October 19

If only you knew the many advantages of strong fatih over weak faith you would not rest a minute until it was yours. Strong faith conquers those temptations which take weak a prisoner. When David's faith prevailed, he looked death in the face fearlessly. "For the people spake of stoning him, but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God" (1 Samuel 30:6). Yet when his faith was weak, he was ready to run and hide in the nearest hole to save himself (1 Samuel 21:13).

Strong faith frees the Christian from those thoughts which oppressed weak faith. "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee" (Isaiah 26:3). The more faith, the more inward peace and quietness; if little faith, then little peace and serenity through the storms that unbelieving fears will surely gather.

Weak faith will as surely take the Christian to heaven as strong faith; for it is impossible that the least ounce of true grace should perish, since it is all incorruptable seed. But the doubting Christian will not have as pleasant a voyage there as will the believer with strong faith. Although everyone aboard the ship will arrive safely at the shore, yet the seasick traveler will not have so comfortable a trip as the man who is healthy. The sick person misses pleasant surprises during the delightful parts of the journey. But the strong man views it all with abundance of expectation; and while he wishes with all his heart he were already home, yet the joy he has shortens and sweetens his way to him.

Thus, Christian, there are many delights which saints traveling to heaven meet on their way there, besides what God has for them at the journey's end. It is the Christian whose faith is strong enough to act upon the promise who finds and possesses these pleasures.

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