Trusting Jesus
Words: Edgar Page Stites (b. March 22, 1836; d. Jan. 9, 1921)
Music: Ira David Sankey (b. Aug. 28, 1840; d. Aug. 13, 1908)
(Stanza numbers in brackets below refer to the stanza number in The Cyber Hymnal. Find the link at the bottom of the article.)
A popular series of books has been published “for Dummies” (Drawing for Dummies, Blogging for Dummies, etc.) They purport to put difficult subjects within reach of the inexperienced and untrained. If you’ve ever had cause to use one of these volumes, you’ve likely found, as I have, that they can be a help. They certainly simplify things to some extent. However, they hardly make their subjects simple.
There are all kinds of things that are difficult to grasp, or difficult to do. No amount of explanation can remove their complexities quickly. The Bible is like that. Great scholars and theologians have studied the book in minute detail for many centuries, still leaving mysteries and things beyond our ability to know fully.
That is hardly surprising, given the uniqueness of the book. It is the inspired Word of the living God. His transcendence and infinity can’t help but be impressed on the pages of the Bible. Since God Himself is beyond us knowing fully, His Word will be the same. However, having said this, there is so much that is within the grasp of the ardent seeker, so much that even a child can understand. The subject of faith is an example.
Faith involves the belief, trust and confidence that something is true. “Faith is being sure of what we hope for, and certain [convinced] of what we do not see” (Heb. 11:1, NIV). That is simply put. But it hardly exhausts the subject. I have a Bible dictionary on my desk as I write. It goes on for more than nine pages (double columns, small print) on the subject. It’s not irrelevant or unimportant to know the things discussed there. But it isn’t necessary for the practical operation of faith in daily life to grasp it all.
We are to take God at His word. That’s it! “Simply trusting,” as Mr. Stites puts it. That’s necessary for our soul’s salvation and beyond. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (Jn. 3:16). “In Him [Christ] you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise” (Eph. 1:13).
(1) Simply trusting every day,
Trusting through a stormy way;
Even when my faith is small,
Trusting Jesus, that is all.
Trusting as the moments fly,
Trusting as the days go by;
Trusting Him whate’er befall,
Trusting Jesus, that is all.
“Simply trusting” is also necessary for Christian living after we’re saved–to move forward, day by day, “simply trusting” in His promises, in the words of Mr. Stites’s hymn, trusting the Lord to do what He says He will do. “We walk by faith” (II Cor. 5:7). “We trust in the living God” (I Tim. 4:10). “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him [as Lord of your life], and He shall direct your paths” (Prov. 3:5-6).
(2) Brightly does His Spirit shine
Into this poor heart of mine;
While He leads I cannot fall;
Trusting Jesus, that is all.
By God’s grace, this simple trust will carry us through this life, and on to the home the Lord has prepared for His own. “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God [the Father], believe also in Me [Christ]. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (Jn. 14:1-3).
(4) Trusting Him while life shall last,
Trusting Him till earth be past;
Till within the jasper wall,
Trusting Jesus, that is all.
Questions:
- What is one of the more difficult aspects of faith that you still don’t fully understand?
- What basic teaching of God’s Word about faith are you applying today?
Links:
- 9 January 1921 Edgar Stites Died
- Trusting Jesus (The Cyber Hymnal)