Acting Out Unbelief
Unbelief is a fundamental issue that affects our relationship with God, and it is often acted out through consistent behavior rather than openly declared.
A.W. Tozer emphasizes that human sin originated from a loss of faith in God, beginning with Eve's doubt in God's integrity, which opened the door to evil and darkness in the world. He illustrates that just as a friend's loss of confidence can sever a relationship, humanity's alienation from God stems from a lack of trust in His character. Tozer points out that while few openly declare their unbelief, many act it out consistently in their lives, demonstrating a profound disconnect from God. The restoration of faith is essential for rekindling a relationship with God, as true communion can only exist when trust is restored.
Text
Human sin began with loss of faith in God. When our mother Eve listened to Satans sly innuendoes against the character of God she began to entertain a doubt of His integrity and right there the doors were opened to the incoming of every possible evil, and darkness settled upon the world. The Bible talks about mans being alienated from and an enemy to God. Should this sound harsh or extreme you have only to imagine your closest personal friend coming to you and stating in cold seriousness that he no longer has any confidence in you. I do not trust you. I have lost confidence in your character. I am forced to suspect every move you make.
Such a declaration would instantly alienate friends by destroying the foundation upon which every friendship is built.
Until your former friends opinion of you had been reversed there could be no further communion. Only a restored faith could bring about a restored friendship. Now, it is well known that people do not go boldly to God and profess that they have no confidence in Him, and no one except the rare professional unbeliever is willing to witness publicly to his low view of God. The frightful thing, however, is that people everywhere act out their unbelief with a consistency that is more convincing than words.
Sermon Outline
- The Origin of Unbelief
- The Consequences of Unbelief
- The Reality of Unbelief
- People do not openly declare their unbelief
- Unbelief is acted out through consistent behavior
Key Quotes
“The frightful thing, however, is that people everywhere act out their unbelief with a consistency that is more convincing than words.” — A.W. Tozer
“Should this sound harsh or extreme you have only to imagine your closest personal friend coming to you and stating in cold seriousness that he no longer has any confidence in you.” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- We must examine our own hearts to see if we have lost confidence in God's character.
- Unbelief can lead to alienation from God, but it is never too late to restore our faith and relationship with Him.
- Our behavior is a reflection of our true beliefs, and we must be mindful of how our actions demonstrate our faith in God.