Now, Faith
So the promise is received by faith. It is given as a free gift. And we are all certain to receive it, whether or not we live according to the law of Moses, if we have faith like Abraham’s. [Romans 4 : 16]
There was a time in the long walk of building my faith when I would actually think out loud , “what’s faithing without a little doubting?” At the time, I believed God understood. After all I am human and asking me to have immoveable faith in all circumstances and despite what things look like is quite a tall ask. Somehow, through my own revelation and by applying the logic of my very own human mind, I managed to convince myself that God gives leeway for our moments of doubting. That somehow, He has given us grace in the form of some unseen margin of tolerance, which permits us to doubt for a little while before we climb valiantly back on the horse of faith.
That was before I read my bible and read it very well. As far as faith, what God asks of us is simple : unshakeable, immovable faith. The kind of faith described in Matthew 17 : 20, faith that moves mountains. If you think about it, the threshold is not that high is it? Scripture prescribes that measure of faith to be like a grain of mustard seed. Have you seen the size of that thing? It’s only the tiniest of grains - if you’ve never looked it up please Google it today. I suppose the real question is, since I am yet to move a physical mountain, is my faith at the level of a mustard seed? It strikes me as quite odd to think that God would permit humans to be running helter skelter on planet earth lifting mountains up and down like Legos and rearranging them from one location to the other. I mean, could you imagine the mayhem? On the basis that I wouldn’t interpret it literally to mean that the mountain must necessarily be a physical one, it must surely represent herculean challenges in the journey of life. And as I have conquered one thing after the other through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit then yes, I do qualify to say I have built up my faith.
What then does the bible say about faith? Romans 4 : 16 tells us that the promise is received by faith. That without faith, it is impossible to please God, for all who draw near to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11 :6). That God’s way of making us right with Himself depends on faith (Philippians 3:9). Other verses in the bible talk of childlike faith - again, not a very high threshold if our minds and human logic will remove themselves from the picture and allow us to be great.
In short, what God requires of us is that we step into a realm of unwavering belief and resolute conviction, that we walk in the unswerving belief that He can be trusted. A study of the depth of faith displayed by Abraham as detailed in the book of Romans is a real game changer.
Romans 4 : 18 to 25
For Abraham is the father of all who believe. That is what the Scriptures mean when God told him, “I have made you the father of many nations.” This happened because Abraham believed in the God who brings the dead back to life and who creates new things out of nothing.
Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping—believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, “That’s how many descendants you will have!” And Abraham’s faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead—and so was Sarah’s womb.
Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises. And because of Abraham’s faith, God counted him as righteous. And when God counted him as righteous, it wasn’t just for Abraham’s benefit. It was recorded for our benefit, too, assuring us that God will also count us as righteous if we believe in him, the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God.
Daughter of Zion, why then must your faith waver? Why must you cry, wobbling and stumbling in the realm of the spirit as you oscillate between standing on the promises of God and doubting that He will do that which He has said? God is not a man that He should lie, nor is He human that He should change His mind. Let God be true and every man a liar - God CAN be trusted. Hold on to your faith. Believe, and when you think you’re done believing, believe some more. Be like Abraham, whose faith grew even stronger just because GOD HAD SAID. If the Lord could minister to you right now, I bet He would ask, “Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?” [Luke 12 : 27 and 28]
What God cannot do, does not exist.
Be blessed.