Some time ago, when I had to travel from B. to S., an obliging and intelligent official, in whom I had all confidence, directed me to the coach that would take me there without changing trains. I took my seat without a shade of misgiving, resting upon competent authority.
Although I heard a number of passengers discussing various routes and the different changes necessary to reach this place or that, nothing occurred to test my position until at N. considerable shifting of coaches took place.
Many of us passengers got out, and our train was shunted from the platform out of our sight. While waiting for it to return, I paused in my walking up and down the platform to speak to an official about the line. Under other circumstances I should have felt rather uneasy when he told me there was no through coach to S; but I fell back upon my competent authority, and when the train returned, I entered my coach with boldness.
At Y. further shifting and shunting took place, and we were left on a siding for about twenty minutes. Having unshaken confidence in my friend, I did not even put my head out of the window to look, or turn to inquire of a fellow-passenger, but sat quiet. In due time I reached my destination.
My confidence in my guide was as great while waiting on the dark siding as when I reached S. The only difference was that I needed it more in the former case, than in the latter.
It is in dark and changeful times we stand in need of competent authority. It is when the conflicting cries of blind guides fall upon the ear, that we feel tranquilizing power of that Word (the Bible) which is settled forever in heaven.
The moral of this incident is easily seen. May the Eternal Spirit enable each reader to apply it! The Word of God is the only competent authority, it is the voice of God. Let us hear this and follow it.
Our competent authority is not the word of any man or body of men; moreover, it is not feelings, or experience; it is the Word of God. A person may say, "But must I not feel?”
"You must believe," I reply. The word "feel" casts me upon myself. The word "believe" casts me upon God.
Of what use would my feelings have been as an authority for my position in the railway train? None whatever. I did have a very comfortable feeling; but it was because I was trusting the testimony of a competent authority. I felt I was in my right place, because I rested upon a sure testimony.
Reader, are you resting, for the salvation of your precious soul, on a divinely competent authority?
If therefore you believe in Jesus, you have eternal life. God says so, and faith takes Him at His word. Faith is believing what God says, because He says it, not because you feel it. No doubt you will feel happy when you believe it; but if you wait for feeling in order to believe, it would be faith in your feelings, and not in God's Word at all.
Thus it is as to the grand and all-important question of salvation. And the same holds good as to all the details of the Christian's course, from first to last. How am I to know that I am in my right position, and pursuing my right path? By having competent authority, even a "Thus saith the Lord" for everything. Nothing but this will stand amid the shiftings and shuntings and dark sidings of Christendom; and in the face of ten thousand blind guides and incompetent authorities.
The Word of God is the only basis of my individual peace, and the only authority for my individual path.
Do you know the deep repose and solid blessedness of resting, as to all things, upon a divinely competent authority?
Jesus said, "He that heareth My Word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life." John 5:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24).