Let’s examine this common statement a little more closely. People little dream what’s involved in it.
God has fully declared Himself in the Person of His blessed Son, and acted in this world in perfect consistency with Himself. In doing this He has, according to your view, so far forfeited all claim to your confidence that you even “try to believe on Him, but cannot”! More than this, He has sent a special message from heaven by the Holy Ghost — the gospel message; but the news He sent is so unworthy of your acceptation, that though you have been good enough to try to believe it, you really cannot.
It is written that “Abraham believed God” (Romans 4:33For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. (Romans 4:3)). How simple is that statement! We are told subsequently (Romans 4:1919And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb: (Romans 4:19)), that he didn’t consider appearances, he didn’t look at himself, he had another Person before him, one so reliable that he believed He was able to perform what He had promised. And thus, we are told, “he gave glory to God.”
Suppose it had been written: “Abraham tried to believe God, but couldn’t,” what a serious insult to that Eternal God, who cannot lie!
Now compare your own statement with this and get upon your face before Him, and confess the God-dishonoring character of your unbelief.
Your statement makes you out to be trying to trust an untrustworthy person! If it were only the question of a few dollars, what business man would try to trust such a person?
“Oh, but I don’t think He is unworthy!” Then your words do both you and Him an injustice; for who would speak of trying to trust one in whom they really had confidence? Has a child to try to trust its mother?
I’m afraid that you are looking at faith as some great work that you are required to perform, in order to secure salvation for yourself. Isn’t that right?
That approach is all wrong. We must learn to distinguish between faith and the activities of faith. A bank offers you good security, and you prove your faith in it by depositing your money there.
You are in a strange land, in company with friends who know the neighborhood well. A deep dark stream has to be crossed, and only one solitary plank connects the two banks. You are told, by those best able to judge, that the plank will hold you, and because you trust them you unhesitatingly place both feet upon it and walk across.
If you took your berth on board an American ocean liner, it would prove your confidence in her seaworthiness. Your faith in her may be very wavering or very firm, but the moment, as a passenger, you board that vessel, you confess by action, if not by word, your confidence in her ability to carry you safely across the broad Atlantic. You heard of her, your confidence was inspired by that which you did hear, and then came the act which publicly expressed that your trust in her was a real thing. So we read: “With the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:1010For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Romans 10:10)).
“Faith cometh by hearing, Hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:1717So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17)). The word of God testifies of an All-worthy Saviour. I get such a report of Him that, without trying, I do believe on Him. And when I go to Him and tell Him so, and act accordingly, I am but confessing by lip and by life where my confidence rests.
Consider that worthy One in the place where righteousness has now placed Him, and the next time you say in your heart “I cannot believe,” ask yourself the following questions:
1St. Who is it that I cannot believe?
2nd. What has He said that is so unworthy of my acceptance?
3rd. What has He done, and how has He behaved, to sacrifice my confidence so entirely?