IX

THE BUOYANCY OF FAITH

“He walked upon the waters to come to Jesus.”—Matt. xiv. 29.

FAITH is always the secret of buoyancy. We can plant our footsteps in the sea when our faith is resting in the Lord. The waves can never overwhelm us. We ride upon the storm. When Mrs. Booth, the mother of the Salvation Army, was dying, she witnessed in great triumph, “The waters are rising, but I am not sinking!” When old Mr. Honest reached the river he found that, in Christ Jesus, its destructiveness was broken, and he went through the waters singing, “Grace reigns!” And so it is in all the rivers and floods through which the believer has to pass; he cannot be holden of them, he rises above them, he is their superior in the Lord.

And thus the believer in Christ Jesus is 43to be distinguished by his buoyancy. This is to be his song as he confronts the most tremendous seas, “Therefore will we not fear though the waters roar and be troubled!” His fame is to be that of the man whom nothing can sink. He is to be always on the top of circumstances, their master and not their slave. Like the Apostle Paul, he is to be “always confident,” knowing whom he has believed. When the spirits of others are sinking he is to be the one to hearten them, to lift them up by his own unquenchable cheer. He is to sing songs in the night.

And what times are these for the display of spiritual buoyancy! What great reasons for walking the troubled seas! What opportunities for witnessing to the power of the resurrection in lifting the soul above the floods of death and hell! For the Lord Himself is on the deep. He walks the waters which He calls us to tread. He does not send us on a daring but lonely errand; He invites us into His fellowship. The walk on the deep is a journey with the Lord. And, therefore, by faith we share His conquests. “The works that I do shall ye do also.” We 44can walk the stormy sea! And when those who do not know the Lord look upon our power to rise above the troubled circumstance, their souls will begin to move toward the secret of our life, and by faith they also shall find the same uplifting strength in the fellowship of Christ.