“I’VE been striving to believe that these twenty years.”
Such was the reply given by a respectable well conducted man, who bore the highest character for truthfulness, to one who was pressing God’s salvation upon his acceptance, telling him that because Jesus had shed His blood, and met the holy and righteous claims of God against sin, all that God required of a ginner, was to own, in true repentance, what he was, and to believe God’s record concerning His Son, the result of which would be that he would have everlasting life and should not come into condemnation, but would pass from death unto life.
But all he could say was “I’ve been striving to believe that these twenty years.”
“What! striving to believe?” rejoined the other; “now, will you kindly state for my information, something that has happened in your town lately; anything you please.”
Of course he complied, and told him of an occurrence, well known to have happened within a few days of this conversation.
“I’m striving to believe you,” was all the reply his friend made.
Now I have mentioned that the man bore the highest character for truthfulness. He was looked upon as one incapable of telling a lie; he knew this himself and could not brook the insinuation that what be had just stated was a falsehood. It caused him to completely lose his temper, and he angrily demanded on what ground the other doubted his word for a moment.
“Ah!” answered he, “you will not let me treat you for one moment in the way that you have been treating God these twenty years! I must believe your word on the spot, but you have been doubting God’s word all this long time!”
Doubtless it was the means of opening the poor moralist’s eyes to see where he was in God’s sight, for “he that believeth not God hath made him a liar.” The day will declare it.
What I want to ask my reader is, Has he believed God? Hearken to what the scripture saith “If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater.” What is this witness of God? “This.... which he hath testified of His Son.” I read “The Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.” (1 John 4:1414And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. (1 John 4:14).) “God commendeth his love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rom. 5:88But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8).) He “was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification.” (Rom. 4:2525Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. (Romans 4:25).) “The Lord hath laid upon him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:66All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:6).) “Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man (a dead and risen Christ) is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins and by him, all that believe are justified from all things.” (Acts 13:38, 3938Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: 39And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. (Acts 13:38‑39).) “He that heareth my word (says Christ) 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).)
My reader, God testifies to the value of the atoning work of Christ. The rent veil speaks of what God. can duo on the ground of that work—how He can open the way for His love to flow out, and for poor sinners who were far off to draw nigh. The empty tomb, the risen, ascended, glorified Jesus “crowned with glory and honor,” speak of the delight of God’s heart in Him who not only satisfied His claims but glorified Him on the earth, so that God’s only answer was to glorify Him at His own right hand there, He has set Him forth, “a propitiation through faith in his blood. . . to declare his righteousness, that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.” (Rom. 3:25, 2625Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. (Romans 3:25‑26).)
What say you to these things, reader? Will you trust God? Will you believe Him? Striving to believe means that you doubt Him, “almost persuaded” is still to stand aloof.
“King Agrippa believest thou?” Reader, believest thou? “Almost” will not do—you may be “almost” in heaven, and sink for eternity into the depths of hell. Be warned, I beseech thee. Believe God’s word. “What saith the scripture? Abraham believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness” (Rom. 4:33For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. (Romans 4:3).) “To him that worketh not but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” (Rom. 4:55But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. (Romans 4:5).)
“Abraham staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief (alas! how many stagger now!) but was strong in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully persuaded (not almost) that what He had promised, he was able also to perform, and THEREFORE it was imputed to him for righteousness, Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him: but for us also to whom it shall be imputed if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification.” And what is the result? “THEREFORE being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Again, the apostle John says (1 John 5:1313These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. (1 John 5:13).) “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life.” I ask you then again, my dear reader, Do you believe God? Do you believe His record concerning His Son? Do you cast yourself simply, entirely and unreservedly upon God, believing Him because He has spoken? Not because you feel it, realize it, or understand it, but all this flowing from having taken your stand upon His word? Can you say “I rest my soul for eternity on God’s word, on what He testifies concerning His Son?” Then dear reader, enter into the enjoyment of what God provides for your present portion. Let not Satan deprive you by telling you that you must wait to get to heaven for it. No, we have redemption, we are saved, we are made meet for the inheritance of the saints in light, we have forgiveness, we have everlasting life, we have deliverance from sin, from Satan, from the world, from the fear of death, and from the dread of judgment, we are brought to God, we are accepted in the Beloved, we are light in the Lord, we are sealed with the Spirit. God’s word is my authority for all this. Hence it is daring presumption to doubt it, It is true humility to accept it and rejoice in it.
“Believe, and God’s Salvation sure
Is free to every one;
In manifested righteousness
He honors thus His Son.”
But on the other hand—
The Lord lead every reader of these pages to flee from the coming wrath, and to rest on that Saviour of whom His word so fully testifies!
H. P. A. G.