0387. "BELIEVE, AND THOU SHALT SEE."

"BELIEVE, AND THOU SHALT SEE."

Joh_11:40.

The happy home at Bethany had been suddenly overshadowed with sorrow, Lazarus was sick. The loving sisters hasten to breathe their trouble into Jesus’ ear. When He heard, He said, "This sickness is for the glory of God." What? Sickness for the glory of God. How slow we are to believe this (Rom_8:28). Jesus Loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus, and abode two days still in the same place where He was. How strange that His absence from them should be a proof of His love for them. In refusing their request He desires to give them far above what they asked (Luk_24:15). They had "prayed," now He asks their "trust." Having declared Himself to be the "Resurrection and the Life," He said, "Believest thou this?" Such faith needs to be tested before it can be rewarded. We notice then the-

I. Test of Faith. "Take ye away the stone" (Luk_24:39). If you believe that your brother will rise again, and that "I am the Resurrection, then roll away this stone." Faith without works is dead. James says, "I will show you my faith by my works." If we expect great things from God, then we will attempt great things for God. But here we see-

II. Language of Doubt. "Lord by this time he stinketh" (Luk_24:39). Corruption will be doing its loathsome work. Just so, Martha. You are looking at the difficulty more than at the promise. Your eyes are still on the dead more than on the Life-giving One. Is not this the reason why many of us fail to see the glory of the Lord’s power? We are looking more at the giants in the land than at the arm of Omnipotence. We see our friends lying in spiritual death, and we mourn their sad condition as hopeless, because our eyes are not fixed on Him who is the Resurrection and the Life. Then came-

III. Rebuke of Love. "Said I not unto thee that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God" (Luk_24:40). Doubtless these tender, burning words fell with melting power as tears upon the face of Martha’s heart. Doubting is not an infirmity, but a sin; a denial of the Word of Him who cannot lie. Oh, how often our unbelief hinders the manifestation of His power (Mat_13:58). How often do we pray, "Lord, if thou hadst been here?" while He is saying to us, "If thou wouldest believe." Now comes-

IV. Obedience of Faith. "Then they took away the stone" (Luk_24:41). The stone of unbelief-the unbelief of God’s people-often lies in the way of the dead in sin being raised. "Believe, and thou shalt see." There are other stones that lie in the way, such as the fear of man, the love of the world, and selfish indifference. This last is a sort of morbid Calvinism or fatalism that says, "If they are going to be saved they will be saved." But what saith the Lord? "Said I not unto thee that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?" After obedience came the-

V. Glory of God. How was His glory seen? In giving life to the dead and liberty to the living (Luk_24:44). Lazarus was restored to their home and their hearts. All their desires and longings were fully met. They believed, and saw His glory, and were satisfied. Have you beheld the glory of His life-giving power in answer to your obedient trust, or are you still mourning hopelessly over the dead, forgetting Him who hath said, "Believe, and thou shalt see?" This prescription, "Believe, and thou shalt see," given by the Great Physician to those troubled sisters, might be taken as a word in season to the-

1. Questioning Unbeliever. How am I to know that the Bible is the Word of God? How am I to know that the Blood of Jesus cleanseth from all sin? How am I to know that eternal life is in Jesus Christ? "Believe, and thou shalt see."

2. Anxious Seeker. I do not see how I can be justified by simply believing. No, but "Believe, and thou shalt see." "All that believe are justified from all things" (Act_13:39).

3. Suffering Believer. No affliction for the present seemeth joyous, but rather grievous, nevertheless afterwards it yieldeth the peaceable fruits of righteousness to them who are exercised thereby. "Believe, and thou shalt see."

4. Discouraged Worker. "We have toiled all night and taken nothing: launch out into the deep." "At Thy word we will let down the net." "Believe, and thou shalt see." The Sunday school teacher says, "I long to see my scholars brought to Christ." "Believe, and thou shalt see. "

5. Dying Christian. The tide of life is ebbing, the things of this world fast fading from the vision, the eyes fast closing to the light of day; but Jesus is near with His sure Word of promise. "Believe, and thou shalt see the glory of God."

Autor: James Smith