It is through faith that the power whereby God keeps his
people, acts and is made known, and it is very instructive and encouraging to be
able to trace in our own hearts the connection between the power of God and the
acting of faith. We are not carried to heaven as passengers are carried by the
express train, so that if once in the carriage they may go to sleep, look out of
the window, or read the newspaper without fear of losing their way, or not
reaching their destination. Though kept by the power of God, we have to fight
every step of the way.
It is this living, fighting, struggling, and yet eventually
conquering faith, which sets the tried and exercised child of God at such a
distance from the loose and careless doctrinal professor, who is hardened and
emboldened to presume, and even walk in ways of sin and death by holding the
doctrine of being kept by the power of God, without knowing anything of the
secret way by which this power works and keeps. To such we may adapt the
language of James. You believe that the elect of God are kept by his Almighty
power unto salvation. "You do well; the devils also believe and tremble" (James 2:19) which
you do not if you be one of these loose professors.
But does God keep you? Does
he keep you from evil, that it may not grieve you? Does he keep your eye single,
your conscience tender, your heart prayerful, your life and walk circumspect,
your eye from adultery, your tongue from folly, your hands from covetousness,
and your feet from the ways of pride and worldliness? You have no evidence that
you are an heir of God and are being kept by his power unto salvation, unless
you have some experience how he keeps, and that as it is by power on his part,
so it is through faith on yours. Whenever we slip, stumble, or go astray, it is
through the power of unbelief; and whenever we stand, fight, or prevail, it is
by faith.
[Joseph Philpot]
✞✞✞
1 Timothy 6:12 ... Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
Hebrews 11:1-2 ... Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report.
1 Peter 1:5 ... Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. ❤
