Why Do Many Not Believe?

"The imagination, of man’s heart is evil from his youth." Gen.8:21.

Why do learned men among the infidels not believe? Cer­ tainly not because of their high intellectual standing, but because they do not want to hear the truth. They are ready to believe almost any theory that opposes religion, but they reject the Gospel. Why ? The fault lies in their own sinful heart, which cannot bear the truth; since sin entered into the world, man is inclined to think highly of himself and to forget his Maker.

Why is it that so many do not believe in the Lord Jesus? Is it not because they are self-righteous and expect to get to heaven by their own good works, their own righteousness? Is it not because they despise the Lord’s grace? Why do they not believe in the Lord Jesus? Is it because of their sincerity and conscientiousness, or because their reason does not permit them to believe in Him? No; Christ’s sinlessness, His divine works, His precious Gospel is before them; they cannot gainsay it; it is attested by better evidence than a thousand historical facts which they believe. The truth is, they do not want to believe; they are puffed up with pride, arrogance, and conceitedness.

And why do so many not believe in the Bible? Why do they not accept this only divine guide of men ? Is it because they know better? Is it because their wisdom excels that of the Word of God? N o ; the human mind furnishes answers totally inadequate to secure man’ s salvation. The wisest men o f this world have occupied themselves with finding answers to the problems connected with the soul’s welfare. Have they succeeded in finding true solutions? Far from it! When it comes to divine things, then we must say to our reason: Stop and hear what God has to say in His Word and accept the Word of God with a believing heart.

Prayer.

O merciful God, heavenly Father, who alone beginnest and per- formest in us every good thing, we pray Thee, strengthen us that we may be steadfast in the true faith and remain constant to the end. Keep us from false doctrine, fleshly lust, and the deceit of the world. Grant that we may continue to grow in the knowledge of Christ, Thy Son. Do not suffer us to be led from the truth of Thy divine Word and thus to deny Jesus and yield to unbelief. Amen.

 DAILY READINGS IN LIFE OF CHRIST - J.R. Miller (1890)

January 4. Rejecting Christ

"He came unto his own — but his own did not receive him." John 1:11

The picture represents Christ coming with infinite grace to those He loved, and to His own nation; only to be rejected by them and turned away from their doors. This was one of the saddest things about the Savior's mission to this world. He was the God of glory and of life. He came to bring Heaven to earth — but when He stood at men's doors and knocked, the doors were kept closed upon Him, and He had to turn and go away again, bearing back in His hands the precious gifts and blessings He had brought and wished to leave.

We say the Jews, "his own," were very ungrateful to treat their Messiah in this way; and also that their rejection was a terrible wrong to themselves for they thrust away in Christ, the most glorious things of Heaven and eternity!

But how is it with ourselves? Christ comes to us. He is continually coming. His hands are full of blessings. He has eternal life to bestow. Do we receive Him? Is it not true of us — that He comes unto His own, and His own receive Him not?

Do we really take from the hand of Christ — all that He offers to us? Do we not daily grieve Him and rob ourselves of blessings — by declining what He brings? Especially do we reject Christ often — when He comes to us in the garb of pain or sorrow. Many times the blessings He brings to us then — are the very richest and the most precious in all His treasury of grace! But how many of us receive Christ as gladly, and take the gifts from His hand as cheerfully and gratefully, when He comes in grief or suffering — as when He comes in the garb of joy or worldly prosperity? Why should we not do so? Can we not trust His love and wisdom? He never sends pain — unless pain is best for us. He never chastens us — unless there is a blessing in the chastening.

 DUTY AND BLESSING. 

Longfellow recalls "The Legend Beautiful," with its story of the old monastery, the monk in an agony of prayer on its cold stone floor, the sudden vision of the Christ that came to him there, and how just in the midst of his joy at the heavenly sight the bell pealed forth its message calling him to feed the poor beggars at the convent-gate. If he did not go the poor would suffer; but to go meant to leave the vision he had been longing for all his life. Says the poet: 

Then a voice within his breast

Whispered, audible and clear,

As if to the outward ear

"Do thy duty ; that is best;

Leave unto thy Lord the rest

The monk heeded it as the message of God, and went away to his task of service ; and when he came back, to his great delight, his Lord was still there, and with smiling lips he said, 

“Hadst thou stayed, I must have fled.”

Blessing always comes through duty, and the heavenly vision can never be kept through self-indulgence. 

 

 A Telling Argiunent.

"From you sounded out the Word of the Lord" (1 Thess. 1:8).

A woman who had been a drunkard was standing at an open air service, when she observed a person who had formerly been one of her bad companions, suddenly leave the crowd and walk quickly away. Hurrying after her she found her in great distress of soul. "Oh," she said, "I listened to the speakers, but when I saw you standing there so wonderfully changed from what you used to be, I could stand it no longer." She was induced to return to the meeting, and decide for Christ.

The above incident shows the effectiveness of witness- bearing. Christismorehonoredbyourwitnessingthan by our talking.

The blind man witnessed to Christ's sight-giving power (John 9:25).

The demoniac witnessed to Christ's delivering grace (Mark 5:20).

The leper witnessed to Christ's cleansing touch (Mark 1:45). The woman witnessed to Christ's satisfying love (Luke 7:37).

The crooked woman witnessed to Christ's straightening might (Luke 13:13).

The raised man witnessed to Christ's quickening life (Luke 7:15).

The disciples witnessed to Christ's excellent glory (John 1:14; 2 Pet. 1:i6).

The saints at Thessalonica witnessed to Christ's effective working (1 Thess. 1:9, 10).

To know the truth as in Jesus we must be true to the truth we know. Walking in the truth, truth walks with us, imparts His secrets, and speaks for itself.

 Materialism, the Outstanding Sign of Our Times. 

"There is no fear of God before their eyes."  Romans 3:18.

What is materialism? It is the tendency to have undue regard for material interests, that is, for the things of this world. Mate­ rialism refuses to wait and hope for happiness and bliss in the world to come; it demands heaven here on earth. Our materialistic age desires a savior who is to give them plenty to eat; a savior, not for heaven, but for the earth. This materialism, this commer­ cialism, is the prevailing and predominating characteristic of our times.

It is a question whether in the history of the world these mat­ ters have ever bulged out so large as at the present and in our own country. Gaining as much as possible of this earth’s goods has become like a whirlpool which draws everything into its devouring current. Money stands for the standard of efficiency and worth and influence among men, so that all are scrambling for it. Show a man a material advantage which he may secure, often at the

sacrifice of honesty and principle, and he will be your friend. Now, with men’s minds thus set, it is but a natural consequence that it should affect their hearts and endanger their spiritual lives. They become less earnest in the things of the Lord, less devout as church- members, less regular in attending the public services. Business responsibilities increase; they say they have no time to go to church; they neglect the eternal interests of their immortal souls, and there is no neglect as shameful as this. Neglect your health, and you will soon suffer; neglect your soul, and you will perish forever. That is the sin of many thousands in our day.

A man lay asleep in a boat on the Niagara River, when, sud­ denly, he heard the waters thundering down the mighty cataract. He seized a paddle and plied it against the current. It was too late. He went over into certain death. Thus many are sleeping, when, suddenly, they will hear, “Thy soul is required of thee now!”

Prayer.

Help us, good Lord and God, that we may not set our hearts upon things temporal, but that we may with true faith, love, and patience wait for the life to come. O Lord, this world passes away, and all its glory is transient. Besides, our stay in this world lasts but a few days, and these pass by more rapidly than the water cur­ rent. O lead us on the way to heaven, to Thy glory, where we shall be with Thee forever. Amen.