"Believe
– Even When All Is Not Well"
by
Dr. David Farmer, pastor
Scripture: Hebrews 10:35-39
“Cast not away
therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the
will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and
he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. Now the just shall
live by faith: but if [any man] draw back, my soul shall have no
pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition;
but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.”
Everyone here has had both
good and bad days. Some
have had more than their share. No one likes those hectic days. I would
like to share with you a story about a man who had one of those hectic
bad days. He wrote a letter about his day to his boss. Listen;
"When
I got to the work site, I found that the hurricane had knocked off some
bricks around the top. So I rigged up a beam with a pulley at the top of
the building. Then I hoisted up a couple of barrels full of bricks. When
I had fixed the damaged area, there were a lot of bricks left over. So I
went to the bottom and began releasing the line. Unfortunately, the
barrel of bricks was much heavier than I was. Before I knew what was
happening, the barrel started coming down, jerking me up. I decided to
hang on, since I was too far off the ground by then to jump. Halfway up
I met the barrel of bricks coming down fast. I received a hard blow on
my shoulder. I then
continued to the top, banging my head against the beam. This caused my
fingers to get pinched in the pulley. When the barrel hit the ground
hard, it burst allowing the bricks to spill out. I was now heavier than
the barrel. So I started down at high speed.
Halfway down, I met the barrel again coming up fast. Again I
received severe injuries to my shins. When I hit the ground, I landed on
the pile of spilled bricks getting several painful cuts and deep
bruises. At this point, I must have lost my presence of mind. Because I
let go of my grip on the line, causing the barrel to come down fast,
giving me another blow on my head. This placed me in the hospital. Sir I
respectfully requests sick leave.”
I would
say he had a pretty bad day wouldn’t you? Did you know Christians
could have bad days too? Probably not as bad as this guy had. But
Christians can go through struggles and frustrations. We can be
confronted with different problems and sufferings. There are times when
questions perplex us and answers are difficult to find. I have found
that there are some today that teach that if you're sincere enough, or
faithful enough, or diligent enough, then somehow hardships and
difficulties won't come your way.
There seem to be popular ministers, especially TV ministers, who
would have people think that Christians wear some kind of invincible
armor. That life is to be one big emotional high. That if trouble comes
and lingers, then you haven't prayed the right prayer, or claimed the
correct promise. But the truth is Christians can and do receive hurt and
pain just like everyone else. In fact, we may be the objects of greater
trouble because of Satan's harassment. But at the same time Christians
have an edge. An advantage.
Why? Look at the first part of Hebrews 10:38 again. “Now the just shall live by faith.” In
other words, this verse says that God’s people are loyal to Him
not only when things are going right
but also when things are going wrong. God’s children live by
faith not because they
have no doubt. But because they believe and obey God
in spite of any doubt they may have!
The Bible gives many examples of individuals who lived Godly lives
while at the same time having to put up with tremendous heartache, or
overwhelming hardships. This morning I would like to bring out three
character traits that I feel describe these Bible individuals who lived
by faith.
The first one is this; a true child of God, a true Christian will
live by faith even when God seems to be silent. When we think of God
seemly being silent almost automatically most of us think of Job from
the Old Testament. Here was a man who lost his cattle, buildings, his
servants, children, and was severely criticized by his wife and friends.
He lost it all in one day. But the one thing that seemed to bother him
the most we are told in Job 23:35, the one thing that tore him up inside
more than any other, was that for a time God seemed to hide His face.
Like God had turned His ear away for Job’s cries for help. Almost like
all of Job's prayers did nothing more than bounce off the ceiling. Job
was frustrated because God seemed to be silent. It was a testing time
for job. It was a period when Job had to search for answers. And he had
to do it alone.
In Job 13:15, Job declared, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him."
There are times in all of our lives when everything seems to be going
great. A time when it seems that God is blessings us greatly. Then
almost over night not all the pieces of life's puzzle seem to fit
together. Circumstances in our lives take a turn. It’s almost as if we
have stepped into hostile territory. Just when you think you have all
the answers to today's questions, someone changes the questions. And you
ask "Why?" as you start searching desperately for new answers
and none can be found?
Maybe there have been times in your life when God seemed to do just
the opposite of what you thought he would do. I mean after all, you just
knew what would the best for everyone.
James Dobson tells the cute story of a man who is driving a truck on
a mountain road. He's up near the top and going too fast. This causes
him to Lose control of the truck. The truck goes over the side of the
mountain and lands at the bottom where it bursts into flames. But the
man had been thrown out at the top of the mountain where he managed to
grab hold of a tree limb just as the truck is going over the cliff. As
he is hanging on to this limb, he realizes he can't go up or down. His
back and arms are starting to hurt. Finally, out of desperation, he
calls out above; "Is anybody there?" The voice of the Lord comes
back and says, "Yes, I'm here. What do you want me to do for
you?" "Will you save me Lord?" The Voice comes back and
says, "Yes, I will save you. What I want you to do is just let go
of the branch. Let go and trust me to catch you." The man looks
over his shoulder at the burning truck at the bottom of the mountain. He
looks back over the cliff. Finally he says; "Is anyone else
there?"
Folks, have there been times in your life when God seems to require
too much of you? Have you understood everything that has happened to
you? Are their ever perplexing questions for which you have not yet
found answers? What do you do?
Turn with me to Hebrews 11. The famous faith chapter. Here are
listed a few of the greatest people of faith.
In verse 5 we find Enoch lives a holy life. So holy that God
translates him to heaven without seeing death. In verse 7 we find Noah
builds an ark and God saves his family. In Vs 8-10 we find God leads
Abraham to the Promised Land. In Vs.: 11 and 12 we see God works a
miracle in Sarah and she conceives a child. In Vs.: 23-28 Moses chooses
to suffer with Israel rather than sit on the throne of Egypt and God
equips him to oversee the Exodus. verse 29 Israel steps into the Red Sea
and God parts the water. In verse 30 they march around Jericho and God
shatters the city walls. verse31 Rahab shelters the spies and God saves
her life. Then in verse 32 we find Gideon, Samson, David, and Samuel.
And as you read on you find that many of these faithful men and women
lived for God. And many times they suffered and some died.
The issue is not whether or not God could, or even would save them
from death! The issue was whether or not they would believe and trust in
God’s promise to be with them. The Lord wants all of us to realize and
accept the fact that he is the only One who can help us. God wants
people who will trust him just like the three Hebrews did in Dan 3:17,
18.
As they felt the heat of the fiery furnace they said, "Our
God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace,
and He will deliver us out of thine hand, O King. But if not, be it
known unto thee, O King that we will not serve thy Gods, nor worship the
golden image, which thou hast set up."
God wants a people that will not bow to unbelief.
Next, the 2nd thing I want to look at is the fact that a
true Christian will live by faith when God seems unfeeling. Moses had
dreamed of entering the Promised Land for more than 80 years. There were
40 years of loneliness and isolation while herding sheep. Then came
another 40 years of stress as he worked with the complaints and problems
of wandering Israel. But the promise of going to the Promised Land made
it all worthwhile to Moses. What disappointment he must have felt when
he was told that he couldn’t crossover the Jordan and enter Canaan.
Can you imagine the questions of fairness and justice? Of grace and
forgiveness that Moses could've asked? But Moses had learned to trust
God. In the end, Moses received better God took Moses to the great
Promised Land of Heaven.
The 3rd thing I want to look at is the fact that a true
Christian will live by faith even when God seems almost to contradict
Himself. Here is where I think of Abraham and Isaac. One evening Abraham
is gazing up at the nighttime sky. Suddenly God says: "Abraham, do you see all those stars? Someday your
descendants will be as numerous, like the sands of the sea. I'm going to
give you many generations, and kings will be born among them."
I don't know what went on in Abraham's mind. He probably experienced a
great surge of joy as he thought about finally having a child. But the
years roll by and God doesn't talk about the promised son anymore.
Heaven is silent.
Soon Abraham hits 60 and Sarah 50.
The years of child bearing has passed by. The decades continue
and Abraham celebrates his 100th birthday. Sarah her 90th.
And that is when it happens. The miracle child is born; and it was worth
the wait!
For years everything is wonderful. Then one day out of the clear
blue sky, God, without warning, without time for preparation says in Gen
22:1,2, "Abraham,
Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest. And offer him
for a burnt offering... " Can you imagine the questions that had to come to Abraham's
mind?
Isaac was to be the one in whom the future of God’s people rests.
Surely Abraham had to think of the commandment God gave not to kill? He
may even have wondered if it was for sure God’s voice.
Yet we know from Gen 22 that every action and word of Abraham is
saturated with faith in God. When Isaac asks a question about the
sacrifice, Abraham answers in verse 8,
"My
son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering:"
It didn't make any sense to Abraham. He couldn't figure it out. He had no answer. Tenderly Isaac
is helped onto the altar. The knife is lifted but an angel stops
Abraham. James 2:23 states that "Abraham
believed God." God was teaching Abraham, that the future didn't depend on Isaac.
It depended on God. And God is telling us that our future doesn't depend
on us, it doesn't depend on our job. It doesn't depend on our finances.
It doesn't depend on our family. The future, our future, depends only on
God.
And even when things happen to us that don’t make sense; know and
believe that God is with you! And if it ever seems that God is silent,
we, like Job, can say in faith: "Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him."
If it ever seems to you that God is unfeeling, you must like Moses, walk
in confidence of the Great Promised Land. And finally if it ever seems
to you that God almost contradicts Himself, or he asks you to make a
sacrifice of any kind, you can believe, like Abraham "My
son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering:"
Hebrews 11:1 says, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the
evidence of things not seen." And Hebrews 12: 13 says: “Wherefore
seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses,
let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset
[us], and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith; who for the
joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and
is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him
that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be
wearied and faint in your minds.”
I liked what our Sabbath School lesson said on Wednesday’s lesson.
Jesus said; “All
things all possible to him who believes.” This doesn’t mean, “All things are
GUARANTEED to him that believes.” There is a huge
difference. As the Sabbath School lesson brought out, Jesus is talking
that about the potential – not guaranteed actuality.
Belief
doesn’t ever promise that our prayers will be answered the way we
want. But in Matthew 28:20, Jesus does promise that He’ll be with us; “always,
even unto the end of the world.”
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