Look at John iii. 33: “He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.” In those days men used to wear a signet ring, with their initials, and instead of signing their names, they used to take the ring and seal the document. That was setting to their seal; that was an endorsement. And now God comes down into this unbelieving world, and says, “Who will set to his seal that I am true?” And so I want to ask the friends in this hall, Who will set to his seal or her seal that God is true? It is a great deal better for us to make ourselves liars and God true than to try and make ourselves out true and God a liar. That is what many men will do. Who will set to his seal that God is true? Unbelief says, “I won’t.” Faith says, “I will set to my seal.” Oh, may God help many now to say, “I will set to my seal that God is true” this very hour; and, my friends, the moment you do set your seal that God is true, and put your faith in God, then comes the peace, the happiness you have been looking for so long!
NO PEACE WITHOUT TRUST.
A great many people go looking for peace and happiness before they trust. There will be no peace, no happiness, no joy, until you put your trust in God. The joy that flows through the Christian’s heart is the result of trusting God. Suppose I meet a man to-night leaping for joy, laughing at the top of his voice. I say, “My friend, what makes you so happy?” “Oh, I don’t know; I am so happy I cannot contain my feelings!” What would you say? Why, you would say the man had gone mad. But suppose I meet a man whom I have seen out here night after night begging, and I say to him, “Hullo, beggar, is that you?” “Don’t call me a beggar; I am no longer a beggar.” “Are not you the man who has been begging here every night?” “Yes.” “Where did you get your good clothes? How is this you are not a beggar?” “No, I am no beggar; I am worth a thousand pounds.” “How is that?” “Well, sir, last night I was here begging, and a man came along and put a thousand pounds in my hand.” “How did you know it was good money?” “I took it to the Bank of England, and they gave me gold for it.” “How was it done?” “Well, I just held out my hand, and he came and put a cheque right into it, and I took it to the bank and got gold for it.” “Did you really get it in that way?” “Yes.” “How do you know it was the right kind of hand?” “Why,” says the beggar, “what do I care about the hand, I have got the money.” Faith is the hand that reaches out and takes the blessing. Any faith that brings me to Christ is the right kind of faith, and instead of looking at your faith look to Christ. Some one has said, faith sees a thing in God’s hand, and says, “I will have it.” Unbelief sees it there, and says, “God won’t give it me.” Look to God by faith to-night and have salvation.
WHO WILL HAVE IT?
Every man and woman may have it if they will but put their trust in God. Is not God worthy of our confidence? Is not God worthy of our trust? You must have a poor opinion of God if you cannot trust Him. We consider we have a poor opinion of a man if we cannot trust him. If a man should tell me something, and I did not believe a word he said, I would have a very poor opinion of the man. Faith is putting confidence in God’s word. Take hold of His word to-night. He will save all that will come—not only that, but He will save you when you do come. Away with everything but Christ, and take Him now. Who will take God at His word to-night? Some one has said, “Faith is saying yes to God.” Who will say yes to-night, and take it? Now, is it too much to ask or to expect that every person in this hall should put their faith in God? If God does not save us, who will? Men cannot, the church cannot, creeds and doctrines cannot; the sacraments cannot save; baptism cannot save. You must have a living personal Christ, and God presents Him to the world. Who will take Him? Who will have Christ—who will trust Him? Faith says, I will. Is it not the very best thing you can do? Can you do a better thing than trust to God for salvation? “What must I do to be saved?” Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, or trust the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation, and trust Him now.
STORY OF A CONDEMNED MAN.
Away back some years ago it is recorded in history of a man that was condemned to be put to death, that when he came to lay his head on the block the prince asked him if there was any one petition that he could grant him, and all that the condemned man asked for was a glass of water. They went and got him a tumbler of water, and when he got it his hand trembled so that he could not get it to his mouth. The prince said to him, “Your life is safe until you drink that water.” He took the prince at his word, and dashed the water to the ground. They could not gather it up, and so he saved his life. My friends, you can be saved to-night by taking God at His word. The water of life is offered to “whosoever will.” Take it now, and live. Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God (Rom. x. 17).
Faith is not what we see or feel,
It is a simple trust;
In what a God of love has said