By: Gen. Jim — 11/29/18
Even if one does a cursory study of our subject – Doubt – Doubting – Doubted – one will discover that “Doubt” is a human frailty. Jesus’ famous words (on board a ship in a terrible storm), “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:31). Connected to “Doubt” is the words “double minded.”
Take what Psalm 119:113 says: “I hate those who are double-minded, but I love your law.” James writes: “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify you hearts, you DOUBLE-MINDED,” (James 4:8). That word, “double-minded,” in the original means “double-souled.” James also writes, “A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways,” (James1:8).
There was a song written that says “we can’t go on with suspicious hearts,” a love song. The same goes for our love affair with Jesus – we can’t go on with doubting hearts.
We all know how doubts/doubting dulls our love for the things of God. Apropos, “Doubt” kills our desire to fully trust God, to believe in His illimitable love for us. I wonder how many a believer has been turned aside to become a regicide, i.e. one who murders a king, because of doubts and fears? (See, Hebrews 6:6). When we yield to an incredulous spirit – disbelief/unbelief – we can, as Hebrews 6:6 says, “… if thus (we) fall away… crucify… the Son of God and subject Him to public shame.”
Doubts can also direct our paths into a sense of spiritual suicide; not martyrdom. Much depends upon making up our minds, awaking our hearts. In these dark days of strain-of-the-brain, we must not doubt what God is able to do.
When we are plunged into the raging sea of sensuous existence, don’t drown. Believe! Receive! God knows our foibles, our human weaknesses; He also knows His own Spirit within us. We’ve got to choose one or the other. We can’t go on with doubting hearts. There used to be a Bible teacher on TV (in the late 1970’s-1980’s) who always closed his program with: “Feed your faith and starve your doubts to death.” Good sound advice.
He that believes shall reign; and he that reigns shall rest. Look with wonder at that which is before you!
Note: Double Minded: Chief Sitting Bull, the legendary Lakota Warrior (Hunkpapa division of the Teton Sioux, about 1831) once said that he felt “two dogs fighting in his heart – one good, the other bad” ,He was describing the “double – souled” principle.
