~ A Matter of Trust ~
Christianity
has many paradoxes—dueling truths. Some find such a conflict in having faith in
God while having a fear of God. The “fear” of God is better considered a
reverence for Him, His majesty, and deserving of our respect and trust. “Faith”
in relation to Christianity could be defined as “trust.” For example, you may
have faith in someone you do not know. A person may purchase something over the
phone from a person they’ve never met and have faith that they will do as
promised. But can you really trust a person you do not know?
Trust is a
relational term. This is one reason why those who do not have a loving earthly
father may find it hard to trust a
heavenly Father. We fear a person or trust a person based largely upon
what we have heard and believe about that person.
Example 1
~ Consider the account we find in
Numbers 13. Moses had sent twelve men to scout out Canaan (13:17-19). Ten of
the twelve came back with a negative fearful report. The result was
predictable. Most of the Israelites became fearful. Later in the account we
find that Joshua and Caleb, the two scouts who trusted God in that same
situation, were rewarded by God and entered into the promised land. This is a
beautiful picture of Christians who have trusted God and will one day enter the
promised eternal New Jerusalem.
God’s
people are called to trust God with their everyday
life and their future. “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for
he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is rewards those who
diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6, I suggest you read the
rest of Hebrews 11).
Example 2
~ Remember the account of the disciples
out on the Sea of Galilee when the storm arose. “But
He [Jesus] said to them, ‘Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no
faith?’ And they feared exceedingly,
and said to one another, ‘Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey
Him!’” (Mark 4:40-41).
the heart of the matter: Bad things happen when
there is a lack of trust. This all started in the Garden of Eden when Adam and
Eve did not trust God at His word. In this account we find Satan’s first lie to
mankind.
“And the woman said to the serpent, ‘We may eat the fruit of the
trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the
garden, God has said, “You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you
die.”’ Then the serpent said to the woman, ‘You will not surely die. For God
knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like
God, knowing good and evil.’ So when the woman saw that the tree was good for
food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise,
she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he
ate” (Genesis 3:2-6).
application: Are you fully trusting God and His Word? Are
you fearful? If so, can you identify the area of your lack of trust?
~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW
