Those who have read the book Hard Times by Charles Dickens may remember that old schoolmaster Mr. Grandgrind whose oft-repeated statement was, "Stick to the fact's!" Well, facts are hard, unrelenting, realistic, important things. And someone has brought this to our attention in a few lines of poetry:
Three men were walking on a wall:
Feeling, Faith, and Fact,
When Feeling got an awful fall
And Faith was taken back;
So close was Faith to Feeling,
He stumbled and fell too;
But Fact remained and pulled Faith back,
And Faith brought Feeling too.
(Author Unknown)
Religion that is devoid of feeling is deficient, but religion that is based on feeling is defective. While feeling - the good kind - is an important factor in true religion, it is not the most reliable or important part. Feelings or impressions can come from many sources, both good and bad. Many arise from happenings or physical conditions. We understand that our human nature, our essential personalities, is departmentalized in intellect, sensibility, and will. These fluctuating emotions of ours must be subjected to the departments of reason and will. This feeling we have, is it reasonable, moral or right? Hebrews 11:1 has been rephrased to state, "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."
Faith is founded on fact. We resort to the old schoolmaster's dictum" "Stick to the facts!" A few from the many are:
"I am the Lord, I change not" (Mal 3:6)
"Jesus Christ the same yesterday ... today ... forever" (Heb. 13:8)
"Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his" (Tim. 2:19)
"Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away" (Matt. 24:35)
"Low, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world" (Matt. 28:20)
"I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee" (Heb. 14:19)
"And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, that ye may be also" (John 13:3)
The Word of God is filled with the statements of His eternity, His unlimited power, His infinite love; of Jesus' atoning death, His purifying blood, His saving grace, His resurrection, His ascending to the Father; of His return for His saints, His everlasting kingdom.
If you will stick to the facts, the imperishable Word of God, God will lay a foundation the devil cannot undermine, a hedge he cannot penetrate, and a wall he cannot climb over!
Previously published in the Gems of Truth by Herald and Banner Press, Overland Park, Kansas http://www.heraldandbanner.com/
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