by Evangelist B illy Strachen B efore one can be regarded as a man or woman of faith, the first essential is that he must be converted. The second essential is found in the ninth chapter of John where we read the story of the young man who was bom blind. One day he came in touch with the power of God through Christ the Messiah and had his eyes opened to see as naturally as other men. A great argument followed, however, with the Pharisees and scribes trying to convince him that he was wrong in his method of the miracle. “And they asked him, saying, Is this your son, whom ye say was bom blind? how then doth he now see? His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was bom blind: But by what means he now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself. These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed al ready, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue. Therefore said his parents, He is of age; ask him. Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner. He answered and said, whether he be a sinner or not, I know not; one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see” (John 9:1-25). In our last lesson, the previous young man was so busy trying to be good that he missed salvation altogether. Here we find, however, that this man had come in contact with the power of God and his eyes had been opened.
saw before. The sad thing is, however there is only one thing he knows. How tragic it is that so many Christians only know that one thing. They were once blind and now they can see. Somehow they never go beyond that one thing. This means they always re main babies in Christ. They are un able to witness to anything other than the fact that they have been converted. Their conversion is merely a date on the calendar. Infants that never grow are never a pleasant sight to behold. All they are doing is breathing; they are just alive but never mature. It is sad that so many Christians are in this same con dition and are not qualified to testify to anything that would be a help to anyone else. A partial revelation of truth is a very dangerous situation. In the Epistle of John we read, “I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake. I write unto you, fathers, be cause ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father. I have written unto you, fa thers because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wick ed one” (I John 2:12-14). There are evidently at least three distinct stages of Christian growth. The child knows one thing: that its sins are forgiven and that it has a Father in heaven. (continued on next page) 27
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