TRUE FAITH
I’ve been pondering on many different subjects this month. And for some time now I’ve been thinking about how much change has taken place worldwide. I don’t think there is serious doubt about this. Our culture is fading and the freedoms we have enjoyed may pass with it. The only thing that will hold up in these difficult times is unshakeable faith in Christ and his word. The time is fast approaching when all else will be shattered around us. Let us make sure at all costs that we hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering, for he is faithful that promised Heb. 10:23. We are not to expect God to speak to us in a voice like thunder as he did on Sinai. Nor are we to expect God to write things in letters of fire across the Heavens. We are to take the written word and regard it as the voice of God and render implicit obedience to all its instructions, without any other evidence this is faith and this only. My friends seeing faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God, let us discipline ourselves to spend much time in the word of God. Let us carefully carry out its instructions, heed its warning and believe its promises. An ever increasing number of people in these last days are professing to have faith in Christ. But it is also an established fact that a very high percentage of them throw in the towel. Their faith, if indeed it could be called that, is melting in the face of peer pressure and the stress caused by modern social pressures. This little preacher is writing this concerning faith, which I trust will be of help to readers and save them from being shipwrecked. Before we can really exercise faith in God, we must have some knowledge of and confidence in, the character of God.
TRUE FAITH is opening up the heart’s door to Christ and allowing him to reign as Lord and Master. TRUE FAITH is believing what God says, not just because he said it, but because of who he is! He is God and he cannot lie and he means exactly what he says. TRUE FAITH settles down on thepromises of God and understands them to mean exactly what they accepts their meaning as a matter of fact. TRUE FAITH continues undeterred regardless of changing circumstances. TRUE FAITH lays hold of thepromises of scripture for the last days and proceeds to claim them personally. TRUE FAITH understands that all the promises of God are conditional and proceeds to comply with those conditions in order that these promises may be personally fulfilled. TRUE FAITH rests in the confidence in God and remains undisturbed by the turbulence all around. TRUE FAITH passes through trials and afflictions with a quiet composure. TRUE FAITH is not unduty concerned by criticism or even open hostility, but remains calm under pressure. TRUE FAITH will not allow known sin to remain in their life. He that covert his sins shall not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes his sin shall find mercy. Proverbs 28:13 large numbers of people confess their sins, few forsake them. Only those who forsake (give up) their sins will find mercy. TRUE FAITH is not content with an initial decision for Christ, but presses on to higher ground and does not rest until holy living is a way of life. It knows only too well that without holiness, no man shall see the Lord. Heb. 12:4.
Now I come to my closing remarks. We must build on and hang on to our faith. We will all be under strong pressure from here on to simply throw in the towel. The scriptures abound with instructions to resist the devil, be strong in the Lord, be thou faithful unto death, put on the whole armor of God. Be ye steadfast, unmovable submit yourself therefore unto God, continue in God’s word, reckon ye yourselves to be dead indeed to sin.
We must end the charade and take our commitment to Christ seriously. Remember we are fighting for our spiritual survival. And we neglect Biblical instructions at our own peril.
Elder Terry L. Harmon