Basic HTML Version
The Act of Faith, April 7
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things
not seen.
Hebrews 11:1
.
Faith is not the ground of our salvation, but it is the great blessing—the
eye that sees, the ear that hears, the feet that run, the hand that grasps.
It is the means, not the end. If Christ gave His life to save sinners, why
shall I not take that blessing? My faith grasps it, and thus my faith is the
substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen. Thus resting
and believing, I have peace with God through the Lord Jesus Christ.
Faith, saving faith ... is the act of the soul by which the whole man
is given over to the guardianship and control of Jesus Christ. He abides
in Christ and Christ abides in the soul by faith as supreme. The believer
commits his soul and body to God, and with assurance may say, Christ
is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day.
All who will do this will be saved unto life eternal. There will be an
assurance that the soul is washed in the blood of Christ and clothed with
His righteousness and precious in the sight of Jesus.
Remember that the exercise of faith is the one means of preserving
it. Should you sit always in one position, without moving, your muscles
would become strengthless and your limbs would lose the power of motion.
The same is true in regard to your religious experience. You must have
faith in the promises of God.... Faith will perfect itself in exercise and
activity.
It is of the greatest importance to us that we surround the soul with the
atmosphere of faith. Every day we are deciding our own eternal destiny in
harmony with the atmosphere that surrounds the soul. We are individually
accountable for the influence that we exert, and consequences that we do
not see will result from our words and actions. If God would have saved
Sodom for the sake of ten righteous persons, what would be the influence
for good that might go out as the result of the faithfulness of the people
of God if every one who professed the name of Christ were also clothed
with His righteousness?
[105]
106