HAVE FAITH IN G.o.d
PORTION OF SCRIPTURE--Romans iv.
There is one man set before us in this chapter as the man who had faith in G.o.d. The one thing which marks him more than any other is his faith. The man lived nearly 4,000 years ago, and yet he is still a vivid personality; he lives on in our thoughts and memories as the man who trusted G.o.d. His name is still reverenced all over the world, even among people of different religions, as "The Friend of G.o.d."
"The G.o.d of Glory appeared to Abraham," and from that moment Abraham"s faith fastens on what G.o.d is. The attractive power of Jehovah drew him from his home, his relations and his country, and with every fresh revelation of G.o.d, Abraham"s faith grasped more of G.o.d and clung to Him with a firmer hold. G.o.d"s word was all he had to go by; whatever G.o.d said was enough for him; whatever G.o.d told him to do, he did it, because, to _trust G.o.d_ means to obey Him. He had G.o.d with him at every step.
If ever there was a clear-sighted man, that man was Abraham, for trust in G.o.d enlightens our understanding. He was a man with a far sight. He saw what no other man then living saw. He saw that the day was coming when G.o.d would send His Son to be the Saviour of the world. How do we know this?
Because Christ said, "Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad." [Footnote: St. John viii. 56.] He saw far on into the future, farther than any other man then living. He saw the golden City, the holy City, "whose builder and maker is G.o.d." [Footnote: Heb, xi. 10.] Yes, the eye of faith not only sees G.o.d, it sees also what "G.o.d has prepared for those who love Him."
G.o.d was very real to that man. Abraham trusted G.o.d because he knew Him personally. Faith is the act of the soul which looks wholly away from _self_, whether it be righteous self or sinful self, and looks to G.o.d only, in complete submission and confidence.
It was because Abraham trusted Him that G.o.d stamped the man as His friend--Abraham My friend. On and on through all these hundreds of years he has been called "the Friend of G.o.d." In the book of Chronicles, in Isaiah and in the Epistle of James it is mentioned again, "He was called the Friend of G.o.d."
What is friendship? It is two hearts trusting in each other. Abraham trusted G.o.d, and G.o.d trusted Abraham. G.o.d put such confidence in him that He let him know that He was going to destroy the cities of the plain.
The LORD said, "Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do?"
[Footnote: Gen. xviii. 17.]
Mutual trust is at the root of all friendship. Where there is a lack of mutual confidence in the home life or in commercial life it spells ruin.
The great question for each one in life is, What is my relation to G.o.d? Is it trusting G.o.d, or is it doubting G.o.d?
"Abraham believed G.o.d and it was counted unto him for righteousness."
[Footnote: Rom. iv. 3.] What is righteousness? It means to be right with G.o.d, and the moment we trust G.o.d"s Word we are made righteous, and we become righteous.
We read in Acts that after their first missionary tour. Paul and Barnabas reported in detail all that G.o.d had done, and how He had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles. [Footnote: Acts xiv. 27.] So faith is the gate of life by which the Gentiles were entering in.
Here was a new fact proving that faith was the gate of the Lord into which the righteous should enter; [Footnote: Ps. cxviii. 20.] righteous _because_ believing. Faith is the door by which G.o.d comes into our hearts.
Faith is only the door, nothing in itself, but it is called "precious faith" because of all the life and joy and riches of grace and glory which it lets in.
Abraham is not only presented to us in the Word of G.o.d as the Friend of G.o.d, but also as a pattern for all believers, and we are told to take him as our model, "to walk in his steps," to trust G.o.d and to find in G.o.d"s wondrous friendship all that he found. G.o.d has been teaching us ever since, through the simplicity of the faith of this man. The most remarkable point in his faith is this, he grasped as no one else had done that G.o.d is G.o.d because He can quicken the dead. [Footnote: Rom. iv. 17.]
He can give life to the dead because He Himself is the Source of life. He calls "those things which are not as though they were" because He is the Creator of all things. This applies not only to the body but to the soul.
Your confidence in G.o.d began when your soul, which was "dead in sin," was quickened into a new life. When we ourselves have experienced this quickening it gives us such faith in praying for those we love, knowing that G.o.d alone can quicken dead souls.
Abraham was "strong in faith"; even when G.o.d promised him a son, although it seemed impossible, "he staggered not at the promise of G.o.d through unbelief," being "fully persuaded" that G.o.d was able to do it. To be "strong in faith" is to feel our utter helplessness and to rely on G.o.d"s power only; to be "strong in faith" is to grasp G.o.d"s promise and not to let anything make us doubt it.
We have an ill.u.s.tration of this strong faith in the case of the first missionary who went out to China a hundred years ago. The captain of the ship in which he sailed was an atheist, and one day he said to him with a sneer, "You don"t suppose, do you, that you are going to convert those Chinese?" "No," said the missionary, "but I believe _G.o.d_ is going to do it." Did G.o.d fail him? No. His faith was rewarded, and at the present time there are a quarter of a million Chinese believers who meet in fellowship at the Lord"s Table.
What is faith? It is the link between me and G.o.d. The link between my emptiness and G.o.d"s fulness. The link between me, the sinner and Jesus, the Saviour. Is there this link between you and G.o.d? Is the link on? Faith is the spiritual link, the one and only means by which a man can have dealings with G.o.d, realise G.o.d and walk with G.o.d. It is a living link between G.o.d and the soul, a living union. The word "faith" comes from an old word which means to _bind_. When I say "I _believe_ G.o.d," it means that "I am His and He is mine for ever and for ever." It is trusting in His love, not a mere cold belief in His power. It is grasping His promises, because they are precious promises. It is the whole heart and mind going out and up to G.o.d. David says: "Unto Thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul; O my G.o.d, I trust in Thee," [Footnote: Ps. xxv, 1, 2, 5] This brings perfect rest. "Thou art the G.o.d of my salvation, on Thee do I wait all the day." Do we make it a habit to be constantly referring to G.o.d about everything? We learn first, that _G.o.d_ is, and then our faith feeds upon _what_ G.o.d is. His faithfulness and His lovingkindness are seen in all His dealings with us.
Faith has to do with unseen realities, for faith is the evidence, or proof of things not seen; [Footnote: Heb. xi. 1.] it makes them as real as if we could see them, and brings them near.
So we may say faith is like the telegraph wire which connects two places however far apart they may be.
We had an ill.u.s.tration of this not long ago. Our Queen Mary was in her sitting-room in Buckingham Palace. A hospital was to be opened in Canada 4,000 miles off, and she was asked to perform the ceremony. When the signal was given that all was ready, the Queen pressed a little ivory b.u.t.ton and in two seconds the door of the hospital, which was held by an electric wire, opened, and in fifteen seconds the signal was flashed back that the hospital was open. So in about half a minute the signal went there and back over a s.p.a.ce of 8,000 miles. How wonderful! and yet greater spiritual wonders are happening every day and many times in the day, if only we have faith in G.o.d and let Him work in us and through us.
I will give you another ill.u.s.tration how the simple touch of faith links us with G.o.d"s power. A few years ago some rocks blocked the entrance into the river St. Lawrence, so that the ships could not go up the river to Quebec. It was decided that the ma.s.s of solid rock must be removed. How was it done? In the presence of a large crowd a little child stepped forward and touched an electric b.u.t.ton and the whole ma.s.s of rock was blown up by dynamite and the pa.s.sage cleared.
Faith has done great wonders in times past, and it can still do wonders, if only we make use of G.o.d"s Almighty power. But the rule is, "According to your faith so be it unto you."
I will give you an ill.u.s.tration. When I want light in my room I touch the electric b.u.t.ton and the room is filled with light. The moment I press the b.u.t.ton I expect the light will come, and I am surprised if it fails. Why?
Touching the electric b.u.t.ton is like the touch of faith; it brings us into contact with the source of light. Faith brings me into contact with G.o.d Himself, for He is the source of life and light. G.o.d has ordained that faith shall be a power as real and as uniform in its working as light or heat or electricity. Everything about them is a mystery which we do not fully understand, but all the same they are real to us and we use them.
Although we do not understand them, yet we prove again and again that they supply us with new life and energy simply by a touch. Even a child can touch. Faith places all G.o.d"s fulness at our disposal, but it is only according to our faith that we receive it.
I know a poor woman who went through a time of great anxiety about her little girl who was ill. One day a Christian friend called to see her and she told her all about her trouble. When she had finished the friend said to her very tenderly, "You have forgotten one little word of five letters." "What is it? Do tell me," she exclaimed, looking puzzled. Then the friend, pointing on her five fingers, said slowly, _f-a-i-t-h_. The dark cloud cleared away and she was able to look up into G.o.d"s face again and to trust Him.
So when Christ says, "Have faith in G.o.d," it is a command to hold fast to G.o.d. It means trust G.o.d about everything, great and small; nothing is too small. Trust Him to save you, and to keep you. Trust Him in every difficulty and in every duty.
"Little faith will bring your souls to heaven, but great faith will bring heaven to your souls."
When Christ said to Peter and the others, "Have faith in G.o.d," He said it very earnestly and with a ring of deep conviction in His voice. He knew in Himself what dependence on G.o.d means in the earthly life. Day by day He showed what it is to have simple trust in G.o.d. When He said, "Have faith in G.o.d," He said it very solemnly, because He was speaking on behalf of His Father.
He had come to reveal Him, so He says, "I do nothing of Myself, but as My Father hath taught Me I speak these things." He had already said, "He that believeth on Me hath everlasting life," and now He adds, "Have faith in G.o.d." Yes, He claims our confidence, our full confidence, not a half-hearted trust.
Our Lord saw men seeking other objects of trust, so He says, "Take hold of G.o.d, hold fast to G.o.d, have faith in G.o.d and never let it go."
The world"s great need is faith in G.o.d. G.o.d"s own character demands it.
The Scriptures make Him known and reveal Him as altogether trustworthy, such an One as invites our entire confidence. To have faith in G.o.d means leaning on Him, letting Him bear the whole weight. There is a great difference between believing and committing. Many say they believe, but they are not willing to commit themselves to Him.
A few years ago there was a man named Blondin who performed wonderful feats at the Crystal Palace. Once he walked on a tight rope stretched across the centre of the Palace at a height of 150 feet. Another time a rope was stretched at a great height over a shipbuilder"s yard, and he not only walked steadily across, but he carried a man on his back. A large crowd gazed at him in wonder and awe, and great was their relief when both Blondin and his burden reached the ground in safety.
Among the eager upturned faces in the crowd there was a lad about eleven years of age. When Blondin came down he went up to the lad and said to him, "You saw me carry that big man across, do you believe I could take you?" "Of course you could," replied the boy; "why, he was a big man, and I am only a little chap." "Well, then, jump up, my lad," said Blondin, and he stooped down for the boy to climb up on his back. But although the boy said he believed Blondin was able to carry him across, he was not willing to trust himself, and so, just saying, "No, thank you," he was off like a shot and ran as fast as he could till he was lost in the crowd. Though he said he believed, when it came to the point he did not commit himself, and that is all the difference, between believing _in_ Christ and believing _on_ Him.
Faith in G.o.d means really committing ourselves into His hands and rolling our burdens on Him.
If we withhold our confidence it shows that we do not really believe that G.o.d is what the Bible says He is. The reason there is so much unrest and unG.o.dliness is because we have lost sight of G.o.d. It is not because the Bible is out of date as some say, or that the Gospel has lost its power; it is still as ever, "the power of G.o.d unto salvation," but we are limiting G.o.d.
It is just the same now as in olden times when the children of Israel limited the Holy One of Israel, and we read how this lack of confidence grieved G.o.d all through those forty years in the wilderness. Yea, they spake against G.o.d, they said, "Can G.o.d furnish a table in the wilderness; can G.o.d give bread also; can He provide flesh for His people?" [Footnote: Ps. lxxviii. 19, 20.] Unbelief asks, "_Can He?_" Faith says, "_He can._"
Dear friends, let me ask you to stop and ask yourself, Where do you put that little word "can"? Are you constantly thinking to yourself, Can G.o.d?
or are you saying in your heart and meaning it too, "_G.o.d can_"! We limit G.o.d"s power to save, by asking, _Can_ G.o.d? The hindrance is the same as in olden times when Jeremiah felt that because of the unbelief of the people "the Lord was as a mighty man that cannot save." [Footnote: Jer. xiv; 9.]
You have prayed many years perhaps for the conversion of some one near and dear to you, but are you limiting G.o.d because you doubt His power to do it? A poor man who gave way to drink said sadly, "I have broken the pledge again and again"; then pointing to his pledge card he said, "But now I have written a text on it, Isaiah xli. 13: "For I the Lord thy G.o.d will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not, I will help thee."" Then looking up he said simply, "Maybe, Him and me will do it together."
Is it victory over temptation you long for? Look up to Him and say, "I can"t, but G.o.d can." Is it grace you need for some special trial? Say, "G.o.d is able to make all grace abound towards me, for He tells us in His Word that He is able to do "exceeding abundantly above all we ask or think according to the power that is working in us."" [Footnote: Eph. iii. 20.]
The world"s great sin is not trusting G.o.d. "Thus said the LORD, Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm and whose heart departeth from the Lord." [Footnote: Jer. xvii. 5.] Yet in times of difficulty or danger how apt we are to lean on the arm of flesh.
During the present European war I was much impressed by the words of one of our soldiers who writes from the front: "After all that is being done there still remains one supreme necessity without which neither arms or munitions can be decisive, namely, the spiritual outlook of the whole nation. When I returned home after ten months in Flanders, I was amazed at the lack of spirituality of the people as a whole. The simple faith and dependence upon G.o.d which characterised our country in her past struggles seem lost to sight. "They trusted in Thee and Thou didst deliver them"
implied no disregard for military efficiency; it was the real and vital accompaniment to armed force. Can it be that the h.e.l.lishness of battle, the wearing down of the spirit induced by trench warfare, moments of utter loneliness which every soldier has to bear, strike right at the soul and enable him to realise the nearness of the spiritual world? "Prayer is the foundation of all grace" were the words of a dying soldier who had deliberately returned to the area of poisonous gas and had brought back the machine gun on his shoulders. Some of us have realised what individual prayer at home has done for us, but we should all like to feel that the whole nation is also testing the value of spiritual power."
We read in G.o.d"s Word that "The children of Judah prevailed, because they relied upon the Lord G.o.d"; [Footnote: 2 Chron. xiii. 18.] and when King Asa was defeated the prophet said to him, "Because thou hast relied on the King of Syria, and not relied on the Lord thy G.o.d, therefore is the host of the King of Syria escaped out of thine hand." [Footnote: 2 Chron. xvi.
7.]
To have faith in G.o.d we must put G.o.d first in everything. He must be first when we awake in the morning. How blessed it is to be able to feel, "When I awake I am still with Thee." A working man said to me once, "I make myself happy in G.o.d the first thing in the morning." David says, "In the morning will I direct my prayer unto Thee and will look up." [Footnote: Ps. v. 3.] "When I awake I am still with Thee." [Footnote: Ps. cx.x.xix.
18.]
"In my morning prayer," said a Christian man, "instead of thinking of my own needs first, I like to think of the fulness there is in Christ for me." Let us resolve to put "G.o.d _first_," even if we have only time for one text of Scripture. "G.o.d _first_," even if it is only a minute or two for prayer. A Christian said once, "I must see the face of G.o.d before I see the face of man." The manna was gathered early every morning. Another said, "Unless I meet with G.o.d first, I cannot meet the difficulties of the day in a prepared spirit." If you put "G.o.d first," you will find this will make all the difference as to how you do your work and how you deal with others. "Little is much if G.o.d is in it."
To have faith in G.o.d is to trust Him _only_. David says, "My soul, wait thou only upon G.o.d, for my expectation is from Him." [Footnote: Ps. lxii.
5.] Is it so with you? If so, what for, and for how much? First find out from His Word that G.o.d is able and willing to do what you need; then trust Him to do it. "Trust in Him at all times" it says again in that beautiful Psalm. [Footnote: Ps. lxii. 8.]