The Full Assurance of Faith - p. 2
But to all this the skeptic will reply
that he does not blindly trust in others, but that he has reason to
believe that he will be carried safely, that his message will be sent
correctly, and that the letter will reach his wife in good season. His faith in these things is
based on the following grounds:—
- Others have been carried in safety,
and thousands of letters and telegrams have been correctly sent and
promptly delivered. Whenever a letter has been misplaced, it has
almost invariably been the fault of the sender.
- The men to whom he intrusts himself
and his messages make a business of carrying people and messages; if
they should fail to fulfill their agreements, nobody would place any
confidence in them, and their business would soon be ruined.
- He has the assurance of the
government of the United States. The railroad and telegraph
companies receive their charter from the government, which thereby
becomes in a responsible for their faithfulness. If they do not do
as they agree, the government can revoke their charter. His
confidence in the letter box was due to the fact that he saw upon it
the letters "U.S.M.," and he knew that they mean that the
government has promised safely to deliver any letter placed in the
box, if it is properly addressed and stamped. He believes that the
government will fulfill its promises, because if it does not, it
must soon come to an end. It is to the interest of the government to
fulfill its promises just as much as it is to the interest of the
railroad and telegraph companies to fulfill theirs. And all these
things form a solid ground for his faith.
Well, the Christian has a thousand-fold
more ground for his faith in the promises of God. Faith is not blind
credulity. Says the apostle, "Now
faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence [ground, or
confidence] of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1. This is an inspired
definition, and therefore we may conclude that the Lord does not expect
us to exercise faith except on evidence. Now it can readily be shown
that the Christian has a great deal more reason for exercising faith in
God than the skeptic has for his confidence in the railroad and
telegraph companies or in the government.
- Others have trusted the promises of
God, and have found them to be sure. The eleventh chapter of Hebrews
contains a long list of those who have verified the promises of God;
who "through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness,
obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the
violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, our of weakness
were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the
armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life
again." And this is not confined to the days of old. Anyone who
wishes, can find abundance of testimony to the fact that God is
"a very present help in trouble." Thousands can testify of
prayers answered in so marked a manner as to leave no more doubt
that God answers prayers than the United States Government carries
the mails that are entrusted to it.
- The God whom we trust makes a
business of answering prayers, and of protecting and caring for his
subjects. "It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not
consumed, because his compassions fail not." Micah 7:18.
"For I know the thoughts that i think toward you, saith the
Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end."
Jeremiah 29:11. If he
should break one of his promises, men would cease to believe him.
This was the ground of David's confidence. Said he "Help us, O
God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name; and deliver us, and
purge away our sins, for thy name's sake. Wherefore should the
heathen say, Where is their God?" Psalm 79:9, 10.
- The existence of God's government
depends on the fulfillment of his promises. The Christian has the
assurance of the government of the universe that every lawful
request that he makes will be granted. Government is especially for
the protection of the weak. Suppose now that God should fail to
fulfill one of his promises to the very weakest and most
insignificant person in the world; that single failure would destroy
the entire government of God. The whole universe would at once be
thrown into confusion. If God should break one of his promises, no
one in the universe could ever have any confidence in them, and his
rule would be at an end; for trust in the ruling power is the only
sure ground of obedience. Nihilists of Russia do not obey the czar,
because they do not trust him. Any government that, through failure
to meet its obligations, looses the respect of its subjects, is in
an unstable condition. Therefore the humble Christian depends on the
word of God, knowing that God has more at stake than he has. If such
a thing were possible as that God should break his word, the
Christian would lose only his life, but God would lose his
character, the stability of his government, and the control of the
universe.
Moreover, those who put their trust in
human government, or in any institution of men, are liable to be
disappointed.
Men
are Fallible |