1104. The Sin of Unbelief in the Realm of Daily Living

The Sin of Unbelief in the Realm of Daily Living

"Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day" (Act_26:22).

It seems too bad that we should doubt the power of the Risen Christ to lead us on. And yet this is what we often do.

1. We doubt the faithfulness of His providences. God has plainly said: "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose" (Rom_8:28).

In spite of such a blessed assurance as this Scripture holds forth, we are like Jacob when they told him Joseph was slain by an evil beast, and Jacob cried in despair: "All of these things are against me."

"God lives, shall I despair,

As if He were not there?

Is not my life His care?

Is not His hand Divine?

"God lives, there rest my soul,

God is, and doth control."

Then let us fear no more.

"As the marsh hen builds its nest in the watery sod,

I'll build me a nest in the greatness of God.

As the marsh hen flies in the space twixt the earth and the skies,

I'll fly in the greatness of God.

As the marsh grass lays hold on the watery sod,

I'll lay me my hold on the greatness of God."

2. We doubt the power of God to hear and to answer prayer. We fear to "commit our case into His hands." We ask but we receive not, because we believe not. Shall he who wavereth when he prays think that he shall receive anything of the Lord?

We ask for guidance, but follow not.

We ask for strength, but we use it not.

We ask for light, but we obey it not

We ask for fellowship with Him, but we enjoy Him not.

How weak and doubting are our prayers. We pray as though God were but a man. We pray as though God heard us not. We pray as though God cared not when He heard.

The life of prayer is often filled with clouds of unbelief. No wonder prayer brings so little to our hand. "Therefore * * when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, (the things for which ye ask) and ye shall have them" (Mar_11:24).

3. We doubt the ability of God to give us daily victory. We accustom ourselves to believe that we must continually live a life of defeat. We think that we must continue in sin. We think that the world and the flesh and the devil are all too much for us.

Where is our faith? Has God not provided us with an armor against the warfare of the devil? Has God not given us the shield of faith whereby we shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one? Has God not placed His Spirit within us, whereby we may have complete victory over all the lustings of the flesh?

Why then should we cry out in fear? Where is thy God, O children of unbelief? Is it because God is not able, or is it because we will not believe?

The children of Israel entered not in because of unbelief. They missed their Canaan; their bodies were overthrown in the wilderness. Let us not fall after the same example of unbelief. Our God is abundantly able to lead us into the life of victory and power. Our God is abundantly able to lift us up to the tableland of gladness and of joy.

"Lord, lift me up and let me stand,

By faith on Heaven's table land,

A higher plane than I have found,

Lord, plant my feet on higher ground."

May sin not keep us from that land,

Nor unbelief cause us to stand

On lower ground.

We long by faith, in Him to rise,

And live with Him above the skies,

On higher ground.

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR