55. Taking Him at His Word
NAPOLEON I., reviewing his troops, riding on a spirited horse, let his rein drop. The animal dashed wildly across the ground, and the emperor was in danger of being thrown. A private in the ranks stepped out near to where the horse passed, seized the rein, and placed it in the emperor's hand, Napoleon saying as he did it, "Thank you, captain"—creating him a captain with that word. The soldier, believing the word said, "Of what regiment, sir?" The emperor replied, "Of my guards." That was faith, taking the emperor's word without sign or feeling. So, "Let God be true" (Rom. 3:44God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged. (Romans 3:4)).
56. Mary's Faith
A merchant who had a cellar under his shop, reached by a trap-door in the floor, had gone down for some goods. His little girl of five years came into the store, and missing her father cried, "Father." "I am here, Mary,' he shouted from the dark cellar. "I do not see you," said the child. "But I am here, Mary, and if you jump, I shall catch you in my arms," said the father. The child knew her father would not deceive her, she took him at his word, and jumping into the darkness, was caught in her father's strong arms. That was faith.
57. Stepping Into the Cage
"I do not believe in getting saved so easily as that," said a coal-miner, to one who had gone down the pit to speak to the men of the Savior during their hour of rest. "How will you get up the shaft, to-night?" asked the preacher. "Easily that, by simply stepping into the cage," said the miner. "Is not that far too easy a way," said the preacher. "I see what you are driving at, but I never thought of it just like that before," said the miner. That simple illustration was used in showing him that it is not by efforts of man, but by a power outside him, that the sinner who trusts himself to Christ is saved. The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation "to every one that believeth" (Rom. 1:1616For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. (Romans 1:16)).
58. That "Hath" Settles It."
"Do you believe that Gospel, Willie?" was the question asked by an evangelist, as he laid his hand on a young plowman's shoulder, when passing out at the door of a hall, where the Gospel had been faithfully preached. "Of course I do," said the young man. The preacher simply added—"He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life" (John 3:3636He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:36)). "I never saw that before; that hath settles it," said the young man. He was saved that night, and has preached the Gospel to others for forty years.
59. Making God a Liar
When Harrison Ord, and Rice T. Hopkins, were preaching the Gospel in Forfar in 1866, a young woman who had attended the meetings, and was convicted of sin, was passing out unsaved. Mr. Hopkins, laying his hand on her shoulder, said—"Will you dare make God a liar?" referring to the words of 1 John 5:1010He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. (1 John 5:10). She saw that she was guilty of this awful sin, and believing God, was saved that night. She still lives to prove that His Word is true, "He that hath the Son hath life.”
60. Learning to Float
When I was a lad, I was very anxious to learn to swim. A companion took me to the sea, and told me I must commit myself to the water. But I found that a hard job. I always began to struggle, then to sink. "You must cease struggling, the sea will bear you up, simply lie still, resting on its strength," he said. After repeated attempts to help myself, I simply gave myself up entirely to the sea, lying back in the confidence that it would bear me up without my aid. And it did. That was faith. "I will trust and not be afraid" (Isa. 12:22Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. (Isaiah 12:2)).
61. in the Bank
A child had a florin given her by her aunt, which she took to the Post Office to deposit in the Savings Bank. "Be careful now, Mary, and not lose it," was the mother's word, as the child stepped out with the coin in her hand. Fearing that any stranger might wrest it from her grasp, or that she might drop it on the way, Mary walked with a serious look along the road. She had the keeping of her treasure, and she was anxious. Fifteen minutes later, she tripped along the way home with a light step, assured her money was safe. She had handed it to the Post Office; she had confidence it could keep it safe, and her mind was at peace. One said, "I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him" (2 Tim. 1:1212For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. (2 Timothy 1:12)).
62. "He Will Be the Loser."
An able reasoner, conversing with a simple Christian woman, who knew little of this world's wisdom, but was happy in the knowledge of her sins forgiven, and of her title to heaven secure in Christ, whom she trusted, was asked the following question:—"You say that you are saved because God has said it in His Word. But what if He should not keep His promise?" "O, then, He will have more loss than me, for I will only lose my soul, but God will lose His character." Her faith reposed in the Divine faithfulness. "He cannot deny Himself" (2 Tim. 2:1313If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself. (2 Timothy 2:13)).
63. It Bears
A slight frost had covered a lake with ice. Schoolboys stood on its edge, with skates slung across their shoulders, eager to skate on the ice. But the question was asked, "Will it bear?" No one knew, none seemed willing to risk it. A tall, strong young farmer coming along, ran on to the ice, and slid right across to the other side. "It bears," shouted one of the boys, followed by another saying, "If it bear his weight, it will bear ours." Then they committed themselves to it, and proved its strength. Such faith is oft begotten through the testimony of saved sinners, who can say, "Who hath saved us" (2 Tim. 1:99Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, (2 Timothy 1:9)).
64. "Trust in Me"
Armley Mill, Leeds, was on fire. Three young mill-workers, bewildered in the smoke, appeared at the topmost window, the fire roaring beneath. A man in the crowd shouted in tones of agony, "Liz, I'm thy father: jump into my arms. Trust thyself to me." One girl heard that voice: she knew it. Hesitating a moment, she seemed to fear. "It's me, Liz," again shouted the voice. That assured her. She jumped, and was caught, badly burned, but saved. "Trust in Me" (Jer. 49:1111Leave thy fatherless children, I will preserve them alive; and let thy widows trust in me. (Jeremiah 49:11)) should assure, for the great God of love speaks.
65. "Let Go the Twig."
A lady long anxious, but without the confidence to commit herself wholly to Christ, apart from feeling and evidences, dreamed that she had fallen over a cliff, and in her fall caught at a tree, by which she was suspended over a deep chasm. A voice from beneath spoke, "I am Thy Savior: trust thyself to Me." Afraid to trust the unseen arms outstretched below, she clung to the frail twig in great terror, crying,” Lord, save me." "I cannot save you until you let go that twig," the voice replied. Then she relaxed her hold, and while in the act of falling, awoke. That dream had its message. She let go her confidence in self, in experiences, in feelings, and trusting herself wholly to Christ—believing on Him (Acts 16:3131And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31)) she was saved.
66. Believing and Relying
A new company had been floated, and on the Board of Directors were two brothers. They sent a prospectus to two maiden sisters, advising them to take shares. One replied—"I believe it is all right," But bought none. The other wrote—"I will take a hundred shares, because I rely on your testimony." One may, in a general way, believe the Gospel, but the sinner who relies on the record of God, “hath eternal life '' (1 John 5:11, 1211And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. (1 John 5:11‑12)).
67. Commit Yourself
A lady, reading her Greek Testament, came on the words of John 2:2424But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, (John 2:24), "Jesus did not commit Himself unto them." Reading on in chap. 3, she came to verse 36—"He that believeth." She found the Greek word rendered "commit Himself" unto, and "He that believeth" was the same. This cleared her difficulty as to what saving faith is. It is committing yourself to Christ.
68. Faith, Not Feelings
"I believe, but I cannot say I have assurance of salvation," said a gentleman to a minister of the Gospel, to whose preaching he had listened. "Perhaps you want to feel saved before you believe God's Word that you are. But you must take God at His word first, and the feelings will follow. If you receive a letter by this night's mail giving good news, good feelings will be the result of your faith in the writer. So you must 'Let God be true' (Rom. 3:44God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged. (Romans 3:4)), believing His bare Word. Then, as we read, 'believing ye rejoice" (1 Peter 1:88Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: (1 Peter 1:8)).
69. Obeying the Invitation
During a work of grace in the town of Tillicoultry, a workman in Devonvale Mill, named Jarvie, was deeply concerned about his soul, but could not understand what "believing" on Christ meant. Mr. Archibald, his employer, who was an earnest soul-winner, sent Jarvie a note, asking him to come to his house that night at seven o'clock. Prompt at the hour he appeared. "Well, Jarvie, what has brought you here to-night?" said Mr. Archibald. "Putting his hand into his vest pocket, he brought out the letter, and handing it to his employer he answered, "That sir." "O I see! you believed it, did you?" "Certainly, what else could I do?" said Jarvie. "Well now, come in and I will give you another invitation which, if you receive, as you have done mine, you will be saved." And Mr. Archibald handed to him the words of. Matt. 11:2828Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)—"Come unto Me, all ye that labor, and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Jarvie received the Lord's invitation, came as a sinner to the Savior, and lived for years to prove that he found the "rest" promised to those who take Christ at His word.
70. "I Cannot Believe."
So said a woman to DR. W. P. MACKAY at the close of a Gospel meeting in Edinburgh. "Tell God that you cannot believe His Word then," said the Doctor. "I do believe the Bible," she answered. "No, not that part of it that says, All that believe are justified from all things" (Acts 13:2929And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre. (Acts 13:29)). She saw it was not believing God to doubt His plain statement, so she took it as it stands, and entered into assurance.
71. a White Flag
An aged wife of a railway signalman lay dying. To her sorrowing husband who stood by her bed, she said, "John, do not fear about me. There will be a white flag held out for me to-night, as I pass through the tunnel. Not a red one, for there is no danger; not a green one, for there is no doubt; but a pure white flag of safety for a sinner washed in the blood of the Lamb.”
72. Faith's Decision
An Asiatic, sentenced' to die, asked for a drink of water. The scimitar was in the hands of the executioner, and when the glass was brought, the condemned man, fearing the blow might be struck, hesitated to raise it to his lips. The Governor, who sat in view of the scene, said aloud, "Your life is safe till you drink that glass of water." The man raised the glass, then dashed it with its contents, to the ground, saying, "On a Governor's word I shall live, and not die." His faith saved him.
73. in Your Hands
A medical man, who could discuss theological points, but who lacked the one thing needful, had a patient whose peaceful frame of mind attracted the doctor's attention. "I suppose your peace comes of faith, but as for me, I never could make out exactly what faith is." "Well, doctor," said the patient, "so far as I understand it, faith is just this, to trust God with your soul, as I am trusting you with my body. I put my case into your hands, and I am leaving it there." "I never saw it so simply before," said the doctor, who became a trusting and fully persuaded (Rom. 8:3838For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, (Romans 8:38)) man.
74. Trusted It to Jesus
A Scotch pastor, visiting the families of his congregation, and, in the old-time fashion "catechizing" them, came to the youngest, a bright girl of six. "Have you got a soul, Mary?" asked the aged pastor. "No, sir," answered Mary. The minister looked to the father, and was about to reprove him for neglect of his child, when the bright eyes peered into the minister's face, and Mary whispered, "I trusted it to Jesus, and He has it now." "He is able to keep" what is "deposited" with Him" (2 Tim. 1-12, R.V.)
75. "I’ve Got It."