Signs of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 11. (3/18/1897)

Signs of the Times

Mar 18, 1897

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Mar 18, 1897

The Necessary Faith

By Editor

Editorial

The Necessary Faith.—Some persons will believe if they can see; some if they can hear; others if they can touch, or feel, or grasp. But the one of perfect faith believes God’s word whether he can hear or see or feel with his physical human senses.

IN our Lord’s sojourn upon this earth, even his own disciples could not believe in his power except he were personally present. He must actually, physically, touch, or look upon, or speak to, the one made whole. They could not grasp his power in the unseen, unfelt, silent realm. The sisters of Lazarus loved Jesus, but the acme of their faith was expressed in the words: “Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.” Truly, as our Lord told his disciples, it was expedient for them that he should go away. John 16:7. The highest faith was not developed in his personal, physical presence.

AND yet there were those who possessed greater faith than this, but as is frequently the case, it was manifested in an unexpected quarter. It would be naturally thought that a Roman soldier, often called to quell the rising of restive, rebellious Jews who chafed under the Roman yoke, would have the most supreme contempt for everything Jewish. And yet in all nations are those who seek God and long for the revelation of his love in them. A case of this kind is recorded in Luke 7:2–10. The account is as follows:—

“And a certain centurion’s servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die. And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant. And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this; for he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagog.”

“Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself; for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof; wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee; but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed. For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.”

“When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick.”

“Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof; but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.” Matt. 8:8.

THIS centurion, a Roman military officer over a hundred, was doubtless a believer in the true God. He had learned of him through some of the shining lights of God in his sojourn in or near Capernaum, that center of many of Christ’s wondrous works. He had in faith, probably, and in his love for that oppressed people, built a synagog for the Jews. When Jesus was in Capernaum a beloved servant of the centurion was sick, and ready to die. When his master heard of the power of Jesus, believing himself unworthy, and thinking, doubtless, that the elders of the Jews would have more influence with a prophet of their own nationality, he sent them to beseech Jesus to come and heal his servant. And they went and besought Jesus with great earnestness to go, saying that the centurion was worthy, “for he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagog.”

THE centurion, in his wrong education and feeling of unworthiness, did not know that Jesus would hear him. He did not know that Jesus was the Friend of all men; that his heart was ever touched by human wo and misery, and always respondent to human need. The Jews were just as ignorant of the love of God. “O, but you must do this for this man, Rabbi; why he loves our nation, he has built us a synagog.” It is not these things which move the heart of Infinite Love. It is not because a man is a Jew or a Greek or a Roman or a Celt or a Briton or an American or a Chinese or a Caucasian or a negro, that Christ hears and answers. His professed followers may act from these principles; Jesus never. Is the soul in need?—His great heart is touched. Does that soul reach out after him?—He responds. He loved the Roman centurion as well as he did the Jewish synagog rulers, and no more. He loves all.

JESUS went with the messengers. But while his messengers were on the way, the centurion’s heart grasps more of God and his power, more of the power of Him whom God sent. He comes to know that Jesus is master of invisible powers, servants, armies, beyond all human conception, and that his personal presence is not needed. With a conception of this, comes a greater conception of his own unworthiness, and he sends the message: “Lord, trouble not thyself; for I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof; wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee; but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed.” It matters not to us in this lesson whether the centurion said this personally to Jesus, or whether it was his message sent through his representative. The message and the faith were the centurion’s. He had faith, not in Christ’s presence, not in his appearance, but in the power in his word, even when the Master was absent. The life and power of God is in his word.

MORE than this. The centurion recognized the ministration of the angels of God at his command. “For I also [even as was Jesus] am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.” And Jesus “marveled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.” Jesus went no farther; those who came to him returned, and on reaching the house found the servant healed.

How He Knew.—How did the centurion learn to thus know God? Where did he learn these great truths?—Evidently in the study of the Scriptures, enlightened by the Spirit of God. There he learned of God’s power and goodness,—that not only angelic beings, but every element in earth, air, and sea, were under God’s control and command, “fulfilling his word.” He believed that Jesus was the Sent of God, the One in whom was God’s name and power, and all he needed to do was to speak the word. All this the Jews might have known. All this they would have known if they had searched the Scriptures with like humble hearts. All this they should have known, for God committed to them the sacred oracles, that they might reveal the light to others. Is it a wonder, then, that Jesus “marveled” at the faith of the Roman as compared with that of his own people? Our light is not proportioned to our nationality or position, but according to our faith.

Our Lesson.—The lesson God has for us is twofold. The first we have already considered, God hears men, all men, without reference to nationality. He will, therefore, hear us whether we are French or German, English or Irish, colored or white. And the second and great lesson is to believe God’s word and work, whatever may be the appearances. Whether we can see or hear or feel, we may know that he lives and loves. Unworthy tho we be of his presence, he invites us, he comes to us, and by his Spirit he enters if we will let him. He sends his word and heals his children, even as of old. Ps. 107: 20. There is healing in his word. He is a God at hand, near to every one who calls upon him. Do not stop to question how he shall heal you, how bind the wounds made by sin; leave that with him. Even as the fire and hail and snow and vapors and stormy wind fulfils his word, so can he and will he use each and every agency in the universe, if necessary, to aid the soul who trusts in his word. Even the wrath of men and demons will God make to praise him. The great currents of life and love forever flow out from his throne, and to him who will throw himself into these channels by submitting to the good will of God, love and life and healing will come. It matters not tho he have sinned grievously, let him say with the Roman of old, “Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof; but speak the word only.” Ask in faith, and God will speak the word. Nay, but he has spoken the word in Jesus. Accept it and live.

God Comes to Help.—The Word assures us that the Lord is not a God afar off, but very nigh; for he is “not far from every one of us.” Acts 17: 27. When Adam sinned it was not God who hid himself from Adam, but Adam sought to hide himself from God. Of course the attempt was vain; but sin-blinded Adam could not see it. He knew he had sinned; he was ashamed of himself; he was ashamed to let God see him. He was afraid. Sin makes cowards of all. But God saw Adam and knew all about it. Adam sought to hide; God sought Adam. But he came as a friend, as a helper, to the poor, blinded, deceived man; and had Adam known God, he would have welcomed him. God always meets us to help us if we will let him. The antagonism is of sin and ourselves, but never of God.

Continue reading: THE TURKISH-ARMENIAN QUESTION