Bible Truths Illustrated by J. C. Ferdinand Pittman

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BIBLE TRUTHS ILLUSTRATED
313. Dead Faith.—The word of God tells you distinctly what
sort of faith dead faith is. Jas. 2 : 17, 20, 26, says : "Faith, if it
hath not works, is dead, being alone." "Wilt thou know, O vain
man, that faith without works is dead?" "As the body without
the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." We all
know that that which is dead is inoperative, unproductive, fruitless.
If, then, your faith is of this character, there can be no
doubt that it is dead, and, as this apostle teaches, can neither
justify nor save you.
T. H. Milner.
FAITHFULNESS
314. When we consider their faithfulness, can we wonder
that the apostle eulogises the ancient worthies of Hebrews 11?
They are held in sacred memory for what they have done. The
mists of the ages wrap in folds of forgetfulness other men, but
no distance dims these from our view; others, like a comet that
blazes out for a moment, and then smoulders down into complete
invisibility, suddenly appear, and then sink down into the
darkness from which they emanate, but these shine out like the
sun of the heavens. The world recounts great exploits of intellectual
research and scientific discovery, but all must bow before
a more illustrious throng "who through faith subdued kingdoms,
wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths
of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the
sword, from weakness were made strong, waxed mightily in
war, and turned to flight armies of aliens" (Heb. 11:33, 34).
Scientists and philosophers must confess themselves outdone.
These worthies ventured much, and accomplished much. Duty
bade them go, and they went. Danger did not hold them back,
death did not affright them.
Such faithfulness, amid adverse circumstances, is needed
to-day. Quite easy is it to be faithful when we can see, and
to trust when all is fair. But, to note no quarter from which
light can come, and yet to go on in calm assurance that it will
come; to dip into the deepest darkness of the "valley of the
shadow of death," fearing no evil; to climb the steep mountain,
scaling the rugged rocks to the highest point to which He calls
—that is faithfulness, and it will not lose its reward, for in the
mount the Lord will appear.
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