AN earnest young man, known to the writer, had been for some time in real exercise before God as to his soul’s salvation. At times he felt assured that he did believe; at others he was all unsettled about it. In nearly all such cases―and how great their number !―too much is made of faith in itself, and too little of the object of faith. The gospel presents Christ before the soul. His blessed Person and work are held up for the gaze of faith. Now, while you cannot too highly magnify the importance of faith in Christ, yet the moment you get occupied with your “believing” you are making too much of what you call “faith.” Faith in your “believing” and faith in Christ are two different things. The former is not what God calls faith at all. It is only a species of self-occupation which necessarily robs the soul of blessing and comfort. The Spirit of God has a holy jealousy, that, when salvation is sought, CHRIST ALONE should be the object of the soul’s satisfaction and confidence. True faith is that which relies wholly upon Christ, and upon the Spirit’s testimony concerning Him.
The young man referred to was employed in a house of business in one of the Midland towns. As he sat at breakfast one morning, the writer, knowing something of his difficulties, asked him the following question: “Suppose, when you get to the office this morning, you found a notice to this effect fixed upon the door: All in Mr. —’s employment who have any confidence in their master can take a day’s holiday today. Suppose this to be a genuine announcement signed in your master’s handwriting, could you honestly return home and take your day’s holiday?”
“I could,” he said with emphasis.
“Well, then, God says that whosoever believeth in Jesus ‘shall receive remission of sins.’ Are you not sufficiently assured of your confidence in Him as to honestly claim, upon the Spirit’s testimony in the Word, the remission of sins?”
You see, dear reader, that this young man had only to think of the kind of person his master was, and thus knowing him as thoroughly trustworthy, he could, without a moment’s hesitation, claim the holiday on those terms. Have you no faith in the Lord Jesus Christ?
Do not think of your faith as though that was your Savior. It is the work which Christ did for sinners, and the loving welcome which all get who come to Him, that the Spirit of God brings before a conscience-stricken sinner. May my reader follow the example of another young man who, after a long time of weary wavering between self as an object and Christ, at last came to this point, “If God has so loved me as to give His Son to die for me, then He must have considered His Son to be a Savior worthy of my heart’s confidence; and my heart’s confidence He shall have.” Henceforward, for him, the matter was settled, and he is now privileged to bear the glad message of salvation to others. So may it be settled for my anxious reader before he or she lays down this paper.