"God is faithful, that's all I know"

What a profound statement.  Do we really need to know any more than that?  No matter what is going on in our lives if we just keep that one thought in our minds, I believe we can deal with most anything that life can throw at us.  It boils down to faith and faith is a key element of the Christian walk. 

What I want to explore today is how deep is our faith and where does that faith come from? 

Let's start in the book of Daniel.

Daniel 3:16-18(NKJV)

16Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 

17If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. 

18But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”

Now most of us will never be called on to depend on our faith to that degree, but what if?  It's hard for us to imagine here in the U.S but everyday around the world there are Christians that do face life and death choices like this.  Please remember those people in your daily prayers.  I honestly wonder if I would have the faith in a life or death situation like that.  We all like to think we would but I don't think you can ever know until you face it.

For most of us, our tests of faith will come from crisis we face in our everyday lives.  When bad things happen are we able to draw closer to God through our faith when the rest of the world wouldn't blame us at all for being bitter?  Are we able to really believe, not just pay lip service, but believe that God is firmly in control and that things will work out for His good?

I'd like to share the story of a family that I know.  As you read what they have been through ask yourself if you would be able to continue to have the kind of faith that this family has.  This family has seen year after year of death.  Family and close friends.  Several kids at school committed suicide.  One of their children committed suicide.  An uncle committed suicide.  The surviving child was diagnosed with Leukemia.  While that child was in the hospital one of the parents had a cerebral hemorrhage of some sort and may now be disabled from their profession.  There's more but you get the idea.  Now what would your response be if you had to endure that?

"God is faithful, that's all I know!"  "He is going to turn around for good what the devil meant for evil. "  "God is in control"  "My God can't fail and He has a plan that will come to pass"   These are the responses of the family that I am referring to.  To me this family exhibits the "peace that surpasses all understanding".  Would you still be able to say those things and mean it?  Now I'm sure that this family would say what's the big deal and give all the glory to God that they have this type of faith, but I still think it is a faith worth noting. 

"God is faithful, that's all I know"  Think about what that sentence is saying.  When we think of faith we mostly think of it from the aspect of us having faith in God and Jesus.  This sentence shows that it isn't a one way street .  God is faithful back to us.  There is a reciprocity there.        

Where does that faith come from?  Let's look at that.  The Bible tells us we are made in the image of God.  God expects us to have faith so that should be one of the characteristics that we can identify in God.  While I'm sure there are many places in scripture that could serve this purpose I'd like to focus on just one.  The duality of faith between God and Jesus at the crucifixion.

Think about it.  Even though Jesus was as sure as He could be that everything was as He said, He still had to have faith that God would see it through.  So how did God exhibit faith here?  Because of the whole free will thing right up to the very end God had to have faith that Jesus would see it through, because Jesus had to option to just walk away. 

In that one story we can see why faith is so central to the Christian walk.  We can also see the characteristic of faith displayed by God and because of His faithfulness to us why, we can expect God to give us that same kind of faith!  

So folks if you'd like to experience that kind of faith, first accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior and then begin your Christian walk by getting into God's word.    The more you seek Him the more He will help you build your faith.  How can I be so sure?

"God is faithful, that's all I know!"

PS.  Please pray that the family that I mentioned will continue to feel the loving arms of Jesus as they continue their Christian walk.