25 Sermon Illustrations on Faith Assurance

A short man wanted to drive a nail in a wall to carry a big picture. He stood on a chair, but it was not high enough. His wife set out a small box and, balancing himself precariously, he began to give the nail hesitating taps with the hammer. His wife said, "Why don't you give a brave blow or two, and settle it?" He replied, "How can a man give a brave blow or two when he is standing on a foundation like this?" That settles the question of certainty or uncertainty. It depends upon the foundation upon which the person is standing. The Hebrew prophets never sounded a note of uncertainty, for God Almighty was their Foundation, and they knew that He stood behind their "Thus saith the Lord."

When Rear Admiral Du Pont explained to his superior officer, Farragut, why he had failed to take his ships into Charleston Harbor, Farragut heard him through to the end and then said, "Admiral, there is one explanation which you haven't given." "What is that?" asked Du Pont. "This: you didn't believe that you could do it." That lack of confidence has been the secret of failures not only in the field of war but also in this greater warfare of the soul.

Two friends, one an army officer, met after an interval of ten years. They had been attached to each other and shook hands cordially. After a little chat, the civilian, looking at the other man with a curious air, said, "By the way, General, they tell me you have gone mad over religion." "Well," responded the general, "I'm not aware of being crazy; as far as I know I'm enjoying all my senses. But you know, if I am, there is one comfort; I've got Jesus Christ for my keeper and heaven for my lunatic asylum, so I think I shall not do badly after all." The world may consider the faithful, practicing Christian crazy, but what counts is that God declares him righteous over and over again. A Rewarding Life The closer to God we are, the more peace and happiness we shall experience. A baker never expects to get a better cake than the ingredients he puts into it. Yet many people who complain that life is not as rewarding as they expected it to be, forget that in leaving out God they have left out that which alone can give life its glory, hope, love, and joy.

I remember seeing a story some time ago in print. It has been in the papers, but it will not hurt us to hear it again. A family in a Southern city were stricken down with yellow fever. It was raging there, and there were very stringent sanitary rules. The moment anybody died, a cart went around and took the coffin away. The father was taken sick and died and was buried, and the mother was at last stricken down. The neighbors were afraid of the plague, and none dared go into the house. The mother had a little son and was anxious about her boy, and afraid he would be neglected when she was called away, so she called the little fellow to her bedside, and said, "My boy, I am going to leave you, but Jesus will come to you when I am gone." The mother died, the cart came along and she was laid in the grave. The neighbors would have liked to take the boy, but were afraid of the pestilence. He wandered about and finally started up to the place where they had laid his mother and sat down on the grave, and wept himself to sleep. Next morning he awoke and realized his position--alone and hungry. A stranger came along and seeing the little fellow sitting on the ground, asked him what he was waiting for. The boy remembered what his mother had told him, and answered, "I am waiting for Jesus," and told him the whole story. The man's heart was touched, tears trickled down his cheeks and he said, "Jesus has sent me," to which the boy replied, "You have been a good while coming, sir." He was provided for. So it is with us. To wait for results, we must have courage and patience and God will help us.

I remember Mr. Morehouse, while here four years ago, used an illustration which has fastened itself on my mind. He said, suppose you go up the street and meet a man whom you have known for the last ten years to be a beggar, and you notice a change in his appearance, and you say, "Halloo, beggar, what's come over you?" "I ain't no beggar. Don't call me beggar." "Why," you say, "I saw you the other day begging in the street." "Ah, but a change has taken place," he replies. "Is that so? how did it come about?" you inquire. "Well," he says, "I came out this morning and got down here intending to catch the business men and get all the money out of them, when one of them came up to me and said there was $10,000 deposited for me." "How do you know this is true?" you say. "I went to the bank and they put the money in my hand." "Are you sure of that?" you ask; "how do you know it was the right kind of a hand?" But he says; "I don't care whether it was the right kind of a hand or not; I got the money, and that's all I wanted." And so people are looking to see if they've got the right kind of a hand before they accept God by it. They have but to accept his testimony and they are saved, for, as John says, "He that hath received His testimony hath set his seal that God is true." Is there a man in this assemblage who will receive His testimony and set his seal that God is true? Proclaim that God speaks the truth. Make yourself a liar, but make God's testimony truthful. Take Him at His word.

A poor child that is newly born, and hath nothing that discovereth reason almost, but the shape of a man, — that poor child is a reasonable creature: so that faith that begins with weak apprehensions and faint leanings on Christ, is, notwithstanding, a true faith, and therefore to be cherished.

— Spencer

A wealthy old gentleman residing in London, on one of his birthdays invited his servants into the house to receive presents. "What will you have," said he, addressing the groom, "this Bible, or a twenty-dollar note?"—"I would take the Bible, sir; but I cannot read: so I think the money will do me more good," replied the hostler. "And you?" he asked the gardener. "My poor wife is so ill, that I sadly need the money," responded the gardener with a bow. "Mary, you can read," said the old man, turning to his cook: "will you have this Bible?"—"I can read, sir, but I never get time to look into a book; and the dollars will buy me a fine dress." Next was the chambermaid; but she had one Bible, and did not want another. Last came the errand-boy. "My lad," said his kind benefactor, "will you take these twenty dollars, and replace your shabby clothes by a new suit?"—"Thank you, sir; but my dear mother used to read to me that the law of the Lord was better than thousands of gold and silver. I will have the good book, if you please."—"God bless you, my boy! and may your wise choice prove riches and honor and long life unto you!" As the lad received the Bible, and unclasped its covers, a bright gold-piece rolled to the floor. Quickly turning its pages, he found them thickly interleaved with bank-notes; while the four servants, discovering the mistake of their worldly covetousness, hastily departed in chagrin.

A poor little German boy, who desired admission to the Moravian School, wrote a letter, and put it into the post-office, addressed to the Lord Jesus in heaven. It ran about thus: "My Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, I have lost my father. We are very poor; but I know that thou tellest us in thy word, that whatsoever we shall ask God in thy name he will give it to us. I believe what thou sayest, Lord Jesus. I pray, then, unto God, in the name of Jesus, that he will give my mother the means of placing me in the Moravian School: I should like so much to continue to be taught! I pray unto thee already; but I will love thee still more." The postmaster, seeing the strange address, opened the letter. It was read at a meeting of the Moravian Society, when the Baroness de la Leppe became his patroness, and sent him to the school he desired.

During the dark hours of the late Rebellion, while the colored people were despondent, and uncertain of their fate, one of their number, approaching Gen. Grant, said, "How do do Ginral Grant?" and extended his hand, which the general cordially shook. "How am tings goin', ginral?" The general's reply was, "Every thing is going right, sir." In a brief period, the assuring words passed around the contraband camp, changing their despondency to hope and joy. If the despondent Christian will go to his Commander, he may be assured "every thing is going right."

An old lady was one night reading that passage in the Bible which speaks of the faith that can remove mountains. Now, there was behind her humble dwelling a high hill, which hid the nearest village from her view. She had often wished that this hill might be taken away. So, before retiring, she prayed that this hill might be removed, because she had faith that it would be done. But in the morning, when she arose, she lifted the curtain, and, lo! the mountain was still there. Then the old lady said to her son who was then coming in, "Just as I expected, John: the old hill stands yet."

To depend upon feeling in religion is unsafe and dangerous. A man may as well think of holding fast to the clouds, building upon running sand, or relying on the wind. The clouds, the sand, the wind, are no more changeable and uncertain than are feelings. A change in circumstances, or a change in health, or a change in friends, will often produce an equal change in feeling. Our religion should be like the sun; cloud, or no cloud, go on in its shining course: like the earth; wind, or no wind, roll on in its orbit. We should "stand by faith," "live by faith," and "hold fast the profession of our faith."

— Date

A girl of twelve years of age, in one of the S. Schools of Mass., was known for some time to be very serious, and anxious to have her teacher converse with her about her soul. At length, a beam of joy lighted up her countenance. She said to her superintendent one day, "Oh how I love my Savior!" One Sabbath, soon after this, she came to him, at the close of the school: as he took her by the hand, she burst into tears. "Elizabeth," said he, "do you love the Savior now?" "Yes," said she, "but I have been tempted this week. Something seemed to say I was not a Christian, and it made me very unhappy."

"What did you do then?"

"I prayed that I might be delivered from temptation, and then I felt happy."

She gave most decided evidence of being a child of God. Her exercise of mind and her prayers were like those of mature Christians.

I have read of a godly man, says Mr. Brooks, who living near a philosopher often strove to persuade him to become a Christian. Oh, but, said the philosopher, I must, or may, lose my all for Christ. To which the good man replied. If you lose any thing for Christ, he will repay it a hundred-fold. Ay, but, said the philosopher, will you be bound for Christ, that if he doth not pay me, you will? Yes, that I will, said the good man! So the philosopher became a Christian, and the good man entered into bond for the performance of covenants. Some time after it happened that the philosopher fell sick. On his death-bed, and holding the bond in his hand, he sent for the party engaged, to whom he gave up the bond, and said, Christ hath paid all, there is nothing for you to pay; take your bond and cancel it; no man shall

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