Focus: Restful Faith (Pt.2)

Text: Jb.13:15

"Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him."

God has brought us into a season of rest. Our faith in Christ is the key to rest. Faith and the word of God are tied together. Faith is born of the word of God. Paul says that "faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God," and so it is always connected to what God has said. It rests on the spoken word of God. Paul declares, "For I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me" (Act.27:25). Faith believes what God says. If God says it, then God will do it. What did God tell Paul? He said that amid the destructive storm that rocked the ship in which they sailed to Rome, that not one single life would be lost, and it happened exactly as the Lord had said it. The ship was destroyed, but everyone on board it was saved to shore.

Always bear in mind that faith always rests on God and His word, not on anything else.

Syncretism is not the way of faith. It does not recognize plurality of deities. It is loyal only to the almighty God. So for you to experience the rest of faith you must not place it on the wrong things. Faith in the wrong places proves abortive.

Let us consider some of the wrong things that we cannot afford to place our faith upon.

God says to Israel, "But thou didst trust in thine own BEAUTY…" (Ezk.16:15). Beauty fades. It is lack of sense, trusting in our own beauty.

God warns the righteous of losing his righteousness "if he trust to his own RIGHTEOUSNESS…" (Ezk.33:13). Self-righteousness leads to boasting, and it is not wise to trust in it.

God says of Ephraim, "Thou didst trust in THY WAY, in the MULTITUDE of thy mighty men…" (Hos.10:13). Our trust should not rest on our contracts, contacts and connections. We cannot afford to lean on temporal things. We must not lean on our ability to maneuver our way through or to trust on our own intelligence and ideas.

God says, "Trust ye not in THY BROTHER…" (Jer.9:4). Human beings disappoint, including family members and blood relations. Every man has the potential to fail.

God warns us, "Trust not in a FRIEND, put no confidence in a GUIDE…" (Mic.7:5). Nothing and no one is worthy of our trust.

Talking to the people who put their "trust in the SHADOW of Egypt," God says, "Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh be your shame, and the trust in the shadow of Egypt be your confusion" (Isa.30:2,3). Again, He says, "Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on HORSES, and trust in CHARIOTS, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD!" (Isa.31:1). Things, people and places cannot take the place of God in our lives. Isaiah declares, "They shall be turned back, they shall be greatly ashamed, that trust in GRAVEN IMAGES, that say to the MOLTEN IMAGES, Ye are our gods" (Isa.42:17). Idols are not trustworthy. Anything you trust other than God will fail you. Don't be a part of those who "trust in vanity" (Isa.59:4). Vanity means empty things including idols.

Things not to trust abound. The psalmist says, "For I will not trust in MY BOW, neither shall MY SWORD save me"(Ps.44:6).

The psalmist speaks of "they that trust in THEIR WEALTH, and boast themselves of THEIR RICHES" (Ps.49:6). He says that "it is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in MAN. It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in PRINCES" (Ps.118:8,9). He continues, "Put not your trust in PRINCES, nor in the SON OF MAN, IN WHOM THERE IS NO HELP" (Ps.146:3).

All of these things are the wrong things to hinge our trust on. We will never have rest trusting in the wrong things. Solomon demands that we lean completely on God. He says, "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding" (Prov.3:5). God only is worthy of our trust, for He never fails. We can bank on His promises. He says, "For I will surely deliver thee, and thou shalt not fall by the sword, but thy life shall be for a prey unto thee: because thou hast put thy trust in me, saith the LORD" (Jer.39:18). Isaiah boldly declares, "Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation" (Isa.12:2). Again he says, "Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength" (Isa.26:4). Solomon declares, "He that putteth his trust in the LORD shall BE MADE FAT… Whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be SAFE" (Prov.28:25; 29:25). He says again, "Every word of God is pure: he is shield unto them that put their trust in him" (Prov.30:5).

Let me conclude with the words of the psalmist. He says, "The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower… The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate" (Ps.18:2; 34:22).

Be restful, not fretful! Your God is capable and reliable. Take your eyes off things, places and people, and place your total trust in God! Things, places and people can fail, but your God cannot fail.

by Bishop Moses E. Peter