141. The Why And The Wherefore Of Doubt.

And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? - Matthew 14:31.

Our Lord did not question the doubter till he had saved the sinker. His rebukes are always timely. The question was not only well deserved as a rebuke, but it was specially instructive, and no doubt it proved useful in after years.

When the grace of faith is really present, doubt has to answer for itself, and to die if it cannot defend itself.

Oh, that it may die in us at once!

We will put the question of our text to the two great classes of men.

I. WHEREFORE DOST THOU DOUBT, O CHRISTIAN?

1. Let us mention some supposedly valid reasons.

· Can you quote past experience of broken promises?

· Is the present evil beyond the power of Omnipotence?

· Are the promises abolished? Are the purposes of grace annulled?

· Has God himself changed? Is his mercy clean gone for ever? None of these supposable reasons have any existence.

2. Let us hear your actual reasons; if you dare state them.

· My sense of guilt is peculiarly deep and clear.

· My inbred sin has risen upon me with terrible fury.

· My failures justify despair when viewed by the side of other men's attainments, and my own obligations.

· My trials are so peculiar, so fierce, so long, so varied.

· My heart tails me. I can bear up no longer.

· My fears predict greater evils still, and threaten ultimate ruin.

Many such insufficient reasonings becloud the mind; and it may be wisdom to look them in the face, and so dissipate them.

3. Let us view these reasonings from other standpoints.

· How would you have viewed them when first you believed?

· How did you view former trials when they came in your way; and how do you view them now that you have overcome them?

· What do you think of your trials when you are lying in Jesus' bosom--assured of his love?

· How do you speak of them when you are instructing others?

· How will they appear to you when you get to heaven? Jesus is now near you. How can you take such gloomy views of things in his presence?

4. Shall we hint at the true reasons of your doubting?

· You were self-confident, and that confidence has failed you.

· You looked too much to things seen by the light of sense; and now that it is dark, you are in consequence troubled.

· You took your eye off from your Lord.

· Perhaps you neglected prayer, watching, repentance, etc.

When you find out the real reason of your doubt, cry for pardon, and seek to the Holy Spirit to restore faith, and set you right.

II. WHEREFORE DOST THOU DOUBT, O SINNER?

The Lord's hand is stretched out to save sinking sinners.

Do not distrust the power of Jesus to save you from sinking.

1. Let us suppose good reasons for our doubting.

· Have others believed and perished?

· Have you yourself tried faith in Jesus, and found it vain?

· Has the blood of Jesus lost its power?

· Has the Holy Spirit ceased to comfort, enlighten, renew?

· Is the gospel abrogated? Is God's mercy clean gone for ever?

None of these can be answered in the affirmative.

2. Let us hear our apparent reasons.

· Your sins are great, numerous, aggravated, and singular.

· You cannot think that salvation is for you.

· You have refused the gospel call so long.

· Your heart is so dreadfully hard and unfeeling.

None of these are sufficient reasons for doubting Almighty love.

3. Let us learn the way to deal with such unreasonable doubting.

· Repent of it, for it dishonors the power and promise of the Father, the blood of Jesus, and the grace of the Holy Spirit.

· End it, by simply believing what is so surely true.

· Run as far as possible the other way. Believe up to the hilt.

In every case, let us be sure that to believe God is sanctified common-sense and to doubt him is an extravagance of folly.