The Faith of Abraham

Hbr 11:8-16 NLT - [8] It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going. [9] And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith--for he was like a foreigner, living in a tent. And so did Isaac and Jacob, to whom God gave the same promise. [10] Abraham did this because he was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God. [11] It was by faith that Sarah together with Abraham was able to have a child, even though they were too old and Sarah was barren. Abraham believed that God would keep his promise. [12] And so a whole nation came from this one man, Abraham, who was too old to have any children--a nation with so many people that, like the stars of the sky and the sand on the seashore, there is no way to count them. [13] All these faithful ones died without receiving what God had promised them, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed the promises of God. They agreed that they were no more than foreigners and nomads here on earth. [14] And obviously people who talk like that are looking forward to a country they can call their own. [15] If they had meant the country they came from, they would have found a way to go back. [16] But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a heavenly city for them.

Faith is not a mere belief, but a lifestyle. Hebrews 11 reminisces on the great heroes of faith. Their actions were not merely one-time events, but a pattern of living that reflected they were “looking forward to a country they [could] call their own.” One such example is the faith of Abraham. Such a popular example this is that Abraham is often called “the father of faith.” Why? Abraham’s story is not only a story concerning the origin of God’s nation, Israel, but a journey revealing God’s faithfulness to man and man’s faithful response to God.

Notice the Scripture immediately states that “Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and to go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance.” Without question, God’s children ought to follow Him. I do not mean that Abraham likely questioned where God was leading him or how he would get there, but that Abraham went knowing that God would provide a location and a means of travel. Hebrews says that “he went without knowing where he was going,” and that “even when he reached the land God had promised him, he lived there by faith—for he was like a foreigner, living in a tent.” Even when we do know where God is leading us, truly faithful men and women will “live there by faith.” Through trials and tribulations, the man of faith continues to camp in foreign lands because God has a plan for him.

Also recognize that God provides for Abraham during his journey. Verse 11 says that “it was by faith that Sarah together with Abraham was able to have a child, even though they were too old and Sarah was barren. Abraham believed that God would keep his promise.” Even when we are exactly where God wants us to be, it is natural for us to have desires and needs. We often worry that God will not provide, but Genesis 15.6 explains that Abram believed the LORD, and the LORD declared him righteous because of his faith.” Abraham knew he had needs. He knew, however, that God would provide for him. We need men and women of such faith! We need to believe God is our provision even when the world is crashing around us. Remember that when the impossible needs to be done, God does the impossible. If God can give a barren aged woman a child, He can provide for your needs. We must only trust Him!

Verse 16 says that the heroes of faith “were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a heavenly city for them.” Abraham was looking ahead to a day where he was with God. That is our true home. The weaker Christian thinks of eternity and imagines a life trapped in an infinite array of floating clouds with an old bearded man. The man strong in the Lord sees an eternity spent with the One he is mad over—the One he is infatuated with and can’t stop thinking about. Faith means believing that we will receive such a kingdom. That is why Hebrews 11.1 says that “Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.” What do we hope for? Do we hope for a day where we will be forever with Christ? Let us be men and women of faithfulness—men and women who seek God continuously, and long passionately and obsessively about that day when we shall see eternally His face. Amen.

With love in Christ,

Austin Aldrich

Generous Salvation—It's Not What We Earn

Generous Salvation—It's Not What We Earn

Mat 20:9-16 NLT - [9] When those hired at five o'clock were paid, each received a full day's wage. [10] When those hired earlier came to get their pay, they assumed they would receive more. But they, too, were paid a day's wage. [11] When they received their pay, they protested, [12] `Those people worked only one hour, and yet you've paid them just as much as you paid us who worked all day in the scorching heat.' [13] "He answered one of them, `Friend, I haven't been unfair! Didn't you agree to work all day for the usual wage? [14] Take it and go. I wanted to pay this last worker the same as you. [15] Is it against the law for me to do what I want with my money? Should you be angry because I am kind?' [16] "And so it is, that many who are first now will be last then; and those who are last now will be first then."

Mat 11:27-30 NLT - [27] "My Father has given me authority over everything. No one really knows the Son except the Father, and no one really knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him." [28] Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. [29] Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls. [30] For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light."

Grace is the foundation of Christianity. Without it, Christ’s death is meaningless because it does not address the issue of what is to be done with human wickedness. Many people are surprised to hear this term, “human wickedness.” “Are we not,” they ask, “essentially good?” That is the great danger of humanism thought—the idea that humans are essentially great, moral agents who do what is right at their core. But I once had a psychology professor who awakened me to the reality of what Christianity teaches: we are not good at our core. He explained, quite rightly, that the Bible says Man became corrupted with sin after eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Thus, humans are fallen creatures in desperate need of a complete transformation.

Our Lord provides us a way out. He teaches us this in Saint Matthew. His parable explains how, in spite of some workers working only a few hours compared to others working a whole day, every worker received the same pay. Economics teaches us this is impractical. Law teaches us it is unjust. Grace teaches us it is precisely correct. The employer in the parable asks, “Should you be angry because I am kind?” He explains that he “wanted to pay this last worker the same as [the previous worker].” Jesus wants to grant us repentance. Grace is within His nature; it is the God we serve. His salvation is generous.

Of course, humans, still in their fallen state, struggle to accept grace. It is, I will admit, a difficult habit to accept. We are taught that we get nothing for free; indeed, even the laws of the universe teach us that. And yet here is our Lord promising to give us something for free: “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11.28). He does not prefix or postfix the gift with any requirements other than belief in the Father and Son. Indeed, His “yoke fits perfectly, and the burden [he gives us] is light” (Matthew 11.30). As Christians, we must learn that salvation must be taken freely. Our mistakes and misgivings, our ill attitudes, our bad days, and our flaws are all acceptable to Him. He did not die for the perfect, but for the imperfect. He died for you and me. He has “taken us in.” He does not say, “Clean yourself, then come to me;” He immediately proclaims, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens.” Jesus wants you just as you are so that He can make you just as He is. That is the nature of grace. The unconditional willingness to do so is the nature of love.

If you have been trying to live your life like the first workers, trying to earn your wages, don’t attempt it. It is futile to earn anything before God. I heard a pastor once say, “You don’t owe God anything, and He isn’t asking you for anything.” All Jesus asks is our life. Let His generous grace and mercy sweep over you. “Hallelujah, grace like rain falls down over me,” a worship song goes. Is His grace sweeping over you? Amen.

With love in Christ,

Austin Aldrich

Christian Faith

Christian Faith

Hbr 11:1-3, 6 NLT - [1] What is faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see. [2] God gave his approval to people in days of old because of their faith. [3] By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God's command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen. ... [6] So, you see, it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that there is a God and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.

Mar 11:22-24 NLT - [22] Then Jesus said to the disciples, "Have faith in God. [23] I assure you that you can say to this mountain, `May God lift you up and throw you into the sea,' and your command will be obeyed. All that's required is that you really believe and do not doubt in your heart. [24] Listen to me! You can pray for anything, and if you believe, you will have it.

My favorite Star Wars scene occurs in Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back. In it, Jedi Master Yoda requests that his mentor Luke Skywalker pull his ship out of a swamp using the force. In desperation, Luke proclaims the task impossible. The wise Master Yoda, however, exclaims, ““Size matters not. Look at me. Judge me by my size, do you? Hmm? Hmm. And well you should not. For my ally is the Force, and a powerful ally it is.” After Yoda pulls the ship out of the water, Luke shouts, “I don’t believe it!” “That,” Yoda replies, “is why you fail.” You can watch the clip here(http://bit.ly/ax06v5).

There is an eerie parallel to this story with the sort of faith Christ calls us to have. In Mark 11, Jesus tells us to “have faith in God.” He “[assures us] that [we] can say to this mountain, ‘May God lift you up and throw you into the sea,' and [our] command will be obeyed.” Most of us assume this passage is metaphorical, but I believe our Lord meant it literally. He tells us “all that’s required is that [we] really believe and do not doubt in [our] heart.” Yet it is always doubt which clouds our faith, isn’t it? We are taught to be skeptical of nearly everything, and while there is perhaps nothing wrong with this, if we are not taught to also believe in what has been proven trustworthy, our lives will be lived in miserable mistrust.

The writer of Hebrews explains that faith “is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot see. By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.” Why are we confident in the unseen? What evidence is there of our Lord? A simple little hymn proclaims, “You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart.” We have faith in God because He goes with us every day. He has never left us or forsaken us, even in our times of darkest gloom and deep despair. In our greatest hour of need, He has comforted us. In times of joy, He has cheered us onwards. In seasons of stagnation, He has kept our spirits bright. In droughts and famine, He has brought us food. In the strongest storms, He has given us shelter. “What a mighty God we serve!”

Yes, Christ proclaims we can move mountains. The real question, however, is if we could do it if He asked. Most of us are not there yet, not because we are unable, but because of our unbelief. Jesus says, “Listen to me! You can pray for anything, and if you believe, you will have it.” It is not the prayer that concerns us, nor the receiving, but the belief aspect. Doubts are like cracks in the surface which slowly grow and undo the foundation above it. Doubt can destroy our entire request. That is why faith is so crucial to a Christian’s life.

Will we have faith today? Can we move a ship out of a swamp, a mountain into the sea, or even the salvation of a loved one? “Size matters not,” Master Yoda examines. Does God see our prayers differently depending on the size? Of course not! We can just as well raise the dead to life as we can heal a sour attitude. What do we lack? Faith. Let us have faith to do the seemingly impossible. Amen.

With love in Christ,

Austin Aldrich