Our impressions are from three sources—the divine, the
diabolical, and the human; from God, from Satan, and from
natural sources. There are two rules given us by which to
test our impressions—first and best, the Word of God;
second, our own better judgment.
Some people are more given to
impressions than others. Persons of the former class need
to be careful lest they should follow some "ignis
fatuus" to the quagmires of fanaticism.
Impressions from the Lord are never
attended with discouragements from Him. Though sometimes
the way may seem difficult and we may see ahead of us
lions that seem to be on the way, yet the assurance that
God's grace is sufficient, the promise that no lions shall
go up on the holy way, and the confidence that He will
make a way for us in trouble—these keep discouragements
away. If impressions from the Lord are attended with
discouragements, these are not from the Lord. Even with
conviction for sin the Lord does not send discouragement,
but rather sends with the sorrow for sin hope of
deliverance. This, then, is one way to recognize the
impressions that come from God.
The surest and best test, of
course, is to consider whether or not the impression is in
harmony with the Bible. If it is not, it is unsafe to
follow. But we sometimes have impressions in regard to
things of which the Scriptures do not speak. In such cases
the Lord allows us to use our better judgment. We often
receive impressions from the Spirit of God concerning
matters on which the Bible is silent, but the difficult
point with those who are accused and doubting is to know
when the Lord is talking and when Satan is talking.
It is well for those who are
habitual doubters or for those who have long been accused,
to pay but little attention to impressions of any kind.
For such persons the safest way out is to take the written
Word of God and their better judgment, and build upon it
until they have become well established. Then they can
more easily and more surely obtain the leadings of the
Lord through His Spirit.
Impressions brought about by
circumstances or natural causes may sometimes be harmless
and sometimes may lead to disaster. Your better judgment
and the advice of discreet brethren constitute the surest
way to discriminate between right and wrong impressions of
this nature. Impressions that come from Satan, we all
know, are invariably wrong. The most important question is
to be able to detect the impressions of the devil to know
when the Lord is speaking and when Satan is tempting. I
repeat that the only safe way out from the slough of false
impressions for those who have become habitual doubters or
have been long accused by Satan is the written Word of
God, the advice of spiritual and well informed brethren,
and the use of one's own better judgment.
