Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 138, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 June 1918 — Faith in Action [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Faith in Action

By REV.EDMUNDF.COOK,D.D.

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TEXT—For therein is the rtghtio—n*— of God revealed from faith to faith: a* it is written, the just shall live by faith.— R/wwan, vtT. (Read also verso M.) The Gospel Is not only “the power of God unto salvation to every one

that believeth;” but also a revelation of that “rigbteousness with which God would Invest man in order that man may come Into likeness and unity with himself,” and a gift to faith o f something to live by dr up to. Our text dincloses: The Medium of Revelation. The medium through which

man receives God’s revelation is faith. Man discovers material things through the medium of the senses: sight, hearing, touch, taste, smell. The whole world is open for discoveries to the man who possesses intact his five senses. Through such mediums, however, he cannot discover God. Faith is the only medium through which the soul discovers the things of God. Faith is the soul sense by which we “taste and see that God Is good.” Faith is the soul sense by which we “seek the Lord, if happily we might feel after him, and find him.” Thank God for the touch of faith! Faith is the soul sense by which we see God. Paul tells us that truth is spiritually discerned. It is the eye of faith which sees God in nature, in providence, in grace. It is the eye of faith which beholds Christ In his beauty and sees the wonders of his grace. A righteousness of God is revealed “from faith unto faith.” The garments of righteousness are fully described and offered to man in the Gospel. God is ready to invest man with all that his faith will appropriate. The process is like learning mathematics. From problem to problem, from the simple to the difficult, from the difficult to the more difficult, until the bsy has indbarted to him a knowledge of mathematics up to the measure of his ability to receive. So man is invested with a righteousness of God from faith unto faith i from the simple to the difficult, from the difficult to the impossible. The Meaning of Revelation. The righteousness of God revealed in the Gospel is offered to man’s faith as something to lay hold of and live up to. By his faith he appropriates much or little. "The just shall live by his faith.” There is no limit in the development of man’s spiritual life and no limit to his achievement in Christian service, If only he will exercise faith. If man hat but meager faith and will live up to IL he will acquire more faith In the process, and acquiring more faith will grow in spiritual grace and usefulness. The trouble Is most people live up to their doubts rather than up to their faith. I was aiding once in a canvass for funds to establish a Crittenden Rescue Home. Calling up a rich member of my congregation, I presented the cause. He said: T doubt if even God can do much for a fallen woman. I doubt if such a creature is ever reclaimed. The enterprise does not appeal to me.” So he declined to make a contribution. He lived squarely up to hjs doubts. I called also upon a young business man of moderate means and presented thecause. He replied: “Yes! Testi will contribute. God only can help such unfortunate creatures. I believe that such rescue work is one of the most Christiike and effectual missions of the church.” He gave SSOO. He lived up to his faith. Knowing of the waywardness and moral peril of a young man in my parish. I called on Ms mother to ask help and prayer in behalf of her son. She said: “I doubt if he is as bad as you think. I cannot feelghat he Is In any great peril.” She lived up to her doubts. No home influences were released to save him. Less than a year later he was found dead In a brothel, having died in ts drunken debauch. Mother's Prayer is Answered. Some years ago a great union meeting was conducted by Sam Jones and George Stewart In the city where I was a pastor. One night Mr. Jones stepped to therYfont of the platform and read this telegram: "Temple, Tex. Please pray for my boy Tom. He is in your city a prodigal from God. Am . pouring out my heart in prayer. Win claim the victory. (Signed) His Mother.” Before Mr. Jones could resume his seat, a tall young man rose and said, “That is my name, that is my mother. Yes, sir, I was a terrible sinner; I have broken my mother's heart and the heart of my poor young wife, and I have blighted the life of our little girl. But this afternoon about the time this message left Temple. I was yonder in the parsonage with the preacher, calling upon God for mercy, and he graciously forgave my sins and saved me by his grace.” His mother lived up to her faith and won her boy back, to God. “The just shall live up to his faith.” By this means alone can faith live and have its full fruit-