I. The souls conscious acceptance of Gods Word as true to itself
I. The souls conscious acceptance of Gods Word as true to itself
That is, the soul, irrespective of any outward sign or inward feeling, without any inner light or warmth, or witness previously given, accepts salvation on Gods Word alone; it counts true to itself the promise, that whosoever believeth on the Son shall be saved. It does not ask that the infallible Word of the Lord, which shall endure, though heaven and earth pass away, shall be corroborated by any collateral surety. It accepts the Word as so sure and effective, as that all confirmation of its verity is not only unnecessary, but would be sacrilegious, if desired.
There is a beautiful incident in the life of Ahaz, king of Judah, which illustrates how faith accepts the Word of the Lord as true, and disdains any collateral security. The kings of Syria and Israel had entered into a formidable alliance against Ahaz, and moved their combined forces against his capital, Jerusalem. When this was told Ahaz and his people, there was great consternation in the palace and the capital. The heart of Ahaz and the heart of his people was moved as the trees of the wood are moved with the wind. In the midst of this crisis the prophet Isaiah was sent by the Lord to say to Ahaz: Take heed and be quiet; fear not, neither be fainthearted, because Syria and Ephraim have taken evil counsel against thee. It shall not stand; neither shall it come to pass. If ye will not believe, ye shall not be established. At that moment the old king set his heart to believe the promise of the Lord which had just been given him, and accepted it as true to him and his capital.
Then the Lord spake to Ahaz and said to him: Ask again; ask it either in the depths, or in the heights above. It was as though God had said to him, I will give you additional assurance, if you desire it. This was really a test of his faith; for faith is not made perfect, if the heart seeks something more than the Word of the Lord to command its confidence. The genuineness of Ahazs faith then asserted itself, and he said in holy confidence: I will not ask (a sign); I ask no collateral security to Gods Word; no sweeping whirlwind, or crashing earthquake, or descending fire do I ask; it is the Word of the Lord, and it shall come to pass.
But how many seeking hearts, to whom God has given his Word, that according to their faith it shall be done unto them, ask a sign, a warmth, a light, a witness, or some other inward phenomenon, before they are ready to accept the Word of the Lord as true; but none is ever given. Whoever consciously accepts the Word of the Lord as true to himself, will have the witness of faith in himself to his salvation.
A professor in a university on the Pacific Coast had been for ten years a seeker of full salvation, but did not come into its enjoyment. One day an aged minister, traveling in the interest of the American Bible Society, was stopping at his home. They fell into conversation on Christian experience.
This aged minister told how many years since he had found, and been able to walk in conscious cleansing from all sin. The professor listened with interest, and when the old saint was through, he said to him: Father, I have been seeking that blessing for ten years. I believe I have put all on the altar, and that I live with all on the altar; but I havent received the power of sanctifying grace in my soul. Said the aged brother: Do you want to receive it now? The professor replied: Yes. Well, said the minister, let us kneel down right here, and you may receive it now. One who has received full salvation, knows it may be received right away. The fully saved soul is very alert, and precipitous in its faith. They had been sitting side by side in the professors parlor. The professor was a little reluctant to believe that the struggle of ten years could end right away. He doubtless thought the old man very sanguine. But they knelt together. Now, said the minister, Professor, are you wholly given to God? and with much tenderness and honesty of heart, he said: I believe I am. You have put all on the altar? Yes.
Well, Professor, the Lord says, The altar sanctifieth the gift; is it true or not? He dare not tempt God, and say it is not, and with a faltering, and almost coerced faith, he said, It is true, and instantly the refining fire went through his soul.
The conscious acceptance of the Word of God as true to itself, by the soul, is characteristic of the witness of faith.