Dealing With Doubt, Part II

"Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." (1)

"Because they cannot fathom all its mysteries, the skeptic and the infidel reject God's word; and not all who profess to believe the Bible are free from danger on this point. The apostle says, 'Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God.' (2) It is right to study closely the teachings of the Bible and to search into 'the deep things of God.' (3) While 'the secret things belong to the Lord our God, - those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever.' (4) It is Satan's work to pervert the investigative powers of the mind. A certain pride is mingled with the consideration of Bible truth, so that men feel impatient and defeated if they cannot explain every portion of Scripture to their satisfaction. It is too humiliating to them to acknowledge that they do not understand the inspired words. They are unwilling to wait patiently until God shall see fit to reveal the truth to them. They feel that their unaided human wisdom is sufficient to enable them to comprehend the Scripture, and failing to do this, they virtually deny its authority. It is true that many theories and doctrines popularly supposed to be derived from the Bible have no foundation in its teaching, and indeed are contrary to the whole tenor of inspiration. These things have been a cause of doubt and perplexity to many minds. They are not, however, chargeable to God's word, but to man's perversion of it…

"God desires man to exercise his reasoning powers; and the study of the Bible will strengthen and elevate the mind as no other study can. Yet we are to beware of deifying reason, which is subject to the weakness and infirmity of humanity. If we would not have the Scriptures clouded to our understanding, so that the plainest truths shall not be comprehended, we must have the simplicity and faith of a little child, ready to learn, and beseeching the aid of the Holy Spirit. A sense of the power and wisdom of God, and of our inability to comprehend His greatness, should inspire us with humility, and we should open His word, as we would enter His presence, with holy awe…

"Disguise it as they may, the real cause of doubt and skepticism, in most cases, is the love of sin. The teachings and restrictions of God's world are not welcome to the proud, sin-loving heart, and those who are unwilling to obey its requirements are ready to doubt its authority. In order to arrive at truth, we must have a sincere desire to know the truth and a willingness of heart to obey it. And all who come in this spirit to the study of the Bible will find abundant evidence that it is God's word, and they may gain an understanding of its truths that will make them wise unto salvation.

"Christ has said, 'If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine.' (5) Instead of questioning and caviling concerning that which you do not understand, give heed to the light that already shines on you, and you will receive greater light. By the grace of Christ, perform every duty that has been made plain to your understanding, and you will be enabled to understand and perform those of which you are now in doubt.

"Paul says that God 'has delivered us from the power of darkness, and has conveyed us into the kingdom of His dear Son.' (6) And everyone who has passed from death to life is able to 'certify that God is true.' (7) He can testify, 'I needed help, and I found it in Jesus. Every want was supplied, the hunger of my soul was satisfied; and now the Bible is to me the revelation of Jesus Christ… Why do I believe the Bible? Because I have found it to be the voice of God to my soul.' " (8)

1. Hebrews 11:6
2. Hebrews 3:12.
3. 1 Corinthians 2:10.
4. Deuteronomy 29:29.
5. John 7:17.
6. Colossians 1:13.
7. John 3:33.
8. Steps to Christ, pp. 76-80.