Two passages should be kept continually before the Christian's eyes, or, better, be written on his heart. They both mean, "Don't give up the ship"--only that in this case the fight is greater than the one in which those words were uttered, the issues infinitely weightier, the command backed up by a Power that stands security of our final victory. The passages are: "Make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof"; and, "Neither give place to the devil." Directly opposed to what God calls "the boldness of faith" is that faintness of heart that capitulates at the first sight of the enemy or at the first struggle. God says: "Hold the fort." We say, "We are too weak," and haul up the white flag. This is not weakness; it is unbelief. "For this is the victory that hath overcome the world, even our faith." For who is it that backs us in the fight? and who is he that promised to be [124] with us? and who has given assurance of the victory? Is it not He at whose call all the hosts of heaven rise up together? To quail before the demands of the flesh; to make allowance for the devil; to calculate upon defeat; to surrender to the forces of evil--this is not weakness, but distrust of God, a cowardice born of unbelief, precisely the same that kept Israel from entering Canaan (Num. 13, 14; Heb. 3, 4). For God knew they were weak, just as he also recognizes the same in us. Was it not because we were weak that Jesus came to save us and called us to himself? But when he promised Israel the possession of the land, and the defeating of all the giants, and even on that they would not go, "he sware in his wrath, They shall not enter into my rest." So they were not able to enter in because of unbelief. And we have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. But when in the desperation of utter self-despair we fling ourselves wholly on the promise of God and fight by faith, we shall be more than conquerors. "If any man shrink back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him."

      When Peter was walking upon the waters (Matt. 14:22-32), his power to walk and his safety lay entirely in Him who had called him to himself. It was no skill or power of Peter's that supported his steps. The treacherousness of the element on which he was walking, the winds and the waves, Peter could not have battled with, and, in fact, had nothing to do with. That was the Savior's business. Peter's part was to fix his eye and his faith steadfastly upon the Savior and walk ahead. That was what upheld him. But Peter became afraid of the waters and--sank. It was not because Peter was a bad water-walker. The Lord knew at the time he called [125] him that he could not walk on water. Yet Christ's invitation to come was Peter's guaranty of ability to do so; and in faith he obeyed and walked. But when he ceased to trust in the One who sustained him, nothing could prevent his fall. Now the same Jesus calls us to walk in his steps--not because we are such moral giants that we could do it of ourselves, for he knew that we could not; but the sustaining, overcoming power lies in him. And he bids us to run our race "looking unto Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith." My brother, when you fell, it was because you ceased to look to and trust in Jesus! There remains a consolation. When Peter, sinking, cried out, "Lord, save me," Jesus put forth his hand, lifted him up, and, gently rebuking his unbelief, walked back to the boat with him, they two together. And I do not read that Peter faltered any more.

[TAG 124-126]