One brother explained to another the force of 2 Cor. 6:14-18. "That would then prohibit a Christian's belonging to any lodge or fraternity or secret society?" "Exactly." "Well, I belong to such a fraternity, and they stood by me nobly when I was sick. I should hate to quit them." "You would quit them for God, would you not?" "But does God require it?" "Judge for yourself. What does this say?" (2 Cor. 6:14-18.) "But I cannot see that belonging to them does me any harm." "Well, when you 'can't see,' then is the time to walk by faith. There is nothing greater than that a man should do what God says, even against his preferences, and when he sees no particular use of it." I give this little conversation, which in substance actually occurred, because it illustrates a great and essential principle. How we sometimes shrink from obeying God! How, when we are struck fairly between the eyes by a passage of the scripture, we yet try to let it glance, to find an excuse, to explain away what God has said! How all kinds of considerations rise up and mistaken notions of duty, gratitude, or love, and we even persuade ourselves that in our case it would be wrong to obey God! "How weak is thine heart, seeing thou doest [106] these things!" says Jehovah. To be sure, "we cannot see;" but we walk my faith. To be sure, there are "ifs" and "buts" in plenty, and excuses, and preachers without number who will explain the very face off of any passage of scripture that goes against our wills, and, if you are looking for such consolation, "opinions do differ." But if you will obey God, you need not be perplexed, and you will know what God said and do it at any cost, and God will bless your faithfulness. For such things are tests, and God sets much by them.

      Once, so runs a tale, a boy dreamed that he had hold of a string the other end of which was many miles away and had a priceless, precious jewel attached to it. So he began to pull it in. It was long, tedious work; but when he flagged, he remembered the jewel at the other end, how it was well worth the while and the trouble, and began to pull and gather in again; for every arm's length he drew in brought the treasure that much nearer, and he knew he could not miss it if he kept on pulling. Whether he slept long enough to get to the jewel, the story does not tell; but here is one of the finest illustrations of faith. For away off in the land of promise is the jewel, and my faith is fastened to it and it to my faith. Keep pulling. You know it is there; you know every day of trusting life will bring it nearer, and in due time you will receive "the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls." (I Pet. 1:9.) Nay, you are receiving it day by day as each day's pull brings it nearer, and you may confidently say with Paul: "Now is salvation nearer to us than when we first believed." (Rom. 13:11.) But when your spirits flag and you grow doubtful or weary or impatient, remember this: [107] "My righteous one shall live by faith: and if he shrink back, my soul hath no pleasure in him. But we are not of them that shrink back unto perdition; but of them that have faith unto the saving of the soul." (Heb. 10:38, 39.) "For we are become partakers of Christ [joint heirs], if we hold fast the beginning of our confidence firm unto the end." (Heb. 3:14.)

      As most other human illustrations of God's things, the one given above, good as it is, is deficient. The string with the distant, unseen jewel attached does illustrate that idea concerning our faith that it is our connecting line to the promise of God, and the means for attaining it, and beautifully represents the lesson that we must steadfastly preserve in faith to receive "the end of our faith." But it shows not an item of the blessings of faith here and now. The dry, bare string, even if it has a treasure at the other end, is not good enough for us, God thinks. The while we pull on it there comes to us blessings and grace for grace. Our faith brings joy with it--joy in the midst of afflictions, and songs in the night; joy unspeakable and full of glory. (1 Pet. 1:6, 8.) It holds peace--the peace which the world seeketh and cannot find, even the peace of God which passeth all understanding. (Rom. 15:13; Isa. 26:3.) It guarantees us the unassailable protection of the Almighty, for we "by the power of God are guarded through faith unto a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." (1 Pet. 1:5.) By faith we live, stand, walk, fight; and by our faith we gain the complete victory unto all assurance and hope. (1 John 4:4.) Would you have such glorious faith? Hear the word of God and put your trust in it, and, through it, in him. (Rom. 10:17.) [108]

[TAG 106-108]