Please notice the order:
1-Holy Facts.
2-Hearty Faith.
3-Happy Feelings.
4-Hard Following.
This order is all-important in connection with the Christian's peace.
What are the FACTS? They are many. Some of them are these:
1-God knew all about me as a sinner.
2-He loved me in spite of all that I was.
3-He gave His well beloved Son to suffer for sins and to die for the sinner.
4-He has raised Him from the dead, showing His entire satisfaction with the work done at Calvary.
5-He sends to me the gospel message about Christ and His work, and tells me that, "Whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Also that, "He that believeth on the Son, hath everlasting life."
HOLY, GLORIOUS FACTS!
What about FAITH?
I hear this sweet story of the love of God and of the finished work of the Lord Jesus which God sends to me. The good news comes from God Himself, to sinners. I am a sinner. I need a Saviour. Christ is the Saviour I need.
I claim Him as mine by simple HEARTY FAITH.
I own myself as ungodly, and hear that "Christ died for the ungodly." . I believe it.
I have discovered that I am without strength, and hear that, "While we were without strength Christ died." I believe it.
I know that I have gone astray like a lost sheep, and hear that, "The Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." I believe it.
I have committed many sins and am unjust, and hear that, "Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God." I believe it.
To all such as myself God has spoken in the clearest way. I listen to the peace-giving words of Isaiah 53:5:"But He was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and with His stripes we are healed." I believe it.
Notice the six words "HE was wounded."-"WE ARE HEALED."
His wounding is past-"Was wounded." Our healing is present-"Are healed."
What about FEELINGS?
These follow faith, or believing what God has written concerning what Christ has done. As an old hymn expresses it:
"And sweeter feelings follow faith Than ever nature gave."
Yes, feelings follow faith!
I believe God because He speaks. He tells me that I am "healed" because Christ was "wounded." God is satisfied with what Christ has done, and tells me so. If God is satisfied with what Christ did for me, and has raised Him up from the dead and glorified Him at His right hand, shall I not be satisfied also? When I believe God the happy feelings will come. But it is not the happy feelings upon which I am to rest, but upon Christ and His finished sacrifice.
Happy feelings may come and go, but the holy facts abide unchanged.
As I rest upon what God says about what Christ did, and feed upon the Word of God and wait upon God in prayer, so will my soul be established and my feelings become more constant.
But let me never forget that my salvation depends not upon my feelings but on Christ.
What about FOLLOWING?
When at peace with God I can seek to follow Christ. Of old the psalmist cried. "Because Thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of Thy wings will I rejoice. My soul followeth hard after Thee; Thy right hand up-holdeth me."
Confident in God, he rejoiced in the shadow of His wings and then followed constantly and closely after God, supported by the right hand of His Almighty power.
So we, by the power of the« Holy Spirit given to all them that believe, should be here seeking to glorify God in all our ways.
Remember the order. holy facts accomplished. hearty faith receiving them. happy feelings resulting. hard following called for. Inglis Fleming