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Fixing Your Faith On Christ
J.C. Ryle
Do you belong to that small class of persons who profess faith in Christ, and are trying, however weakly, to follow Him in the midst of an evil world? I think I know something of what goes on in your hearts. You sometimes feel that you will never persevere to the end, and will some day give up your profession. You often think very bitter things about yourself, and imagine you have no grace at all. I am afraid there are myriads of true Christians in this condition, who go trembling and doubting toward heaven, with Despondency and Much-Afraid, and rearing in Pilgrim's Progress and fear they will never get to the Celestial City at all. But oddly enough, in spite of their groans and doubts and fears, they do not turn back to the city from which they came, they press on, though faint, yet pursuing and they end well.
Now my advice to all such persons is very simple. Cultivate the habit of fixing your faith more on Jesus Christ, and try to know more of the fulness there is laid up in Him for every one of His believing people. Do not be always examining your imperfections and dissecting your sins. Look up! Look more to your risen Head in heaven, and try to realize more than you do that the Lord Jesus not only died for you, but that He also rose again and that he is ever living at God's right hand as your Priest, your Advocate and your Almighty Friend. When the Apostle Peter walked upon the waters he got on very well as long as his eye was fixed upon his Almighty Master and Savior. But when he looked away to the winds and waves, and considered the weight of his body, he soon began to sink, and cried, "Lord, save me." No wonder that our gracious Lord, while grasping his hand and delivering him from a watery grave, said, "O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?" Alas! Many of us are like Peter, we look away from Jesus, then our hearts faint, and we feel we are sinking. O God, help us to be ever "looking unto Jesus the Author and finisher of our faith" (Heb_12:2). (edited, JFB)
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