FAITH, LIFE LONG JOURNEY
Faith comes from the Word of God (Romans 10:17). Those who wish to know the God of heaven must invest time and energy in a study of the Bible to know what we should do to please God (I John 3:22). No person should ever think they know all they need to know about God. Faith begins as we search the Scriptures and faith continues as stay in the Scriptures (II Peter 1:5; Luke 8:15). Some Christians do not avail themselves of meetings, lectureships, workshops, classes or other things wherein the Word of God is discussed. Why is that the case? Do such individuals not affirm by those actions, that they do not need more knowledge about God? It is an unwise person who believes that they cannot be taught anything more about the Word of God.
The person who enjoys a daily walk with God is blessed by that fellowship (I John 1:7). He daily searches the Scriptures to fortify his existing faith and looks for more knowledge in the Scriptures to increase his faith (Acts 17:11). If all these things continue then one is always in the “classroom” of life to learn more about God. As the years unfold the spirit of such a person should become sweeter as the years go by. The closer they get to the “swelling tide of Jordan” the calmer their life becomes. They encourage the young and all who see them by their faithfulness to Jesus and His cause on earth.
May a person lose his faith? Many passages in Scripture shows that to be the case. It is a powerful reminder to all of us to keep a constant watch on what we have learned and never let it slip away. Peter calls it, “making your calling and election, sure” (II Peter 1:10). A person who is faithful now cannot afford the assumption that he will always be faithful, without effort being applied constantly. Yet there is something to be said about longevity and the course of faith. When Paul came to the end, he affirmed that he had finished the course (II Timothy 4:7). He had used his life from the time of his obedience in the city of Damascus to the end in a Roman prison, to glorify God.
Jesus warned about the deceptive nature of the false teacher. How can one know what a person is in this regard? Jesus said by his fruits you will know him (Matthew 7:20). If a person develops a reputation in work after work of being unable to work with an eldership, it is not unfair judgment to say such a person needs spiritual help. If everywhere a person goes the church shrinks or divides, the fruit of such activity would call upon reasonable brethren to make a decision about hiring such a one. There are some who, because of skill, can hide what they are. Eventually the fruit being born is revealed and brethren find out about it.
It would be an unfair assessment to say that just because one is older that such implies faithfulness. Nor would it be correct to say that in years gone by he was faithful and therefore he is faithful today. The Lord requires us to look at the fruit of the life. We can be deceived if we think we can sow one thing and reap another (Galatians 6:7). What is sown in the “heart” will come out in the life. Judge a man not only on past accomplishments, but on present actions toward what God has revealed. Is the life in accord with the will of God? Is the cause of Christ being helped by what he does? Is his walk with the Lord after the Spirit and not after the flesh? Answers can be found by looking at what an individual is doing with the life, he has been given by God.
Is it a life of bitterness toward others or toward one’s self because of what has happened in life. Naomi told those around her to call her Mara because the Almighty had dealt bitterly with her (Ruth 1:20). Was this a true assessment of her life or of God’s dealing with her? The close of this beautiful book has Naomi holding her grandchild and a renewed interest in life (Ruth 4:16). Faith and bitterness or not companions that can grow in the same heart. We are warned as Christians to not allow our hearts to become evil because of unbelief (Hebrews 3:12). Further we are not to allow any root of “bitterness” to spring up and trouble us (Hebrews 12:15).
Our growth of faith requires a constant watch on our attitude that reflects the spirit within us. May we continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ to whom be glory for ever.