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Faith Qualifies for Us the Royal Line, April 23
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not
see.
Hebrews 11:1
, N.I.V.
How often those who trusted the Word of God, though in themselves utterly
helpless, have withstood the power of the whole world—Enoch, pure in heart,
holy in life, holding fast his faith in the triumph of righteousness against a corrupt
and scoffing generation; Noah and his household against the men of his time,
men of the greatest physical and mental strength and the most debased in morals;
the children of Israel at the Red Sea, a helpless, terrified multitude of slaves,
against the mightiest army of the mightiest nation on the globe; David, a shepherd
lad, having God’s promise of the throne, against Saul, the established monarch,
bent on holding fast his power; Shadrach and his companions in the fire, and
Nebuchadnezzar on the throne; Daniel among the lions, his enemies in the high
places of the kingdom; Jesus on the cross, and the Jewish priests and rulers forcing
even the Roman governor to work their will; Paul in chains led to a criminal’s
death, Nero the despot of a world empire.
Such examples are not found in the Bible only. They abound in every record
of human progress. The Vaudois and the Huguenots, Wycliffe and Huss, Jerome
and Luther, Tyndale and Knox, Zinzendorf and Wesley, with multitudes of others,
have witnessed to the power of God’s Word against human power and policy in
support of evil. These are the world’s true nobility. This is its royal line. In this
line the youth of today are called to take their places.
Faith is needed in the smaller no less than in the greater affairs of life. In all
our daily interests and occupations the sustaining strength of God becomes real to
us through an abiding trust....
Only the sense of God’s presence can banish the fear that, for the timid child,
would make life a burden. Let him fix in his memory the promise, “The angel of
the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.” Let
him read that wonderful story of Elisha in the mountain city, and, between him
and the hosts of armed foemen, a mighty encircling band of heavenly angels. Let
him read how to Peter, in prison and condemned to death, God’s angel appeared;
how, past the armed guards, the massive doors and great iron gateway with their
bolts and bars, the angel led God’s servant forth in safety....
In no less marked a manner than He wrought then will He work now wherever
there are hearts of faith to be channels of His power.—
Education, 254-256
.
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