"Faith is a
shield. Will a soldier drop his protection unless he has been seriously
wounded?
David expressed
keen sorrow for the unholiness in his life: "O spare me, that I may
recover strength, before I go hence, and be no more" Psalm 39:13. He did
not want to die until holiness ruled his heart again. Ungodliness is a poison,
which drinks up all serenity of conscience and inward springs of joy. If you
throw a stone into a clear brook it will soon become muddy. "He will speak
peace unto his people, but let them not turn again to folly" Psalm 85:8.
Carelessness in
the walk of holiness dangerously exposes your faith, which is kept in good
conscience as a jewel is protected in a cabinet. Faith is an eye, and sin casts
a hazy mist before it. To faith, a holy life is like pure air to the eye; we
can see farther on a clear day. Thus faith sees further into God's promise when
it looks through a holy well-ordered life.
Faith is a shield.
Will a soldier drop his protection unless he has been seriously wounded? If
faith fails, what will happen to hope, which cleaves to faith and draws
strength from her as a nursing child takes nourishment from its mother? If faith
cannot see pardon in the promise, then hope cannot look for salvation. If faith
cannot claim son ship, hope will not wait for the inheritance. Faith informs
the soul it has "peace with God" and then the soul rejoices "in
the hope of the glory of God" Romans 5:1-2.
Are you trying to
use the sword of the Spirit? How can you hold it when unholiness has seriously
maimed the hand of faith that must carry it? This sword has two edges-- one
side heals but the other wounds. With one it saves and with the other it damns.
The Bible does not speak a single kind word to the person who practices sin.
Now-- think and then think some more-- is any sin worth all this confusion
which will inevitably strangle and smother your soul?
Quoted material from, ”The Christian in Complete
Armour Daily Readings in Spiritual Warfare” by Gurnall and James S Bell.
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