plain diet rather than indulging depraved appetite. In trials and sufferings caused by fellowmen more faith is needed to lay hold upon the unseen and the evidences of forgiveness, with no fear, faintheartedness, peevish repining, or complaining thoughts about providence and hardships, for without this faith God's dealings are misunderstood and His love and faithfulness distrusted. A single ray of evidence of undeserved favor shining into the heart outweighs every severe trial, making the soul trustful with no disposition to murmur, the contrite heart reposing in God in tender compassion, carnal security broken up, and peace through the Lord Jesus Christ, holding firmly to Jesus in intelligent faith that reaches unseen things and simple faith that takes God at His word even though He slay, giving daily comforts of grace.
Unfeigned faith is needed for wise, earnest service to God and to proclaim the third angel's message, being active and decidedly in earnest, improving every opportunity to increase usefulness, laboring with dignity and confidence yet humble dependence, and exercising wisdom in all ways. It is the faith to walk by in present truth and not by sight, working by love and purifying the soul, quickening and uplifting by nobility of holy practice, raising into a purer holier atmosphere, enabling looking forward to higher attainments, discerning dangers of self-indulgence, and looking above self to see in God's work the way to gain riches laid up beside the throne. It requires clean hearts, pure minds, and thorough knowledge of principles of faith as intelligent belief in truth, examining standing closely, listening to reasons for different interpretations and giving candid consideration, being prepared to vindicate truth, and coming together at once in unity for thorough examination of disputed points because there is no time to lose. Joined to Christ as High Priest in God's presence and entering the true tabernacle not made with hands, by which the elders obtained a good report, it calls those who have lost hold on Jesus and desire to command rather than serve to return to consecrated faith that awakens careless souls, drawing near with true heart in full assurance, holding fast profession without wavering because He is faithful that promised, and considering one another to provoke to love and good works while not forsaking assembling as the day approaches.
Genuine faith expects much and treats hoped-for and unseen things as real, the opposite of narrow ideas, expecting little, and feeble faith. It lays solemn obligation on all who believe the message, because time is short, to be wholehearted disinterested workers ever exerting influence on the right side, never arraying by word or action against those building up the work, giving no place to the enemy and unselfishly concentrating effort with greatly enlarged conceptions on building up God's cause. Unfeigned faith inspires cautious step-by-step movement in the Lord's way rather than impulsive action, seeing not merely what will be realized when mortal puts on immortality but the born-again soul realizing present unseen powers that move and govern life. It means cooperating with Jesus Christ, partaking of the divine nature, overcoming worldly corruption through lust, responding to forces of the spiritual kingdom set up in the soul, having conscious title to inheritance with saints in light at resurrection and translation, having life bound up with Christ's life, and cultivating graces of the Spirit as divine agencies work through human agencies. It is living power growing larger by use, beginning with unreserved surrender and new birth and continuing as spiritual life kept by praying continually and living out prayers, actively reaching to grasp Christ's hand certain His hold is far firmer and never released so everyone willing to be led will be led. Consulting the Lord and going to Him for wisdom, this faith enables workers with different gifts to feel need of one another, connect as mutual helps without selfishness, and carry forward enterprises representing heavenly truth, opening doors for angels and setting in operation power to carry the work forward with undreamed strength.
Faith is the present assurance and firm reality of what is hoped for, and the convincing proof and certainty of what is not yet seen. It is not sight or feeling, so darkness, gloom, and lack of visible sign do not mean God is absent or has not heard. True faith is simple childlike surrender to God, taking Him at His word and resting the whole weight on His promise even when feeling is unchanged. It does not wait until the end is seen or all risk is removed, but ventures, obeys promptly, claims the promise as already its own, and goes forward in daily duty in that confidence. Such living faith personally lays hold on Christ, is justified by His righteousness, works by love to purify the soul, and cannot be baffled because it lays hold on infinite help.
Meaning of the Words
Faith is the substance, assurance, firm ground and present reality of things hoped for, and the evidence, conviction, proof and certainty of things not seen. It makes what is hoped for real to the believer and gives a sure basis for trust before fulfillment is visible. As people move forward trusting the promises, things unseen by ordinary sight become visible, for God fulfills every word He has spoken. That fulfilled evidence confirms His faithfulness, strengthens courage, and guards against unbelief, since doubting God is sin. Through faith people understand that God framed the worlds by His word (Hebrews 11:3), and faith is necessary to please God, for those who come to Him must believe that He exists and rewards those who diligently seek Him. Abel's accepted offering and testimony of righteousness and Enoch's pleasing life and translation without seeing death illustrate its power and its good report among the faithful. True faith does not wait until the work is done before acting, but ventures and does what faith calls for in obedient action. In the work of God this means going forward in city work doing one's best while watching, working and praying, trusting that God hears and answers petitions and gives an experience valuable for later service. It likewise leads to trust that He will provide the property and means needed to carry the work forward, including reaching cities with the message of truth.
Faith is not sight, not feeling, not emotion, and not already-seen tangible reality. Loss of spiritual feeling, gloom, darkness, or lack of visible sign does not mean that God's blessing or nearness is gone or that He has not heard prayer. Gloomy feelings are no evidence that God has not heard, and receiving an answer or feeling free and well does not by itself prove favor, for changing feelings and a sense of well-being are not the measure of confidence in God. Faith must instead grow daily toward the full measure of spiritual stature in Christ Jesus by trusting the promise rather than trusting to seeing or feeling, believing God will do just what He said and bring prayed-for blessings when most needed. It goes about daily business in that confidence, because every petition made in belief enters into the heart of God, and it comes to the throne encircled by the rainbow of promise as the sign of God's faithfulness. To abide in faith is to put aside feeling and selfish desires, walk humbly with God, take His promises as one's own and apply them to every occasion and circumstance, trusting completely in His faithfulness to work out His plans and purposes in the heart and life. It upholds a person to keep trusting and acting on His expressed will when the next step is unseen, without consulting or measuring changing feelings and without questioning His power to perform His promises, so that all things are possible to him that believes. Faith so exercised receives God's word and puts it into practice, relies entirely and implicitly on God's power to fulfill His promises, and works by love to purify the soul, sanctify character, and bring forth the special fruits of the Spirit seen in life and character. In times of temptation to distrust, steady faith rests on what cannot be seen, directs to self-examination by God's law, recognition of faults, and cleansing through Christ's blood.
Faith turns the mind from visible, discouraging things to unseen realities for which believers hope. It enables living by faith and not walking by sight, regarding the invisible God as present, beholding Him who is invisible as Moses did, seeing beyond the veil, and taking in the future and eternal world. This seeing is personal work that no one else can do for another; each must behold for himself, and by beholding become changed. It supports seeking a better country in heaven, a city built by God, with imagination stimulated and sanctified through the virtue of Christ to take in the glories of the future eternal world and to look forward to the pure and noble devotional life that may be lived in Christ and through Christ. That faith comes through searching the Scriptures to understand what Christ is to believers and what they are to Christ. Such seeing is not merely looking forward to what will be realized when mortal puts on immortality, but the born-again soul realizing present unseen powers that move and govern life. It means cooperating with Jesus Christ, partaking of the divine nature, overcoming the corruption in the world through lust, responding to the forces of the spiritual kingdom He sets up in the soul, having life bound up with the life of Christ, cultivating the graces of the Spirit as divine agencies work through human agencies, and having a conscious title to the inheritance with the saints in light at resurrection and translation. Unfeigned faith so inspired moves cautiously step by step in the Lord's way rather than by impulsive action. It looks forward and upward to what is still to come, trusts God even when His purpose or the consequences of His dealings cannot be seen, lays hold of His power which alone can make complete in Christ, and does not murmur for blessings withheld but remembers and appreciates blessings already bestowed.
Nature of True Faith
Perfect faith is surrender of self to God and simple trust and abiding in His love according to His pledged word, to be made plain and simple even to dull minds. It is childlike trust that takes God at His word as a proven friend is trusted, believing without doubting that what He has promised for a new need will be given because past requests have not been denied. It lays the burden on the Lord and not on any human being, going forward saying the burden has been left with Him and He will hear and answer prayer. It rests the whole weight on His promise and holds that God will do just as He has said even when feeling is unchanged and miserable, answering the suggestion that nothing is better by affirming belief in the promise. It becomes as a little child sitting at the feet of Jesus, learning self-denial from Him and learning to live by faith in every word of God, and the soul that does this finds rest and peace.
Faith is simple in operation but powerful in results, not waiting for complete knowledge before trusting and not depending on intense feelings, excitement, noise, loud petitions, physical displays or outward show. Jesus hears even silent prayer, though doubt and guilt may sometimes bring involuntary cries and tears. The one who simply takes God at His word and reaches out to connect with the Saviour receives blessing in return, with the peculiar touch that brings healing virtue to the soul. The sick woman's confidence that touching Christ's garment would heal her grew as she fixed her mind on that hope, and her firm belief was answered by divine power. In the same way the repentant sinner defiled by sin who calls on Jesus with the touch of faith receives pardon that fills the soul with gratitude and joy, while cold doubt destroys confidence and refusing to believe until everything is understood brings no blessing.
Saving faith is more than opinion or intellectual agreement with truth; it personally trusts Christ, receives Him as Saviour, and makes His merits one's own. It lays hold upon the merits of the blood of a crucified and risen Saviour, so that divinity clothed with humanity clothes sinful man with Christ's righteousness and he stands acquitted before God with his life hid with Christ in God. It is wrought in the soul by the Holy Spirit revealing Christ, making things hoped for substantial and giving evidence of realities that cannot be seen. It joins the believer to God in covenant relationship, even the weakest believer to Jesus Christ, and gives the soul increasing strength, making the believer strong. Waiting for complete knowledge before exercising faith prevents receiving God's blessing.
Faith is intelligent belief in the truth, requiring clean hearts, pure minds, and thorough knowledge of the principles of faith. Its justifying and sanctifying power belongs to the science of eternal realities, which never misleads though beyond human explanation, unlike human science which can mislead. It is simple enough for a child to understand yet beyond human explanation or measurement, a work of God on the human mind and a gift of God to the humble, contrite soul. It is the victory, not feelings and good works, and it is the means by which a person takes hold of Christ's gift of salvation and grasps what Christ has done, not the ground of salvation or its end; resting and believing in Christ brings peace with God. It must be sought, cultivated and increased by trusting God's past working in personal experience and His present assurance, reaching higher to have full possession of the great salvation ready to be revealed to those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, and everything concerning future experience depends on believing. It calls for close self-examination, candid consideration of reasons for different interpretations of Scripture, readiness to vindicate truth, and coming together at once in unity for thorough examination of disputed points, because there is no time to lose.
Faith is agreement of the mind with God's words that binds the heart in willing consecration and service, giving the intellectual powers back to God and surrendering mind and will to Him who gave understanding, moved the heart, and first drew the mind to see Christ on the cross. It looks with firm and complete dependence on Jesus Christ as the only hope and the only entrance into the kingdom, seeing His righteousness as the only hope for time and eternity instead of trying to win salvation by good works or human merit, for faith itself has no merit to earn justification and justification comes freely by accepting Christ's righteousness as free gift. Living faith reveals Christ our righteousness and leaves no room to boast in own works, for faith without works is dead and genuine faith is made evident by works. Noah believed God's warning and directions about the unseen flood, began building the immense ark on dry ground without questioning or doubt despite unbelief, ridicule and contempt, obeying before fulfillment was visible, and his life shows faith acts on God's word and is made complete by works. Genuine faith rests on God's promises and provisions of Scripture, claims those promises, weaves them into daily life and labor for perishing souls, and produces obedience; presumption is its counterfeit, using promises to excuse sin and disregard conditions of mercy, as when the first parents trusted God's love would spare them from sin's consequences even as they disobeyed.
Faith is the living hand with which the soul takes hold on infinite help, even Omnipotence, and the medium by which the heart beats in unison with the heart of Christ, and therefore it cannot be baffled. It fastens upon the sure, precious promises of God even when the mind is weak, brings the unseen world and the glories of paradise into view, and rests on Christ's blood shed at Calvary as the sole foundation of hope and protection from the destroyer. It looks beyond difficulties when duty seems hard and dangerous, with ruin ahead and bondage and death behind, and obeys God's command to go forward even though sight cannot penetrate the darkness. It does not defer obedience until every uncertainty disappears and no risk remains, but clasps the hand of Christ in every emergency, and obstacles that never disappear before a halting, doubting spirit give way before it. It is confident trust in God's word and Christ's power to save and keep those who commit themselves to Him, more than mere assent, giving confidence grounded in conviction, strengthening the soul for its work and to grasp what cannot be seen, leading to right action and conformity to God's will and triumphing through discouragement with repeated victories.
Doubting God is sin, and the evidence of fulfilled promises should check every thought and word of unbelief. Unbelief is the opposite of faith, the cause of all sin and bond of iniquity, while true faith holds firmly to what is hoped for even when it cannot be seen clearly. God gives sufficient evidence on which to base faith though some truths do not appear in full distinctness, and the whole heart must be enlisted on the side of faith rather than cultivating unbelief, doubt and darkness. As people move forward trusting God's promises, things unseen by ordinary sight become visible and God fulfills every word He has spoken, verifying His word beyond all conception of the unseen, as proved by past faithful work and visible results. Faith and not doubt must win the victory, calling for every word to encourage and stimulate hope, gathering hope and courage, refusing to think or talk of failure, laboring on to teach truth and save souls despite lack of means and opposition, trusting God to provide and open the way rather than giving up.
Evidence Without Full Sight
Faith rests on the weight of evidence given, not on perfect knowledge, complete demonstration, or absolute proof. Demonstration is not faith, and faith is not sight, for complete demonstration would leave no need for faith. Demanding that every shadow of uncertainty and every possibility of doubt or mistake be removed before believing and obeying will never lead to faith, for faith and demonstration are two different things. Evidence can be sufficient even when it does not amount to absolute certainty, and faith accepts that evidence and obeys the light and voice of duty even when other voices urge a different course. It acts on piled-up evidence by walking out into the light, humbling the heart, confessing sin, and acknowledging reproof and instruction sent from God, while refusal to acknowledge sufficient evidence comes from doubt, unbelief, prejudice, and stubbornness that kills love from the soul. Faith cherishes and improves present light and blessing with a willing heart instead of waiting for louder calls or greater light, and only by that present improvement come better opportunities and greater light in the future, while neglected light loses force and may be withdrawn leaving the path in darkness.
Faith does not wait for complete knowledge, clear sight, or removal of all risk before trusting and obeying. It gives substance to what is hoped for and evidence of what is not seen, trusting promises and obeying even when understanding is clouded by uncertainty and moving forward still involves risk of failure or defeat. Waiting until everything is clear and safe would prevent obedience, and whoever refuses to believe until everything is understood will never be blessed. It is childlike trust that takes God at His word, simple in operation but powerful in results, not depending on intense feelings, excitement, noise, display, or physical exercise. Even silent prayer is heard, though doubt and guilt may sometimes bring involuntary cries and tears, and the one who reaches out to connect with the Saviour receives blessing, healing virtue, pardon, gratitude, and joy. This is illustrated by the diseased woman whose firm confidence that touching Christ's garment would heal her was answered by divine power, showing that the repentant soul defiled by sin that calls on Jesus with that touch receives pardon. Saving faith is more than opinion or intellectual agreement with truth; it personally trusts Christ, receives Him as Saviour, makes His merits one's own, joins the believer to God in covenant, and gives increasing strength.
Faith lays hold of evidence not personally seen by seeing through the eyes of eyewitness disciples and hearing through their ears. The testimony of the apostles and their contemporaries to the miracles of Jesus and to Christ coming at the appointed time and in the appointed manner in direct fulfillment of prophecy is among the strongest proofs it grasps. The apostles themselves exercised such faith by accepting Jesus on the testimony of prophets and righteous men stretching over many centuries. Christians now have a full chain of evidence in the Old Testament pointing to a Saviour to come and in the New Testament fulfilling those conditions, sufficient to establish the belief of all who are willing to believe. This evidence was given to leave fair opportunity to develop faith in the power of God and of His Son and in the work of the Holy Spirit.
Biblical Examples of Faith
Faith makes hoped-for things real and unseen things certain, and through it people understand that God framed the worlds by His word (Hebrews 11:3). Such faith is necessary to please God, for those who come to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who diligently seek Him. Abel's accepted offering with its testimony of righteousness, and Enoch's life pleasing to God crowned by translation without seeing death, illustrate its power and the good report it gains. True faith does not wait until the work is done before acting but ventures and does what faith calls for in obedient action and a life pleasing to God.
Noah trusted God's warning about the unseen flood and prepared by building the immense ark on dry ground, obeying without questioning or doubt despite the world's unbelief, ridicule and contempt. His faith rested on what God had said though the event was unseen, and it was made complete by works, showing that genuine faith acts on God's word before fulfillment is visible. Abraham likewise obeyed without knowing where he was going, abandoning home and kindred and native land to follow where God should lead, trusting the divine promise with no outward assurance of its fulfillment and obeying without question or hesitation. He lived as a stranger while looking toward the promised inheritance and city, and with the other faithful welcomed God's promises from afar and sought a heavenly country even though they died without receiving them.
Moses shows the same faith in choosing to suffer with God's people rather than enjoy sin's temporary pleasures, giving up Egypt's treasures and a kingly crown in trust in God and in the reward beyond what is visible. At the Red Sea the Hebrews showed faith by not waiting until every danger was gone or the way was clear but advancing toward the water at command before God opened a path, doing what they could while God divided the waters, so that courageous obedience brought victory. By contrast, those who delayed rebuilding the temple lacked this faith because they judged by what they could see and by visible obstacles, would not proceed beyond what seemed safe, and were easily discouraged when success appeared impossible. Faith does not depend on visible circumstances but moves forward in obedience even when the outcome is unseen and difficulties make the work appear impossible.
By such faith the elders obtained a good report, and the cloud of witnesses faced evils and difficulties and in the Lord's name stood firm successfully against opposing forces of evil. They were sustained and strengthened and held by the Lord's hand, and their fidelity to God brought their lives before the world as examples whose light can guide people in darkness and make faith visible. The ancient faithful lived out firm principles in action, showing that faith can sustain righteousness and steadfast service, and what God did through hearts of faith as channels of His power then He can do now. This same faith calls those who have lost hold to return to consecrated faith that awakens careless souls, joined to Christ as High Priest in God's presence and to entering the true tabernacle not made with hands, drawing near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, holding fast the profession without wavering because He is faithful who promised, and considering one another to provoke to love and good works while not forsaking assembling together as the day approaches.
Faith reaches beyond what can be seen and grasps eternal things, so that a heart stayed on God remains steadfast in affliction and discouraging circumstances just as in prosperity, with outward trials unable to change its faithfulness. Daniel in the lions' den remained the same Daniel who had stood before the king encircled with light and favor, the same in trial and gloom as in prosperity. Paul in the dark dungeon awaiting Nero's sentence remained the same Paul who had addressed the court of the Areopagus, just what he had been when prospects were brightened by hope and light. Such faith enables steadfast integrity with hearts as true as steel, undaunted by circumstances amid skepticism, apostasy, trial and gloom.
How Faith Acts
True faith does not wait until the work is done before acting but ventures and does what faith calls for, for faith is the sure basis for what is hoped for and the evidence of what cannot be seen. It acts its way forward even when the way is sunless and starless and everything in appearance is an intricate wilderness, taking the cause too hard and baffling for human wisdom to Jesus with expectation that He will not disappoint, because with Him nothing is impossible. It refuses to judge by visible obstacles as the Israelites did in rebuilding the Temple when they would not proceed beyond what seemed safe, but moves forward in obedience even when outcome is unseen and success appears impossible. It means trusting God rather than judging by appearances, so that when the depleted treasury seemed to threaten the work, courage and trust that the Lord will care for His own work replace discouragement. It moves forward without waiting to see every step or the end from the beginning, and when circumstances call for action and help is available God's work is advanced with courage and practical effort, going as far as can be seen and then still advancing.
True faith acts at once on what God urges even when the hoped-for result is not yet seen, following conviction from the Spirit without delay and showing faith by works by pledging means for God's cause and trusting others to follow. It walks by faith in using money wisely for the cause instead of letting it slip into speculation, even securing pledges when money is not in sight, confident that God has led those who move under His Spirit's guidance and will continue to work for them if they carefully follow the counsel He gives. It obeys even when duty looks hard, dangerous and uncertain.
Faith rests on God's word and treats His promises as real before fulfillment or before any confirming feeling appears. It is not a remarkable emotional experience but takes God at His word, reaches to Jesus, and claims His promise as one's own, so that the promise is already one's in fact when faith grasps it, and when rest, peace and other evidence come they are assurance rather than faith itself. This trust brings forgiveness and pardon whether or not a person feels them. It believes for oneself in order to receive fulfillment of the promise, praying and receiving the freedom Christ alone can give, casting the helpless soul on Christ in trust in His invitation and His promise that asking brings receiving, and doing the part that rests on the believer by believing.
Faith is present substance and proof that God has heard prayer and will give what He promised, even when feelings are gloomy and sight and feeling give no sign, for gloomy feelings are no evidence that God has not heard. It must grow daily toward the full measure of spiritual stature in Christ Jesus by trusting God's promise instead of trusting to feeling or seeing, believing God will do just what He said and bring prayed-for blessings when most needed, and going about daily business in that confidence because every petition made in belief enters into the heart of God. Such faith comes to the throne of God encircled by the rainbow of promise as the sign of God's faithfulness, and works by love and purifies the soul. Walking by faith means looking away from personal weakness and trusting Jesus for salvation, righteousness and victory, with God's promises giving grounds for confidence even when a person does not feel accepted by Him.
God does not reveal a person's duty so completely that there is no need to walk by faith, for the way is not marked out in a straight line. Faith therefore calls for prayer, belief, watchfulness, trust, and seeking the Lord to know one's duty, without watching and testing whether faith is genuine. It must be kept in exercise to give a right hold from above and rivet the soul on the eternal rock Christ Jesus. It lays hold of the promise of God and keeps the eyes fixed on Jesus the Author and Finisher of faith when Satan casts his hellish shadow across the pathway to hinder, looking to Jesus for help as a living Saviour who is not in Joseph's new tomb but rose in triumph and declared Himself the resurrection and the life.
Faith is to be exercised even when trial is severe, waiting patiently on the Lord until He sees readiness to receive and appreciate the blessings asked for, bringing help to mind and heart, and from such faith hope is born. It reaches within the veil to the treasures of heaven bestowed by God in giving His Son to all who accept Christ as Saviour, trusting the reality of unseen things that will soon be possessed by those who are faithful, and this trust fills God's children with hope and courage in the midst of trial and affliction. Faith is not sight but gives present assurance of what is hoped for and conviction about what cannot be seen, so faith and patient trust are needed when God tests His people and the outcome is not visible, and believers are to keep trusting Him rather than become discouraged or doubt His care. Tested faith enables a person to rise above self and look to Jesus through the darkness of temptation and unbelief, holding fast to God and producing active obedience, so that a person's works show the value and quality of that faith.
Faith is a living power that grows much larger by being used and calls for obeying what God requires today instead of waiting for a more favorable time. It begins with unreserved surrender to God and new birth, and continues as a spiritual life kept by praying continually and living out those prayers. It actively reaches to grasp the hand of Christ, certain that His hold is far firmer than any human hold can be and will never be released, so that everyone willing to be led will be led by Christ, continuing hopefully with no visible sign of help, with each answered evidence making belief stronger.
To abide in faith is to set aside feelings and selfish desires, walk humbly with God, take hold of His promises and apply them in every circumstance, trusting completely in His faithfulness to carry out His purposes in the heart and life. Faith is not sight, feeling, or tangible reality but gives present hold on hoped-for things and proof of unseen things, laying hold on God's power so that all things are possible to him that believes without questioning God's power to perform His promises. Through exercising faith God's Word is received and practiced, leaving no question in the heart about God's power to perform His promises. Pure faith works by love and purifies the soul, and its fruits become visible in a life and character shaped by the Spirit and sanctified in character, relying entirely and trusting implicitly on God's faithfulness so that others see the special fruits of the Spirit manifested in life and character.
Faith lays hold of God's Word and assurances and acts on them, weaving His promises into daily life and into labor for souls who are ready to perish. Such faith honors God, causes growth in grace in the last days of earth's history, makes believers true laborers together with God, and realizes being kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed at the last time. Faith cultivated by receiving the Word and weaving it into life experience is seen and felt by associates, never shows distrust of God, works by love and purifies the soul, trusts the truthfulness of God's promises, shows itself by works in word and action, and becomes an educating power that inspires the same faith in others.
Fruits and Blessings of Faith
Faith is the victory that lays hold on the merits of the blood of a crucified and risen Saviour, so that divinity clothed with humanity clothes the sinful person with Christ's righteousness and he stands acquitted before God with his life hid with Christ in God. Faith itself has no merit to earn justification, for justification comes freely by accepting the righteousness of Christ as a free gift through redemption, looking with firm and complete dependence on Jesus as the only hope for time and eternity instead of trying to win salvation by good works or human merit. It is agreement of the mind with God's words that binds the heart in willing consecration and service, surrenders mind and will and intellectual powers back to God who gave understanding, moved the heart and first drew the mind to see Christ on Calvary, and takes Christ as the only entrance into the kingdom. It is the means of grasping salvation and not its ground or end, a blessing enabling grasp of what Christ has done and trust in what is not yet seen, so that resting and believing in Christ brings peace with God. By trusting the promise believers gain spiritual knowledge confirmed by experience rather than speculation or mere theory, knowing Christ as personal Saviour and receiving the gospel remedy for sin rather than merely reading about righteousness by faith, with assurance grounded in knowing whom they have believed. Entering this faith is becoming as a little child sitting at the feet of Jesus, learning self-denial from Him and learning to live by faith in every word of God, and the soul that does this finds rest and peace.
Pure faith works by love and purifies the soul, and to abide in faith is to put aside feeling and selfish desires, walk humbly with the Lord, take His promises as one's own and apply them to every occasion, believing He will work out His own plans and purposes in heart and life by sanctifying character. It is the faculty by which the Word is received and practiced, leaving no question about God's power to perform His promises, laying hold on His power so that all things are possible to the one who believes, and relying entirely and trusting implicitly on His faithfulness. Its result is that the special fruits of the Spirit are seen in life and character, shaped by the Spirit and visible to others. Faith is not measured by changing feelings or a sense of well-being, and receiving an answer to prayer or feeling free does not by itself show favor with God; rather faith directs to self-examination by God's law, recognition of faults, and seeking cleansing through Christ's blood. The faith to be encouraged in present truth and to walk by rather than by sight quickens and uplifts the soul by the nobility of holy practice, raises it into a purer holier atmosphere, enables looking forward to higher attainments, discerning clearly the dangers of self-indulgence, looking above self, and seeing in God's work the way to gain riches to be laid up beside the throne. Such faith lays hold of God's Word and assurances and acts on them, weaving promises into daily life and labor for perishing souls, honoring God, causing growth in grace, making believers true laborers together with God kept by His power through faith unto salvation, and becoming an educating power that inspires the same faith in others by showing itself in works of word and action without distrust.
As believers move forward trusting the promises, what was unseen except by the eye of faith becomes seen, for God fulfills every word He has spoken. Moving forward in obedience turns what is first seen only by the eye of faith into seen reality, verifying His word beyond all conception of the unseen, as proved in past faithful work producing visible results such as the school in New South Wales as an object lesson despite faithless words and false reports about poverty of location and barrenness of land. The evidence already given of faithfulness of promises should check every thought and word of unbelief, confirm promises, strengthen courage, and give stability, since doubting God is sin and lack of faith lets the enemy obtain victory. This calls for sincere implicit faith to go forward unafraid trusting He can set a table in the wilderness and for united action to lift burdens such as school debt, while the reality already seen is only part, for the vision in height and depth and breadth is not yet standing out in substance, and how coming great events affect commandment-keeping people will depend on their faith. By trusting the promise believers see God and gain stability and assurance about the unseen, a knowledge confirmed by experience and not mere theory.
Faith relies upon God as able and willing to save to the uttermost all who come to Him. Such faith speaks forth God's power, showing appreciation for His constantly shown love, gratitude for mercies and favors bestowed, and a whole soul awakened to realization of His glory, with thanksgiving as the fruit of true willing obedience. It looks forward and upward to what is still to come and trusts God even when His purpose in His dealings and the outcome cannot be seen, laying hold of the only power that can make a person complete in Christ. It is a gift to be cultivated and not left neglected or misused, strengthened by still believing in whole dependence on God and by being brave and overcoming every practice that mars the soul temple.
Faith claims hoped-for restoration though not yet visible, as in trusting for an afflicted father's healing, and that confidence leads to persistent prayer until the answer is realized. It takes hold of God's promises for healing and claims them as sure, for Christ is the healing power, asking, seeking and knocking for the sick to be blessed, healed and shown His power so their voice is heard again among God's people, not giving up the battle to the enemy nor letting go of the promise to ask and receive, but keeping on praying with others and thanking God for goodness. Care of the sick is therefore to unite diligent study with careful simple treatment without poisonous drugs, including wisely and skillfully given water treatments that can save lives, with prayers of faith at the bedside and the sick themselves encouraged to claim God's promises, bringing Christ the Saviour more and more into labors and councils for healing. It is also exercised by trusting the Lord for strength to do what seems impossible, as in undertaking a journey and appointments despite severe weakness and obstacles.
Faith needed at this time reaches within the veil to the treasures of heaven bestowed in giving His Son to all who accept Christ as Saviour, trusting the reality of unseen things soon to be possessed by the faithful, and this trust fills God's children with hope and courage amid trial and affliction. It gives present reality to future hope and unseen truth, bringing all possible hopefulness and courage and faith into life even in old age and when discouragements seem to crush the soul, because Jesus keeps His people close to Himself, with privilege of inward communion with the Holy Spirit, divine protection, divine favor, and even heavenly joyfulness. Mighty faith in the Redeemer as a living reality has an influence nothing can withstand, and God comes to the aid of His tested and tempted faithful followers, for faith is necessary to please God. Learning to live by such faith, which is not sight but gives real ground for hoped-for things and proof of unseen things, turns dark and painful hours into the brightest hours, for all hope rests in Christ alone and salvation comes through this faith by grace as God's gift.
Relying on Jesus and living by faith and not by sight is living as viewing Him who is invisible as Moses did, looking forward to the pure noble devotional life that may be lived in Christ and through Christ, with imagination stimulated and sanctified through Christ's virtue taking in the glories of the future eternal world, and this faith comes through searching the Scriptures to understand what Christ is to believers and what they are to Christ, so that by beholding they become changed. Looking steadily and steadfastly to Jesus makes it possible to endure the sight of the invisible God, and by beholding Jesus believers are changed. Genuine faith is not merely selfish, formal or emotional religion but takes sin seriously and works in faithful duty and service, for doing what is right goes hand in hand with a true estimate of God's character. Even when providences are mysterious, trust lightens burdens, relieves weariness, and keeps the person walking in the path God marks out through trials, and those trials strengthen faith and prepare for service. The same faith that worked in God's servants of old, illustrated through Hebrews 11:1-40, can work now, for God works through hearts of faith as channels of His power, and clinging to Jesus and abiding in His love enables standing against evil, with Christ's righteousness alone giving power to resist it.
Faith in Work and Trial
Faith as the substance of hoped-for things and evidence of unseen things enables workers for God to go forward in city work doing their best while watching, working, and praying. Trusting that God hears and answers petitions, they gain an experience valuable for later and future service. As Noah acted on warning of unseen events and Abraham obeyed without knowing where he was going, welcoming promises not yet received while seeking a heavenly country, so present workers advance step by step heavenward in that same assurance and conviction.
Faith in God's word leads His people to trust Him to provide property and means needed to carry forward His work and reach cities with truth. It means walking and working by faith when the need to establish the work in influential places is pointed out, moving promptly to secure property for sanitarium or school work or any other branch rather than following human judgment for personal ends or waiting until money is in hand. Even when rivers of difficulty are full and overflowing their banks, God makes the work possible by revealing His will to workers in doubt, making owners willing to donate means, and gathering freewill offerings for new plants, as seen when the Loma Linda Sanitarium became the property of God's people. Praying more and carefully considering given light without unnecessary delay, as in deciding where to establish the sanitarium in Southern California, places His people in possession of property to work large cities waiting for the message.
What is unseen except by the eye of faith becomes seen as people move forward trusting promises, for God fulfills every word spoken and the evidence of fulfilled promises confirms His faithfulness and should check every thought and word of unbelief, since doubting God is sin. This calls for united action now to lift the burden of school debt, going forward unafraid in sincere implicit faith that He can set a table in the wilderness. Past faithful work proves this in visible results such as the school in New South Wales as an object lesson despite discouraging faithless words and false reports about poverty of location and barrenness of land, though the reality seen is only part and the vision in height and depth and breadth is not yet standing out in substance. Working by this faith requires putting away all criticism, all unbelief, and all desire to measure fellow workers who have had far less opportunity, and instead working and praying in all simplicity, being born again, leaving inherited and cultivated tendencies to wrong, talking and walking and working with Jesus everywhere and sitting low at His feet to learn heart-religion. When the depleted treasury seemed to threaten the work, faith should have led workers to speak with courage and trust the Lord to care for His own work rather than judging by appearances.
Faith holds fast to what is hoped for even when outward appearances are discouraging, means are small, and there has been failure, staying invincible and unclouded in advancing the third angel's message and pushing into regions beyond. To depend on visible resources is not faith, and to refuse to move unless one can walk by sight amounts to nothing, as illustrated by the disciples facing the multitude with only five barley loaves; precious things appreciated and imparted will be more abundantly bestowed, while unbelief displeases God and robs of rich treasures of grace. This faith shows itself in wise planning and pushing forward without despondency, in talking and acting with certainty and hope rather than hopeless discouraged words, with every word encouraging and stimulating hope and gathering hope and courage while refusing to think or talk of failure. It labors on to teach Bible truth and save souls despite lack of money, poor and unsuitable meeting places, opposition from pleasure-loving amusements, and unwise expenditure elsewhere, trusting God to provide means and open the way rather than giving up. Genuine faith is not mere talk about impossibilities but must grow strong enough to support devoted worldwide effort, going as far as can be seen and then still advancing with strong purpose into new poverty-stricken districts because time is short, trusting a rich Father and working onward and upward with persevering energy to plant the standard of truth even spending money to hold meetings to make advance possible.
Every family must live and work by faith in what is hoped for and not seen. That faith makes the father the house-band of his family and priest of his house, binding his family close to the throne of God and never losing interest or neglecting souls in his care. It makes him responsible to keep children, especially restless boys, from unsanctified associations and evil companionship, not leaving them wholly to the mother as too heavy a burden for her. It leads him to arrange matters for the best interests of mother and children, to take more of the burden on his own soul when the mother struggles to exercise self-control and manage wisely, to make most decided efforts to save his children, and when failure to train them properly endangers their salvation to exert strong influence to bind the children to his own soul.
Strong, active, enduring faith trusts the Lord for the future when present wants are supplied, does not sink into despondency and gloom at anticipated want, and does not murmur when brought into strait places. It endures the test by which God purifies, bears all things in love, blesses the Lord for dealing bountifully, and accepts self-denial and a plain diet rather than indulging depraved appetite. In trials and sufferings caused by fellowmen more faith is needed to lay hold upon the unseen and the evidences of forgiveness, with no fear, faintheartedness, peevish repining, or complaining thoughts about providence and hardships, for without this faith God's dealings are misunderstood and His love and faithfulness distrusted. A single ray of evidence of undeserved favor shining into the heart outweighs every severe trial, making the soul trustful with no disposition to murmur, the contrite heart reposing in God in tender compassion, carnal security broken up, and peace through the Lord Jesus Christ, holding firmly to Jesus in intelligent faith that reaches unseen things and simple faith that takes God at His word even though He slay, giving daily comforts of grace.
Unfeigned faith is needed for wise, earnest service to God and to proclaim the third angel's message, being active and decidedly in earnest, improving every opportunity to increase usefulness, laboring with dignity and confidence yet humble dependence, and exercising wisdom in all ways. It is the faith to walk by in present truth and not by sight, working by love and purifying the soul, quickening and uplifting by nobility of holy practice, raising into a purer holier atmosphere, enabling looking forward to higher attainments, discerning dangers of self-indulgence, and looking above self to see in God's work the way to gain riches laid up beside the throne. It requires clean hearts, pure minds, and thorough knowledge of principles of faith as intelligent belief in truth, examining standing closely, listening to reasons for different interpretations and giving candid consideration, being prepared to vindicate truth, and coming together at once in unity for thorough examination of disputed points because there is no time to lose. Joined to Christ as High Priest in God's presence and entering the true tabernacle not made with hands, by which the elders obtained a good report, it calls those who have lost hold on Jesus and desire to command rather than serve to return to consecrated faith that awakens careless souls, drawing near with true heart in full assurance, holding fast profession without wavering because He is faithful that promised, and considering one another to provoke to love and good works while not forsaking assembling as the day approaches.
Genuine faith expects much and treats hoped-for and unseen things as real, the opposite of narrow ideas, expecting little, and feeble faith. It lays solemn obligation on all who believe the message, because time is short, to be wholehearted disinterested workers ever exerting influence on the right side, never arraying by word or action against those building up the work, giving no place to the enemy and unselfishly concentrating effort with greatly enlarged conceptions on building up God's cause. Unfeigned faith inspires cautious step-by-step movement in the Lord's way rather than impulsive action, seeing not merely what will be realized when mortal puts on immortality but the born-again soul realizing present unseen powers that move and govern life. It means cooperating with Jesus Christ, partaking of the divine nature, overcoming worldly corruption through lust, responding to forces of the spiritual kingdom set up in the soul, having conscious title to inheritance with saints in light at resurrection and translation, having life bound up with Christ's life, and cultivating graces of the Spirit as divine agencies work through human agencies. It is living power growing larger by use, beginning with unreserved surrender and new birth and continuing as spiritual life kept by praying continually and living out prayers, actively reaching to grasp Christ's hand certain His hold is far firmer and never released so everyone willing to be led will be led. Consulting the Lord and going to Him for wisdom, this faith enables workers with different gifts to feel need of one another, connect as mutual helps without selfishness, and carry forward enterprises representing heavenly truth, opening doors for angels and setting in operation power to carry the work forward with undreamed strength.