01.09. Conclusion
Conclusion The journey of faith is marked by transitions of faith-scenes. Each choice of faith is a step forward. Voices and choices fill the avenues of this walk: faith chooses the voice of truth. The light of faith may flicker in the night winds of darkness, but it refuses to blow off; for it is made up of that which is invincible – the eternal Word of God. The faith that is made up of human words dies a mortal death, but the faith flamed by God’s own heart will never die. His Word is His heart revealed to us. Therefore, there is nothing so personal about God than His revelation on this earth. His Word may be stern or it may be soft, it may be sweet or may taste bitter; yet, it is His Word that comes from His heart. Therefore, he who has set his heart on the Word of God has set his heart on God. He shall never fail.
Faith is final as the Word is final. It is the evidence. It is beginning and end of all evidences. He who can’t recognize the truth of God when he sees it is blind; no amount of evidence will ever convince him. But he whose eyes have been opened sees the light and rejoices in the salvation of God. His Word is self-evidencing and self-disclosing. No man can either close it or disclose it. No knowledge can either prove it or disprove it; for it speaks directly to the spirit of man and commands his obedience. If one can’t believe God one can believe in nothing else. The heroes of faith were not just heroes unto themselves: they were those who combined faith with the Word of God to shape divine history. History is divided into two opposite worlds: the world of faith and the world of rebellion. Evil rules over the world of rebellion and it doesn’t know God: its history ends in condemnation and judgment. The world of faith is ruled by the scepter of His Word: it shall abide forever. The world of rebellion ridicules the world of faith; the flesh strives against the Spirit; but truth and light are in the city of God while darkness reigns with curdling chaos in the hearts of unbelievers. By faith Abel offered a better sacrifice than Cain, and obtained the witness that he was righteous; for Abel believed God for who He was and gave to Him the best of all. But Cain brought the common things to God and was not careful to sanctify Him (or recognize His ultimate distinction) through proper worship. A worship that doesn’t sanctify God is abominable before Him; it is idolatry and sin; for God cannot be compared with anyone. Therefore, the Word commands: "Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness" (1 Chronicles 16:29). The walk that pleases God is the walk of faith. The Scripture says that Enoch obtained the testimony that he pleased God before he was taken away. Is our life something that pleases God or something that seems to be a burden to Him? Does He rejoice over us or is He hurt by our ways? One can’t please God unless one approaches Him in sincerity and truth; one can’t approach Him unless one seeks Him; and one can’t seek Him unless one believes that He exists and is the rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. "Seek the LORD, and ye shall live" (Amos 5:6) says the Word. Enoch sought God and obtained a life that is immortal. He never died. The flood of God’s judgment covered the face of the earth with waters; it destroyed everything that had breath in it because the world had corrupted itself with selfishness, pride, and presumption. Unbelief only brings condemnation. But faith has a saving nature. It saved Noah and his family; for by faith he was declared to be righteous and he also condemned the world by his obedience to God. His faith allowed no excuse to the ungodly. It exposed their falsity, condemned their rebellion, and demolished their pride; but it saved those who obeyed. In his time, Abraham saw human religion at its great heights. The giant Ziggurat at Ur, the temple of Nina, and the curious arts of astrology and witchcraft captivated human hearts. Money flowed in from trade to this commercial city and it had a strong political influence as well. But God took him out of it and called him to be a nation. Abraham never disobeyed God. He was always prompt at His Word. He obtained the heavenly vision and moved out without knowing where he was going. In fact, he did reach the land of Palestine promised to him but never saw it becoming his in his lifetime. He lived in tents along with his people and family there. He never had a building of his own (except, of course, the tomb that he bought for his wife). Yet, he believed God and drank in every Word that He said; and God imputed it to him as righteousness. Therefore, he is called a friend of God and the father of all believers. The Word tells us that his vision was not limited to this earth; he looked to the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. Abraham and Sarah believed God for His promises and God blessed them with Isaac in their old age. He believed in hope against hope and she received strength because she counted on God’s faithfulness.
Moses’ parents never knew what plans God had for their child but by faith they protected him because they saw that he was a proper child. We never know what plans God has for our children; but the eyes of faith recognizes how precious they are in the sight of God and treats them with honor, nurtures them with grace, and brings them up in the fear of the Lord; for faith leaves a legacy through its posterity. Moses, when he grew up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter because he learnt faith at home. He chose to suffer for Christ rather than enjoy the transient pleasures of sin. Anything separated from God is sin, for nothing can be holy apart from God. He looked to the treasures that are hid in Christ. By faith he forsook Egypt and was not afraid of Pharaoh’s wrath, for nothing less than God can terrify the man who trusts in God. So, he endured as one seeing the invisible One. He led his people in the observance of the Passover and saved them from the angel of death. The magicians and armies of Egypt fell asunder before the might of Jehovah as this man of faith spoke on God’s behalf. A nation was redeemed, a promise fulfilled, and history was made when Egypt shook off Israel from its clutches after being scourged by God. The story of the heroes of faith doesn’t end here. The writer goes on to speak of the Israelites, of Rahab, of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets: "who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented – of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth" (Hebrews 11:33-37, NKJV). Perhaps, these latter descriptions might not look heroic but the heroes of faith are not heroes because they look successful in human eyes; they are heroes because they triumph in faith and endure to the end: their faith is not broken by any power of man or the enemy. And what does this all encourage us to? Obviously, to be unshaken in our faith in God no matter how hard the rough winds of the world blow against us: the house built upon the rock shall stand. The writer of Hebrews calls these heroes or warriors of faith as "a cloud of witnesses" that surrounds us. The scene painted here is that of a stadium; however, the runners (which are the believers) are not just surrounded by mere spectators: they are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses (martus) who inspire and challenge them to move forward towards the goal. Faith not only saves the one who believes; it also inspires, impacts, and influences others.
Pages can be filled with stories, messages, illustrations, and testimonies of faith. However, it is more blessed to live it than to merely talk about or even just listen about faith. Faith without truth and faith without action, both are futile. One must believe in the truth. There are some who just try to believe in faith (idolizing it) and preach a gospel of optimism about self-invented dreams and visions. However, faith is not at all about them. It is related to the truth of God’s revelation. A mountain of faith in something God has not revealed cannot move a mustard seed; but a mustard seed of faith in something God has spoken can move a mountain. Thus, faith, truth, and action are related. Faith also works by love, for God is love and He who conforms to the Word of His heart will inevitably conform to His heart. This also means that faith is spiritual as the Word clearly implies when it states that the things of God are spiritually discerned (1 Corinthians 2:14) and that we walk by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). Therefore, it is also mentioned as both the gift of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:9) and the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). This remarkably differs from the imaginations and presuppositions of the human heart. It comes from God as a gift with the Word of the Spirit that He gives to us; and so, it has fruits unto everlasting life. Faith is that which defines our identity and relationship with God. To sum it all up in the words of the writer of Hebrews itself: "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him" (Hebrews 11:6, NKJV). The heart of faith has no presumption, It simply trusts His Word.
It stands secure, and in His Promise Finds eternal worth. The eyes of faith will never tire, Though deeper gets the night;
They hope ignited by the fire Of God’s Eternal Light. The dreams of faith are dreams of glory; Not earthly name or fame. A child may write another history, If he’s of God ne’er ashamed.
Faith will worship God forever; For faith alone, in truth, sees Him.
Faith is an unceasing river Of praise and worship to the King.
Faith listens and faith obeys, Faith moves on and never stays, Faith is strong and faith grows stronger And never falters in His ways.
Faith offers its all to God Not a thing to itself left; For faith’s true rest and meaning Are in the bosom of His chest.