1102. The Sin of Unbelief to-day

The Sin of Unbelief to-day

"Then He said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken" (Luk_24:25).

Thomas cast aside God's sure Word. He refused the message of the prophets and of Christ. Christ had plainly said: "The third day I shall rise again," but Thomas had no faith. He did not trust the promise, nor believe the Promiser.

But wait! Shall we sit in condemnation of this doubting man? Are there no others who have doubted God and blighted all His promises with unbelief?

Christ walked with two disciples by the way. They too, were filled with unbelief. They said: "We trusted that it had been He, Who should have redeemed Israel." It was to them that Jesus Christ replied: "O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken" (Luk_24:25).

But closer home! Are we better than they?

Surely the critics of the Word are no better. The liberalists have no hesitancy in casting insinuations at the Word of God. They cry: "Hath God said?" as though they thought their own statements were of greater weight than those of the unerring Word of God. For very shame! Such men have mutilated the Holy Christ. They have a "Shorter Bible"–they have a shorter Christ. When they cast insult at the Word of Christ, they cast insult at the Christ of the Word.

God hath exalted His Word above all His name. Let us honor it and believe its message.

Surely any who doubt God's Word are no better. There are many who profess faith in the unerring Word and yet they disbelieve the plain and unvarnished statements of the Book.

What about the promises of God? How many of us are slow to stand upon them unabashed? We are afraid to trust them. We stand in awe at their wondrous blessedness, at their gracious benefactions. All of this is akin to Thomas' unbelief.

What about the prophecies of God? The Word with plain, positive statement sets forth the coming of the Lord, His reign, the glories of His Kingdom. Thousands read and doubt. They say the blessed hope of the Lord's return is a matter of interpretation, when in truth it is, in its chief outline, no more than a matter of belief in the Word of God.

If Christ said, "I will come again" we do not need to interpret it, we need to believe it.

If the angel said: "The Lord God will give unto Him the throne of His father David," we do not need to interpret what is promised; we need to believe it at its face value.

There are metaphors and similes; there are parables and types in the Bible: all of these need to be interpreted in the light of this context and in the light of other Scripture, but plain statements of truth need only to be believed.

There is much of "doubting God" and much of unbelief excused under the ruse of "interpretations." Such methods much displease the Lord, and they rob the doubter of the joy of truth.

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR