There is no way in which we can so effectually glorify God, as by putting our undivided confidence in Him.
This gives faith a most important place. Indeed, it lies at the very foundation of our connection with God, and forms the great moving principle in the divine life.
If we look through the entire gospel narrative, we shall find that nothing ever refreshed the heart of the Lord Jesus like the faith of some poor convicted sinner. And though now He is no longer within the range of mortal vision, He can be refreshed in the same way by the faith of a soul that can trust Him for everything. We might suppose that the true way in which to glorify God would be to work for Him: but His Word in every section of it, teaches us that the true way is to put confidence in Him. The confidence of the heart glorifies and gratifies God infinitely more than the labor of the hands; yea, without the former, the latter can only be an abomination in His sight.
Further, if we look at doubt and confidence in reference to ourselves, we find that doubt makes us miserable; confidence makes us happy; doubt sends us forth upon the wild, watery waste of skepticism; confidence anchors us securely in the peaceful haven of God’s eternal and immutable truth; doubt renders us the slaves of Satan and the world; confidence gives us the victory over both the one and the other. Thus we see how impossible it is that doubt and confidence can both dwell in the same heart together; as well might the sun’s meridian splendor dwell with the profound darkness of midnight.
Also it is well to remember that confidence never reasons. A reasoning mind is not a confiding mind. The moment reason stirs, it interrupts the repose of confidence.
How could human reason penetrate the profound mystery of the cross? How could it enter into the glorious truth of a full and eternal salvation for the guiltiest sinner, by the death of the Son of God? How could it ever enter into the amazing thought, that the Creator of heaven and earth appeared in the likeness of man—the likeness of sinful flesh, and in that likeness bore the full penalty of man’s sin—endured the curse of His own law—satisfied the claims of His own inflexible justice—drained to the dregs, yea, exhausted, on our behalf, the cup of His own righteous wrath? How could it comprehend and appreciate the wondrous counsel of redeeming love, which takes up a poor degraded sinner, and puts him in possession of divine life and divine righteousness, in union with a risen and glorified Christ, so that the sinner is not merely pardoned, but actually counted as righteous as Christ Himself? In a word, how can reason enter into any one of these divine mysteries? Impossible.
Faith alone can gaze on their brightness and feed on their preciousness. They can only be taken in and enjoyed by that faith which takes God at His Word, and endures as seeing Him who is invisible.
There is nothing so unreasonable as reason, when it comes in collision with God’s Word; nor is there aught so reasonable as that man should peacefully repose “in every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord.”
All that I need in order to enjoy settled assurance, is to know that I am leaning on the Word of the Lord. True, the Holy Spirit gives this knowledge; and He, too, gives the blessed enjoyment; but all the while it is the knowledge and enjoyment of the Word of God which He gives. It is that Word He uses—by it He works—to it He points—on it He causes the heart to lean. It is by the Word He comforts, sustains, strengthens, refreshes, cheers, nourishes, confirms, guides, warns, animates, and governs the believer in his course down here.
Would He dispel doubt from the poor trembling heart, or quell its rising fears? He uses the Word to that end:
Would He cleanse and purify the believer’s practical ways? It is by the Word He acts:
Would He cheer the heart by the virtues of an imperishable hope? It is the Word He uses; as we read,
“Thy Word... upon which Thou hast caused me to hope.” (Psa. 119:4949ZAIN. Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope. (Psalm 119:49)). In short, the Word is everything. It imparts life. (1 Peter 1:2323Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. (1 Peter 1:23); James 1:1818Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. (James 1:18)). It nourishes life. (1 Peter 2:22As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: (1 Peter 2:2)). It preserves from error; as we read,
Well therefore may it be said—
“How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid up for faith in His excellent Word.”
Yes, truly it is a firm foundation, and all who build upon it with simple, childlike confidence, will assuredly enjoy a simple, childlike peace.
May my reader know the truth of this experimentally, and thus in his case,