Faith
in Christ does not secure a life of ease in this world, but just the opposite.
Faith in and obedience to Christ meant that Abel had to be hated by his own
brother. Noah had to be the object of constant scorn and ridicule for 120
years. Abraham had to leave the splendor of Ur to live as a nomad his whole
life. He was requiredd to cast one son out of his house and sacrifice the
other. Isaac had to bless Jacob and curse Esau. Jacob had to be brought down to
Egypt. Moses had to be hid in a basket. He had to flee the wealth and the
throne of Egypt. Jericho (the cursed city inhabited by God’s enemies) had to be
destroyed. God’s spies had to be saved by a harlot. Gideon had to fight the
Midianites with a rag-tag army of cowards. Barak had to go out against a king
and army that terrified him. Jephthah had to sacrifice his only daughter to the
Lord. Samson had to die with the Philistines. Samuel had to anoint a king to
replace his beloved Saul. David had to be hunted like a rabbit, running from
one cave to another. God’s prophets had to be made a gazing stock, laughed at,
scorned, and abused by men from generation to generation.
Faith is dependence upon God, not upon self. It
is just as real, just as active, and just as true when all circumstances are
unfavorable, when we face great personal loss, when our enemies appear to
conquer us, and when all hope of comfort and external peace are gone. Faith
takes us through the deep waters and stormy seas. Faith takes us through the
fiery trial and the wilderness of temptation. You see faith is a conscious
dependence upon the infinite, omnipotent, eternal, immutable God. Faith is
dependence upon the Lord Jesus Christ, our almighty Savior. It is not the
strength of our faith that sustains us and carries us through these things, but
the strength of Christ, the Object of our faith. He is our Strength.
Faith in Christ realizes and acknowledges
personal weaknesses, vulnerabilities, and inadequacies. When we are strong, we
are terribly weak. But when we are weak, then we are strong. Faith carries us
through every possible situation depending on the Lord our God
To the world, to our families, to our friends,
our case may be pathetic, hopeless, a total loss and failure. But inwardly, faith
mounts us up on eagles’ wings, carrying us through great loss with the triumph
of peace, joy, and hope in Christ (Isa. 40:27-31).
I do not suggest that the believer never
receives any of those things the world craves. We have examples in this chapter
of some who did. But these things are not the end of life or the great goal of
our existence. Faith enables us to set our hearts on things above while living
here below, even in the most distressing circumstances imaginable (Col 3:1-4).
Triumphant
Faith carries the believer through every stage
and demand of life, and ultimately delivers him into the presence of Christ. That
is the message these first century believers needed; and that is the message we
need. Yes, as we believe God, you and I too can do all things through Christ,
who strengthens us.