LESSONS FROM THE SCHOOL OF THE DESERT: FAITH IN WHAT? By David Maddox
Most serious Christians are aware that Hebrews 11:1 provides us with the definition of faith from God’s perspective. “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” But in what can we truly hope that we cannot see – yet we are told to walk in – for the passage goes on to state, “And without faith it is impossible to please Him (God)” (Hebrews 11:6a)? That has been one of the hard lessons God is teaching me during these days as He heals my cancer. I have had the heart breaking revelation where God literally told me that what He was able to do through others He could not do through me because of my lack of faith which I know is true. But God never leaves us in despair and failure. He comes to teach and reprove and change us that we may be all He created us to be. And so He opened my eyes to the answer to in what I can hope and walk that I cannot see – and where I have failed and thus missed opportunities to be used. It is so simple – yet profound – that I am left with a great sadness for what I missed, but with encouragement for what lies ahead as my focus will be on that which He wants me to have faith in and to thus walk in without sight knowing that He will do what only He can do.
Here it is from Paul’s mouth spoken in the midst of a life threatening tragedy – “So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told” (Acts 27:25). Paul understood that He could trust in what God said regardless of what he could see physically was before Him. Reality for Paul was not what he saw or even what was possible – it was what God said would be – and because he walked in faith it was. The reaction of those who live in the presence of God to our failure to believe what He says is probably best expressed when Gabriel rebuked Zechariah for his lack of faith that God would do what was clearly physically impossible with him. Gabriel declared, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.” (Luke 1:18-20).
What Word can we believe that God has spoken to us? If you want to truly walk in faith and be used of God the place of beginning is simple – its the Bible – read and believe that whatever Jesus said or the Holy Spirit inspired the other Biblical authors to write is true and walk in it and not try to explain it away or ignore it. Jesus meant what He said so often about obedience to His Word which He capsulized in when He rebuked Satan saying – “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” (Matthew 4:4). “Every word” – yet most don’t even read every word of Scripture so they walk without the light of that which God has given us to guide our lives. Then when He speaks to us personally giving us direction which requires faith we have no foundation on which to be sure it is even God speaking so we become discourage and don’t walk in faith – missing opportunities to be used and know the joy of our Savior – and to live a life of the impossible being the regular because God said so. I have learned this lesson and now am going back to be reminded of when God spoke that I did not walk so that if possible I can walk there now – and as I daily read Scripture I am looking for those passages by which I am being directed to walk today – and I am listening for His voice knowing I can be sure where to walk because I have His Word to put along what I hear to confirm that it was His voice. Exciting days ahead walking in the unseen – the impossible – where God works through faith. Join me and watch as God changes others as He uses you.
Thank you David! David Maddox is our newest addition to the FGGAM team! God Bless you my friend!
