In the movie: “The Longest Day,” which tells the story of Operation Overlord, the D-Day invasion of Normandy, John Wayne plays Lt. Col. Benjamin Vandervoort, commander of the 89th Division. There is a moment when he comes upon a road sign pointing out the direction to St. Mere Eglise, their objective. His men have already dutifully began to march in that direction.
Suddenly the General calls out: “Am I the only one in this unit that uses a compass?”
It turns out that the enemy has turned the sign around to lead them the wrong way! Vandervoort orders his men to turn around. He glances toward the sign: “Knock it Down!” he orders. And so we consider the voices that speak to us… offering to direct us, in our own day and time. How do we know which signs are right? What ‘compass’ is there to guide us? Are there signs around us that we should knock down?
Consider this analysis of a poem by Alfred Lord Tennyson. The poem is about a young person struggling with two voices… one telling him that life is meaningless, the other telling him that it indeed has great meaning! Which direction is right here?
Since this poem has been written there has been a tremendous wave of unbelief over the world, affecting all thinking men and women. Yet one result has been, that there is more real faith abroad now than there has ever been in the world before. But doubt and questioning must now affect every thinking mind, and this in some cases leads to the suggestion of this Tempting Voice. Well, if there be no God, the Tempting Voice is right. All human life would be a sham. Man is befooled.
But yet there is another way. Go and do God’s will and you will know That is the remedy to the gloomy doubts and the terrible depression of this age. And remember what so many forget, the Christian duty of joy. You say: “It is not in my power to rejoice now.” Well, I deny it. You have the power if only you will exert the will. And don’t let slip the youthful dreams. Such things will help you against the false self which comes with the Tempting Voice to despair. And don’t let gloomy pictures of results keep coming before you. “Tomorrow” has no existence till it actually comes. Let it take care of itself.” – George Macdonald, from a lecture on Tennyson’s Poem “The Two Voices,”
In the poem “The Two Voices” a soul wrestles with itself. One voice urges suicide, the other Faith and Hope.
Indeed this speaks to our condition today, but it was penned over 100 years ago. Today, as in ages past, when we are conflicted, there really but two voices.
There is the Voice of the Spirit of the Age, that voice that tells us that all we see is all that there is. There is nothing greater awaiting us. It tells us to grab onto experiences and feed our here and now… it tells us to fit in. It trades heavily in our feelings and our confusion… and it ultimately leads us to destruction.
But there is another voice. As C. S. Lewis says, it calls us: “Further in and Further Up.” It does not promise quick gratification… indeed it may call us to walk a rougher road. It may call us to walk alone. But its end is to lead us to a better country.
Consider the case of Abraham. It is recounted several places in the Bible:
Romans 4:3
For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.”
Galatians 3:6
Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”
James 2:23
And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.”
Hebrews 11:8-10
By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
Abraham trusted the Voice of God. He left Ur with its pagan culture and set out on a journey that would take him 1100 miles to sojourn in Caanan. He would face famine, hostile rulers, the threat of death and a future full of changes… but he exchanged the prospect of safety and security for a future that would bless the nations of the world.
Two Voices… Today
So what are the voices that speak to us today? How can we be sure that we are hearing the voice of God? If the essence of Faith is found in obedience to God’s voice, how do we know we are following God’s voice?
A bit of warning: Romans 8:16 "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God."
1. How many vain men, not understanding what they spake, neither whereof they affirmed, have wrested this Scripture to the great loss if not the destruction of their souls! How many have mistaken the voice of their own imagination for this witness of the Spirit of God, and thence idly presumed they were the children of God while they were doing the works of the devil! These are truly and properly enthusiasts; and, indeed, in the worst sense of the word. But with what difficulty are they convinced thereof, especially if they have drank deep into that spirit of error! All endeavours to bring them to the knowledge of themselves they will then account fighting against God; and that vehemence and impetuosity of spirit which they call "contending earnestly for the faith," sets them so far above all the usual methods of conviction that we may well say, "With men it is impossible." -- John Wesley, in his sermon " The Witness of the Spirit".
The True Voice of the Spirit, will it not call us to leave Ur and journey to Canaan? In other words, it will call us away from our familiar culture... dare I say it will call us to be counter-cultural... speaking to us in the language of HEAVEN rather than the language of men!
Thus True Faith will lead us here: “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”
– 2 Timothy 3:16,17
He then proceeded to show that faith and obedience are one and the same spirit, passing as it were from room to room in the same heart: what in the heart we call faith, in the will we call obedience.”
– George MacDonald
Hebrews 11, 12:1-2
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report.
Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.
Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.
These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:
Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure. By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.
By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.
By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.
By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;
Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.
By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.
By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.
By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.
And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:
Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions.
Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:
And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
