End-Time Faith

Recently, a dear friend asked me to consider teaching a series of lessons with clear instruction for Christians who desire to stand faithfully for Jesus during the storms of life.    Knowing that the crisis of the ages is on the horizon, I thought it was a very valid request.

This past weekend, I preached a sermon on the subject which I entitled, Five Steps to Standing for Christ.  Today, I am going to continue this theme by sharing what I have found to be an important aspect of preparing for the final crisis.  To stand through the final test we will need what I call "end-time" faith.

Many Christians do not exercise this type of faith.  Rather, their salvation rests on their "feelings".  If they feel "saved" they are happy.  If they feel "lost" they are sad and discouraged.  Their entire religious experience is built upon their own emotions.  What an untrustworthy source!  

Thankfully, those who pass through the final test will have learned the difference between real faith and fleeting feelings.  In the book Early Writings, Ellen G. White writes this: 

"Feeling is not faith; the two are distinct.  Faith is ours to exercise, but joyful feeling and the blessing are God's to give.  The grace of God comes to the soul through the channel of living faith, and that faith it is in our power to exercise."   - Early Writings, pg. 72

In the book Early Writings, Ellen White writes this: 

"Feeling is not faith; the two are distinct.  Faith is ours to exercise, but joyful feeling and the blessing are God's to give.  The grace of God comes to the soul through the channel of living faith, and that faith it is in our power to exercise."   - Early Writings, pg. 72

Since faith and feeling are distinct, it is fair to say that true faith will not depend on feelings.  Rather, true faith will claim the promised blessing even before it is realized or felt.  Recognizing and understanding the differences between the two should become the highest priority for every sincere Christian preparing for the final test. 

Our first duty is to pray according to God's will, asking for the very things that He has promised.  After we have earnestly prayed, we are to receive the desired blessing, claiming it as ours.  We are then to believe that we have the blessing because we have claimed it by faith.  In this way, the blessing indeed becomes ours.

"What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them."  Mark 11:24.

This is end-time faith.  End-time faith believes that we have received the blessing even before we realize it or see it!  Feelings have absolutely nothing to do with the process whatsoever.  Feelings only stand to confuse and mislead the sincere believer.  Feelings are not a safe guide. 

Christ is our Example. While suspended on calvary's cross, our Savior felt the deep pangs of apparent abandonment. These feelings were an almost overwhelming temptation to Him.  In His cry "My God, My God, why has thou forsaken Me?", Christ was experiencing the feelings of separation from His Father.  In this moment of trial, Christ had to choose faith over His feelings.  He had to exercise end-time faith.  He had to trust that the marvelous plan of redemption, the plan that was laid before the foundation of the world, was still on course.  He had to trust His Father.  He had to trust the plan, even though His feelings were totally contrary to the plan. 

I am thankful that our Savior exercised His faith rather than relying on His feelings!  His Father had not abandoned the plan at all.  In fact we are told exactly where the Father was when His Son was experiencing this temptation: 

"In that thick darkness God's presence was hidden. ...God and His holy angels were beside the cross.  The Father was with His Son.  Yet His presence was not revealed.  Had His glory flashed forth from the cloud, every human beholder would have been destroyed." -- Desire of Ages, pg. 753

The Father was with His Son through this trial.  The Father left Heaven and came to the side of His suffering Son!  How beautiful!  How marvelous His love!

Although the Father did not reveal His presence, He was there.  Many wonder why the Father did not reveal Himself.  It is because Christ was treading the wine press alone.  He was paying the awful wages of sin for us.  Therefore, Christ was not to be comforted in that trying hour.  On Him was laid the iniquity of us all.  He was dying the death that our sins earned. 

Friends, those who stand through the final test will have to exercise this type of faith.  The very time to exercise faith is when you feel destitute of His presence.  When the thick clouds of darkness gather about your soul, it is then time to exercise the faith of Jesus.  True faith will rest on the promises in the Bible rather than on feelings.  Now is the time to lay aside your feelings and embrace His promises.  ​ Now is the time to learn how to exercise end-time faith.  

"If ye abide in Me, and my Words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you."  John 15:7