Faith is not a blind assent to something that cannot be understood. Nor does it take a leap into uncertainty. Under a sense of danger, he who has faith flies to a place of safety; burdened by a sense of guilt, he looks to One who can pardon; having proved everything within himself untrue, he rests on the truth of One who cannot lie. When all his need is met, his longings satisfied, he finds he has forgiveness of sins, peace with God, and all that the Word of God makes good to the believer.
Faith builds upon two bases: that man is ruined by sin; and that God is as good as He is mighty. Man cannot save himself, but God is both able and willing to save him.
Faith therefore turns from works, feelings, and efforts of every kind, and confidently reposes on what God has said.
A little boy had climbed up to the top of a chimney stack. His position was dangerous; a bad fall seemed imminent. Realizing his danger, he cried out to a woman who happened to enter the yard. She placed herself beneath the chimney and called to the child to jump into her arms.
The little fellow heard her call, and was sure that the woman was fully able to support him; but the distance was so great! He held the more tightly to the chimney top—he feared to let go.
She understood his dilemma and cried to him: "Don't fear! Just slide down. I'll catch you.”
At last the boy did let go, and fell into the strong, kind arms beneath. He was safe! While being lowered to the ground, he heard his rescuer say: "Why could you not trust me?”
This same woman had been in soul-difficulty, darkness, and misery for several weeks. Now she thought: "Is it not thus that I have been treating the Lord? Has He not been pleading with me to drop into His mighty arms? And I, in fear, have been holding onto the stack of my doubts and unbelief. Now I too will just let go and take Him at His word. He says, 'Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.' Lord, I come!" For her the happy effect was peace—immediate and abiding peace—with God.
That is what faith does.
Now, reader, will you not follow her example? You will be in misery forever unless you "let go, and let God.”
The blood of Jesus Christ
His (God's) Son cleanseth
us from all sin.”
"Blessed are they whose
iniquities are forgiven,
and whose sins are
covered.”