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  Unbelief in the Presence of God  

"Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God."   "...they could not enter in because of unbelief."   Hebrews 3:12 & 19

The unpardonable sin of unbelief. And how could it be pardoned, for the scripture says, "without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is..."  Yet the church is filled with unbelief as is evidenced by the men who stand behind her pulpits claiming to speak for God. Of these men Jesus said, "All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not." Matthew 23:3

And why do they do not? Simply because they believe not. This is unbelief in the presence of God. Do you really think any man who professes belief and yet does not act in belief, will enter in?

James said, "Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone." (James 2:17)  Why would James say that faith is dead without works? Because Faith is an action, it can never be idle. Love is always the motive, but faith is the action. (Read the accounts of great faith in action.)

Works are the result of our faith, it is faith acting out, a natural spiritual result of walking in faith. Unbelief is anti-faith, it by nature does not act, cannot act, and therefore is dead. It is impossible for unbelief to bear spiritual fruit, "A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit." (Matthew 7:18).

The true gauge of faith is in our actions. If you believe, you will worship God in spirit and truth. If you believe, you will pray without ceasing. If you believe, you will love your neighbor as yourself. If you believe, you will yield your life unto God.

Faith is an action. Unbelief is death because it does not act, and is an abomination in the presence of God, because God is all about Life. "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is..."

— Randy Munter    Editor and Webmaster

Folly of Unbelief
by Charles H. Spurgeon

"Then He said unto them, O foolish men and slow of heart to believe all that the Prophets have spoken." Luke 24:25.

THE two disciples who walked to Emmaus and conversed together and were sad, were true Believers. We may not judge men by their occasional feelings. The possession of gladness is no clear evidence of Grace and the existence of depression is no sure sign of insincerity. The brightest eyes that look for Heaven have sometimes been so that they could not see their heart’s true joy. Be not cast down, my Brothers and Sisters, if occasionally the tears of sadness bathe your cheeks. Jesus may be drawing near to you and yet you may be troubled by mysteries of grief.

The Lord Jesus Christ came to the two disciples and took a walk of some seven miles with them to remove their sadness, for it is not the will of our Lord that His people should be cast down. The Savior does, Himself, that which He commanded the ancient Prophet to do. “Comfort you, comfort you My people, says your God. Speak you comfortably to Jerusalem.” Thus He spoke and thus He acts. He was pleased when He went away to send us another Comforter, because He wishes us to abound in comfort. But that promise proves that He was and is, Himself, a Comforter. Do not dream, when in sadness, that your Lord has deserted you—rather reckon that for this very reason He will come to you! As her babe’s cry quickens the mother’s footsteps to come to it more speedily, so shall your griefs hasten the visits of your Lord. He hears your groans, He sees your tears—are they not in His bottle? He will come to you as the God of All Consolation.

Observe that when the Savior did come to these mourning ones, He acted very wisely towards them. He did not at once begin by saying, “I know why you are sad.” No, He waited for them to speak and, in His patience, drew forth from them the items and particulars of their trouble. You that deal with mourners, learn here the way of wisdom! Do not talk too much, yourselves. Let the swelling heart relieve itself. Jeremiah derives a measure of help from his own lamentations— even Job feels a little the better from pouring out his complaint. Those griefs which are silent run very deep and drown the soul in misery. It is good to let sorrow have a tongue where sympathy has an ear.

Allow those who are seeking the Lord to tell you their difficulties—do not discourse much with them till they have done so. You will be the better able to deal with them and they will be the better prepared to receive your words of cheer. Often, by facing the disease of sorrow, the cure is half effected, for many doubts and fears vanish when described. Mystery gives a tooth to misery and when that mystery is extracted by a clear description, the sharpness of the woe is over. Learn, then, you who would be comforters, to let mourners hold forth their wound before you pour in the oil and wine!

Learn also a sacred lesson, O you mourners! It is well for you, when you are pouring out your griefs, that you do so before the Lord. These two troubled wayfarers, though they knew it not, were telling their sorrow to Him who best of all could help them to bear it. You may tell your friends, if you will, and it will be some relief to you, but if you seek the Throne of Grace and make the Redeemer your chief Confidant, your relief will be sure! Get alone; shut the door; bow there, apart from the disciples, and say, “Jesus, Master, I would tell You that which saddens me! O great High Priest, who was compassed with infirmities, You will understand me better than my nearest friend and I would place myself beneath Your care!” How great the privilege that we have access with boldness to the ear and heart of Jesus our Lord!

Again, learn another point of wisdom. When our Lord had heard their statement of distress He might immediately have comforted them—a word would have done it. Did He not say, “Mary,” and did she not at once turn and say, “Rabboni,” with ecstatic delight? He went more wisely to work than to administer hurried consolation—He rather rebuked than encouraged them. He began by saying, “O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the Prophets have spoken!” Observe that I quote the Revised Version, for the Authorized is too harsh.

Our Lord did not call them fools, but foolish persons. The difference is rather in the manner than in the sense. He chided them gently, but still wisely. He let them know that their unbelief was blameworthy and He called them foolish for indulging it. O beloved Brother, if your Master chide you, do not doubt His love! If, when you go to Him in grief, He answers you roughly, it is His love scarcely disguised, which thus seeks your truest welfare. If you believe in your Lord, you will reply, “Master, say on.” If He calls you foolish, you will wonder that He does not say something worse of you—and in any case you will trust Him after the manner of Job when He said, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him.”

Especially observe that our Savior’s rebuke was aimed at their unbelief. Unbelief, which we so often excuse, and for which we almost claim pity, is not treated by our Lord as a trifle. It is for this that He calls them foolish. It is about this that He chides the slowness of their hearts. Do not let us readily excuse ourselves for mistrust of God. If we ever doubt our gracious Lord, let us feel ourselves to be verily guilty. Regard unbelief as a fault rather than a weakness. Brace yourselves to seek a braver and more constant faith than you have reached as yet. Why should we go on blundering and misjudging and, therefore, fretting when a little consideration will set us right and, at the same time, cause us to honor our Lord and to be, ourselves, filled with joy and peace through believing?

I am going to handle this rebuke as God the Holy Spirit shall help me—first addressing it to the true Believer and, secondly, to the seeker. I shall have to bring forth some bitter things which will act as a tonic, but by giving tone to your system, they will, in the end, remove your fears better than sweeter matters would have done. Hear, then, our Lord say, “O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the Prophets have spoken!”

In speaking to Believers, I would have them observe that our Lord rebuked their unbelief under two heads. First, as being folly and secondly, as arising from slowness of heart.

Continued >>

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