FAITH is a short word with a weighty meaning. What is its meaning? Simply this: accepting as true what another has declared. In the things of God, it is the accepting as true what God has declared in His word.
Let me tell you a little tale I read some time ago. An English missionary was in Central Africa, preaching the gospel to some poor black people there. He found it very hard to make them understand the meaning of faith; so he said to them: “Listen now to what I am going to tell you.” Pointing to some water near at hand, he said, “You see that water?” “Yes,” they answered.
“Well, you never saw that get hard, did you?” “Oh, no,” they answered, looking at him with astonishment at such a thought, for let it be remembered that in Central Africa the water never freezes. “Now,” said he, “if you believe me, in the country I come from the water sometimes gets so hard that I can stand on the top of it.” Upon hearing this, one whispered to the other, “Our massa’s telling lies.” The missionary overheard this, and he remembered it.
After a time he returned to England, and asked one of those who listened to him, named Sambo, to return with him. When they reached England the winter came, and one clear frosty morning the missionary took Sambo out for a walk. The ponds and rivers were completely frozen over, and boys were sliding on the ice; then the missionary took the opportunity of making good the words he had spoken when in Africa. Turning to Samba, he said: “Do you remember my telling you, when I was in your country, that in this land the water sometimes gets hard enough to bear men on the top?”
“Oh, yes, massa, that I do,” said Samba.
“Well, now look, there it is. You did not believe me then; now do you believe it? Look at the ponds and rivers; the people are walking on the hard water.”
Sambo shook his head, thus showing that he still questioned the word of his master. Upon this his teacher said, “Take my hand, and let us get on the hard water and try it.” Samba was still reluctant; but his master took is hand and led him on: and then jumping hard upon the ice, cried, “Now do you believe it?” So Samba gave in.
Being made to believe because he saw, it was not faith on Samba’s part—it was sight. It would have been faith if he had believed his master when he was in Central Africa, where the water never freezes. Faith would have been accepting as true what the missionary said, although what he said seemed incredible.
Now, my reader, God has spoken. Do you believe Him? Do you believe His word? God loves the world, and loves you as part of it.
Christ saves, and faith lays hold of the truth, and rests on what God has said. No surer foundation could possibly be found than this. God’s word declares, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My word shall not pass away!” No power of man can ever break the word of God: it will endure for ever and ever. May you believe God. T. D.