TIMES OF DARKNESS AND DESPAIR WILL NOT GO ON FOREVER

 

             I love Traditions. In the all-time classic Fiddler on the Roof, a Jewish dairyman Tevye passionately laments about losing traditions. They matter as they connect people to the past and give them hope for the future. We must not forget certain practices but cherish them as they give meaning to our living by bringing families together to remember and celebrate.

            Growing up in India as kids, we used to look forward to Christmas and Easter festivals eagerly. What are your family traditions? What do you eagerly look forward to each year? One such beautiful Christian tradition emerged around 480 AD in the worldwide Church to help Christians slow down, pause, remember, reflect on this most significant historical event and remain forever grateful. That is called "Advent."

            Hope Church will be joining many Christians around the world who are observing Advent. Over the next four weeks, different individuals will be lighting up the candles. We will look into Biblical passages that talk about people's expectations and the Messiah's prophetic fulfillment. During this Advent, my prayer is that you will slow down to reflect and anticipate the eternal promises of God for you and your family. Let's begin our study.

 

I A NATION IN DARKNESS & DESPAIR

            Isaiah 9: 1-2, "Nevertheless, that time of darkness and despair will not go on forever. The land of Zebulun and Naphtali will be humbled, but there will be a time in the future when Galilee of the Gentiles, which lies along the road that runs between the Jordan and the sea, will be filled with glory. The people who walk in darkness will see a great light.

             For those who live in a land of deep darkness (a land where death casts its shadow), a light will shine." A little background to this passage will explain Israel's condition, hopes, and aspirations presented in these verses. During that time, the nations were waging wars.

            The Babylonians conquered Jerusalem, and the Israelites were taken into exile in Babylon. It was one of the darkest eras of the nation of Israel. People were living in fear, complete distress, and hopelessness. They thought God had abandoned them and forgot His promises. God had not left them; instead, He was building their expectations.

            In the 8^th Century BC, the Prophet Isaiah prophesied that God would send the Messiah, and He will establish a different Kingdom, and their dark days will be over. Can you imagine how those words of Hope may have sounded in the ears of Israelites? They may have welcomed them with gladness and rejoiced that soon their troubles will be over. It is like hearing the news about three vaccines that will be available soon, and our problems with COVID-19 will be over, and normalcy will return soon. What do we see in verses one and two?

            We see God's dealings with individual nations, and His prophetic promises of Hope for a bright future and their fulfillment. Zebulun and Naphtali's land lay in Galilee's area on either side of a major highway through Israel from the north. They suffered greatly when the Assyrian Tiglath-Pileser III attacked in 734 and 732 BC (2Ki 15:29). That began the dark days for Israel.

            In the former time, God humbled the land of Israel, but in the later time, God would exalt Galilee among the nations and transform their gloom into honor. In the N.T, we will see Galilee's glory being restored when Jesus began his ministry from Capernaum, in Galilee. Matthew 4:16-17, "the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light. And for those who lived in the land where death casts its shadow, a light has shined." From then on, Jesus began to preach, "Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near."

            This prophecy gave Hope to the Israelites, whose situation looked gloomy and helpless. With the first Advent of Jesus Christ, the deep darkness of despair began to lose its grip on Israel and, in a way, on all humanity. How relevant are these words of Hope to our times today?

II. DARK DAYS AND DESPAIR IN THE USA?

            The world we live in today is waging all kinds of wars. Many refugees are moving to safer places escaping suffering and danger in their lives.  In our Mid-Week Connect group, we learned a few things about depression and suicide. In 2017, an estimated 17.3 million adults in the United States had at least one major depressive episode. This number represented 7.1% of all U.S. adults. The prevalence of major depressive episode was higher among adult females (8.7%) compared to males (5.3%)."[1]

            We don't talk enough about suicide in our Church. But we must address it. Did you know around 33,000 people die each year by suicide in the USA? That is a rate of one suicide every sixteen minutes and ninety suicides per day."[2]  What role can Hope Church play in bringing Hope to the depressed and those struggling with thoughts of suicide? 

            On top of that, we live through a worldwide Pandemic. One source indicates, "As many as half the U.S. population may experience anxiety, depression, and some post-traumatic stress symptoms in response to COVID-19-induced fear, economic instability, and social isolation."[3]

            Is there food insecurity in a so-called promised land? "A report from the Rhode Island Community Food Bank indicated that as many as 1 in 4 households in the state was facing food insecurity, while food banks in the country faced an increase in demand of roughly 26 percent, during this Pandemic."[4] When you hear about all these depressing facts and statistics, one begins to wonder is the USA going through Dark Days and Despair?  What is God teaching us? Is He calling us to return to Him? What Hope do we have amid darkness and despair?

 III TIMES OF DARKNESS & DESPAIR WILL NOT GO ON FOREVER!

            Vs. 1a, "Nevertheless, that time of darkness and despair will not go on forever." This most comforting and hope-filled prophecy was spoken by the Prophet Isaiah in 722 B.C. Yet this is so pertinent to our times. Our times of darkness and despair will not go on forever. That is our Hope. How do we know that these troubles we are currently facing will soon be over someday?

             We know it because these words come to us from the most reliable source in heaven and on earth that is our God, who has an unblemished reputation of always telling the truth as it is. The Biblical Hope is not wishful thinking, but it is our confident expectation of God's promises. Its strength is not in one's self but God's faithfulness. Consider the following scriptures.

            Numbers 23:19, "God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act?  Has he ever promised and not carried it through? Hebrews 6:18, "So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the Hope that lies before us."       

            These scriptures encourage us to run to God, who is trustworthy. Retrospectively speaking, we have more reasons to trust God than the Israelites because we have the scriptures, where we read about the fulfillment of many of God's promises. Here is one such promise. 

 IV. A FOUR-FOLD NAME OF GOD

            Vs. 6-7, "For a child is born to us; a son is given to us. The Government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His Government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven's Armies." Earlier, in chapter seven, Isaiah prophesied that God would send them a sign.

            Isaiah 7:14, "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel." In the passage we read, he goes into more details about the child, how he will be called, and the kind of Government He will establish.      In ancient times the birth of a son was viewed as a matter of rejoicing in ordinary circumstances. Having a royal son to assume the throne was even more critical. What was unique about this prophesied child and the Son? The uniqueness is in the four-fold name he would be called and the righteous Government He will establish, and we will get to be a part of it.

            There is great power in a name. Names have a way of creating an identity, and it's how those around us know us. In the Bible, God is called by many names explaining His nature and character. Learning to know God by his various names opens up the door to a deeper relationship with him. It creates deeper intimacy, trust, and understanding.

            At the time of this prophecy, many counselors or advisers would interpret God's prophecies and dreams to the kings and people and tell them what to do. However, none of them were called Wonderful Counselor. Only the Son will be. During Israel's time, people worshipped many false gods, but only the God of Israel was called Elohim: God, Creator, mighty and strong.

             Since the beginning of creation, there were many fathers, but no one could rise to the level of our loving heavenly Father, who is also called the Everlasting Father. Many Kings have ruled the earth, but none of them matches the Prince of Peace. How about His Government?             I am not anti-Government. It is necessary for the welfare of a nation. However, our trust should not rely entirely on any earthly Government, but on only one Government of peace for which there will never be an end. We know that our dark times and despair will disappear as they will not go on forever. One day we will behold the second coming of "God's Son Jesus" to establish His Kingdom of peace, fairness, and justice; that will be our second Advent. Amen!

           

 

 

 

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[1] https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/major-depression.

[2] Richard Winter, When Life Goes Dark,

[3] Panchal, N., Kamal, R., Orgera, K., Cox, C., Garfield, R., Hamel, L., Muñana, C., and Chidambaram, P. (2020) The Implications of COVID-19 for Mental Health and Substance Use. Kaiser Family Foundation.

[4] https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/long-lines-form-at-food-banks-across-country-ahead-of-thanksgiving/ar-BB1bkqYZ

Looking For A Better Place

 

LOOKING FOR A BETTER PLACE

            The year 2020 goes into History as one of the most turbulent years in the world in recent memory. For the USA, it commemorates the 400^th anniversary of the landing of the Pilgrims on the May Flower on December 11, 1620, at Plymouth Rock. The early pilgrims left their homeland, searching for a new and better world to live and freely practice their Christian Faith.      Since that time, the USA became a land of freedom, opportunities, and a home for millions of brave immigrants worldwide. Our family is one of them. Many consider the USA to be the so-called promised land. However, Wilma and I don't feel that way.

            As one of our Greek family friends said, the USA without God and our Faith is a wilderness. We are looking for a better place as many here do as well. It is a place where there will be no hospitals and no prisons—a place of no tears, no pain, and goodbyes. Does such a place exist, many skeptics wonder? Our ancestors had looked forward to it, so it certainly exists.

            We are exploring the biographical lives of men and women in Faith's Hall of Fame. Last week we learned that it is possible to live a holy and righteous life amid a wicked generation as Enoch and Noah did. We also recognized what we offer to God doesn't matter much more than how we offer because He searches our hearts' motives.

            Today we will look at the faith journey of one of the Patriarchs named Abraham. What was the land like where Abraham was living before God called him to leave that place? What kind of a person Abraham was, and how he struggled maintaining his faith? What was the call and God's mission for Abraham, and how would they affect our lives today?

            Abraham is historically a prominent figure in Judaism, Islam, and Christianity. These three major religions claim some affinity with Abraham and his lineage. We Christians believe by faith; we are Abraham’s heirs and God’s promises to Abraham belongs to us. (Gal 3:29).

 

I THE CALL OF ABRAHAM (Genesis 12-25)

            We will work through the passage in Hebrews 11, in the background of chapters 12-25 in the book of Genesis. Hebrews 11: 8-9, "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. And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith—for he was like a foreigner, living in tents. And so, did Isaac and Jacob, who inherited the same promise." What do we know about Abraham's life?

            He was called Abram (Exalted Father) before God changed his name to Abraham, meaning "Father of nations." Abraham is first mentioned at the end of Shem's genealogy, about 4,000 years ago, in the city called Ur in Mesopotamia. What was the city of Ur like at that time?

            The modern name for Ur is Tall al-Muqayyar in Iraq. This ancient Mesopotamian city is situated about 140 miles southeast of Babylon and about 10 miles west of the Euphrates River. Terah and his sons were born there (Gen 11:26-32) and set out for Haran.[1]

            The inscriptions record a populous city, inhabited by artisans and merchants, frequented by numerous strangers. All the vital trade routes of the ancient world, running from Elam (Iran), India, and southern Arabia to the north and west countries, converged there.

            Can God call idol worshippers to follow Him? Joshua 24:2, Abraham's family was worshipping other gods, entailing the worship of the Sumerian moon god. God says to Abraham, "Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father's family, and go to the land that I will show you."

            Since Abraham's family were worshipping the gods of the nations, it is clear that God did not call him because he was a good person or because he was righteous. On the contrary, the call comes about because of God's grace and election. That is how God still works.

            The point of the story is that God called Abraham out of an area of civilization and prosperity. God called him to leave a comfortable and familiar place to go to an unknown place. Abraham probably had a hard time imagining any place better than where he already was. If God told you to leave your family, relatives, and country you love and go to an unknown destination, he would show you later; how many of us would be excited to go without a road map?     

            Abraham departs in obedience to God's word, but he has not yet seen the land where he is going; he leaves by faith as we have read in Hebrews 11:8-9. When we left India in 2005 to come to the USA, it was somewhat like Abraham's call on our lives. It was a scary undertaking at age forty to leave everything familiar behind and move our family halfway across the world.

            Faith comes by hearing the word of the Lord. When God speaks to you to go somewhere or do something for Him, you listen and take the steps of obedience. Though it may not be apparent initially, the clarity will come as you obey. In obedience to the call, Abraham set out.    At the time of his departure, Abraham was a wealthy man. Genesis 13:2, "Abraham was very rich in livestock, silver, and gold." Along the way, he accumulated more wealth to an extent the Hittites recognized him as "an honored prince." Gen 23:4. Other aspects of Abraham's story.

            He established four altars on his way to the promised land and worshipped the Lord. (Gen 12:5-7, 12:8,13:3-4,13:14-18). That shows his heart of devotion and commitment to the Lord.

Abraham was a warrior. He rescued his nephew Lot and his family that were captured by rebel kings, with the help of a home-grown militia of 318 trained men. (Gen 14:3).

            Remember how with audacity, he bargained with God for Him not to destroy the righteous in Sodom and Gomorrah? Due to Abraham's intercession, God spared Lot and his family. (Gen 18:18-33). As the story continued, God appeared to him in a vision and asked him to look up into the sky and count the stars if he could; that's how many descendants he will have.

            And Abraham believed the LORD, and the LORD counted him as righteous because of his faith." Genesis 15:6 Here is an important lesson to be learned. God counted Abraham righteous not because of all his past achievements until that point or the future sacrifices he would make. But because Abraham believed the LORD and obeyed his word.

            Later on, the Apostle Paul writing about how people will be saved, recounts this event. Romans 4:23-24 “And when God counted him as righteous, it wasn't just for Abraham's benefit. It was recorded for our benefit, too, assuring us that God will also count us as righteous if we believe in him, the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead." This how it still works. We are not saved by our works but by God's grace and our belief in the Lord. Let's continue our story.

 

II THE PROMISE AND TESTINGS

            In Genesis chapter 18, we read about God promising Abraham and Sarah that they will have a son in a year. Initially, they had a hard time believing that promise as they both were very old, and Sarah was long past child-bearing age. We will find more details in Hebrews 11:11-12.

            "It was by faith that even Sarah was able to have a child, though she was barren and was too old. She believed that God would keep his promise. And so, a whole nation came from this one man who was as good as dead—a nation with so many people that, like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore, there is no way to count them." When Sarah doubted in her heart how could this pleasure of having a baby ever possible, God challenged her saying, "is there anything too hard for the Lord?

            I will return about this time next year, and you (Sarah) will have a son." Gen 18:14. What was humanly impossible, God made it possible. Abraham and Sarah had their promised son and named him Isaac. After some time, at age 125 and 175, both Abraham and Sara died and were buried in Abraham's own land. What made Abraham and others who died following in his footsteps uniquely different?

 

III. LOOKING FOR A BETTER PLACE (Vs. 13-16)

             Vs. 13-16, "All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it. They agreed that they were foreigners and nomads here on earth. 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 city for them. "At times, the promises of God may or may not be fulfilled in our lifetime.

            One thing that was common in all the heroes of faith was that they believed and held on to God's promises despite all odds. They were looking for a better place. God was proud of them and not ashamed to be called their God as he has prepared a city for them. What kind of a city?

            Vs. 10, "a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God." We can have a glimpse of it in Revelation 21-22. "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband." The wall of the city was built on foundation stones inlaid with twelve precious stones. The twelve gates were made of pearls—each gate from a single pearl!

            And the main street was pure gold, as clear as glass. I saw no temple in the city, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. And all the nations will bring their glory and honor into the city. 27 Nothing evil will be allowed to enter, nor anyone who practices shameful idolatry and dishonesty—but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life.

            Dear friends there is absolutely nothing in this world can be compared to the glorious place that God is preparing for his people. Our ancestors have looked eagerly for their heavenly homeland leaving an example for us to follow. Would you like to live in a heavenly homeland?

Believe in Jesus, He will show you the way as He is the only way to heaven. Amen!

 

 

 

             

 

             

 

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[1] https://www.gracenotes.info/documents/topics_doc/ur.pdf

Walking By Faith

 

Introduction: One of the blessings of living in New England is that there are many beautiful places to explore and trails to hike. Before, I never went for walks, but my wife got me excited to go on hikes after coming to the US. In the past several years, we hiked many places in and around the Boston area. As directionally challenged as I am, the only way I could enjoy and be at rest during a hike is to know that Wilma is walking with me. Even in new places, Wilma follows a map and treks the path confidently. As long as I am walking closely with Wilma, I know I won't get lost, and in the end, we can go back home. That is for me, Walking by Faith.

            We are exploring the lives of men and women in Faith's Hall of Fame. We will look at three ancient men who lived and walked by Faith in their generation. In verse one, the author defines the Biblical Faith as the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen and the assurance of things we cannot see. He refers to the ancient people who gained God's approval or good reputation because of their Faith in verse two.

            In contrary to the popular theories of evolution, by Faith, we understand that the command of God's word formed the universe. Remember these words in Genesis chapter one, "God said, Let there be," and the universe came into existence. Earlier in Hebrews chapter one, we learned that "The Son radiates God's own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command." Hebrews 1:3

            In an age of confusion, we need to know and understand who created and is running the world, lest we think we are in the center of the universe.  God is the one who rules and controls everything in this world. He makes all things work out according to his plan. In verses four to seven, we will meet three ancient people who lived over 5,000 years ago, yet they have some essential faith lessons to teach us today. Let us continue our Faith Walk.

I. ABEL'S FAITH OFFERING

            Vs. 4, "It was by Faith that Abel brought a more acceptable offering to God than Cain did. Abel's offering gave evidence that he was a righteous man, and God showed his approval of his gifts. Although Abel is long dead, he still speaks to us by his example of Faith."

            Who are Able and Cain? What made Abel's offering more acceptable to God? Why did God approve Abel's offering and rejected Cain's? To find answers, we refer to Gen 4:3-5.  Abel was the second-born son of Adam and Eve. His name meant "breath" or temporary.

            Abel was a shepherd, and his older brother Cain was a farmer. When it was time for the harvest, Cain presented some of his crops as a gift to the Lord. Abel also brought a gift—the best portions of the firstborn lambs from his flock. The Lord accepted Abel and his gift, but he did not accept Cain and his gift. This made Cain very angry, and he looked dejected."

            We don't find a specific reason for God accepting Abel's gift and rejecting Cain's gift in Genesis four. It was not just because it was an animal, nor just because it was the very best of what he had, nor even that it was the culmination of a zealous heart for God. But because it was in every way willingly and delightfully given according to what God must have revealed. Cain, disdaining the divine instruction, just brought what he wanted to bring: some of his crops.

            Both brothers knew what God required. Abel obeyed, and Cain did not. Abel acted in Faith, Cain, in unbelief. Because of his Faith, God counted him righteous. Later on, Christ himself referred to the righteousness of Abel in Matthews 23:35. Through his Faith, Abel left an example to all succeeding generations that we can be made righteous only by our Faith in God.

            We can learn from Abel's Faith, offering that God is not impressed by what we give to Him but how we give. He doesn't look at our outward actions but searches for an inward authentic faith in a person whose heart is genuinely delighted to please and serve God. 

II NOAH'S OBEDIENT FAITH

            Vs. 7, "It was by Faith that Noah built a large boat to save his family from the flood. He obeyed God, who warned him about things that had never happened before. By his Faith, Noah condemned the rest of the world, and he received the righteousness that comes by Faith."

            Noah is a historical figure. Many in the secular and the religious world know of his name. In recent years, scientists and archeologists found evidence of the worldwide flood and the Ark that Noah built in obedience to God's command. Russell Crow, Steve Carell popularized his name further in the movies Noah and Evan Almighty. What do we know about Noah?

            Genesis seven and eight chapters tell us a lot about Noah. Let me summarize. Noah was a descendant of Adam, great-grandson of Enoch, and the son of Lamech. He lived in a time where the whole earth became corrupt. God was grieved by looking at the increasing wickedness among people. So, he decided to destroy everything. But Noah found favor with God (Gen 6:8).

            What made Noah different from a corrupt generation? "Noah was a righteous man, the only blameless person living on earth at that time, and he walked in close fellowship with God." Gen 6:9 When God saw that the earth had become corrupt and was filled with violence, He commanded Noah to build an ark to save himself, his family, and the living creatures. 

            It must have taken at least 100 years for Noah to build the Ark. Can you imagine the ridicule and insults by scoffers Noah and his family may have endured during that period? While the wicked continued in their evil ways, Noah hammered away and completed the Ark.

            Noah was 600 years old when the flood covered the earth. After the flood, God blesses Noah and his family and commissions him to be fruitful and multiply. God confirms his covenant with him and his descendants by placing his rainbow in the clouds. Rainbow reminds us of God's past dealings with his people and his promises of hope for the future.

            Though Noah was dead and gone thousands of years ago, his obedient Faith still speaks. Jesus compared the last days to the days of Noah. Matt 24: 37-39 "When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah's day. In those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat. People didn't realize what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes." Are not our days like the days of Noah?

            We learn from Noah that amid a corrupt generation, he lived a blameless life. The God who foretells that the difficult times would come can also save us through the difficulties. Through his obedient Faith, Noah could save himself, his family and persevered the entire human race, animals, and birds from near extinction. Where are the Noahs of Today?

            The Lord commands us through the Holy Spirit to live blameless lives in this corrupt world. Philippians 2:14-15, "Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people."

            We have seen how Able by Faith offered a better offering than his brother Cain, which God counted to him as righteousness. Noah, through his obedient Faith, became an example of leading a righteous life. Let's turn to Enoch, who was known as a man, walked with God.

III ENOCH'S WALK BY FAITH

            Vs. 5 "It was by Faith that Enoch was taken up to heaven without dying; he disappeared because God took him. For before he was taken up, he was known as a person who pleased God." What do we know about Enoch? He was the great-great-grandson of Adam. Gen 5:22-24, "After he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked faithfully with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters. Altogether, Enoch lived a total of 365 years.

            Enoch walked faithfully with God; then, he was no more because God took him away." Hebrews 11:5 gives us a few more details. By Faith that Enoch was taken up to heaven without dying, he disappeared because God took him. For before he was taken up, he was known as a person who pleased God." Only two people in the Bible are said to have escaped death; Enoch and Elijah. Enoch was given this privilege due to being a man who walked faithfully with God.

            For what purpose was Enoch taken away? The Bible does not explicitly say. The most common assumption is that he could serve as one of the two witnesses, alongside Elijah, in the end, times. We read about the two witnesses in Revelation eleven. Instead of speculating how and why God took him away, we should be seeking to follow Enoch's example by being men and women who walk faithfully with God and desire to please Him by the right way of living.

            Why is it essential that we are to walk by Faith? Vs. 6, "And it is impossible to please God without Faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him." Nothing pleases God more than our Faith in Him. God is delighted when we trust Him as we are called "to walk by faith, not by sight." 2 Cor 5:7.

            What does walking by Faith look like? People who walk by Faith are the ones who actively seek and follow God in all matters of life. They are willing to take risks and are not easily swayed by popular opinions. They don't go with the flow but against the flow.

            They stay closer to God, realizing that without God, they are utterly lost. They love people and are filled with compassion wanting all of them to be saved. They will let their actions speak louder than words. They want to give the best of their talents, skills, and resources to God.      Walking by Faith demands obedience to God's revealed will. It requires letting go and letting God in to take control of our lives and lead us and guide us by His Holy Spirit. Abel, Enoch, and Noah walked with God. Are you in step with God or the world? Amen.

           

 

           

 

             

 

Faith's Hall of Fame: Part I

Introduction: 

When you want to find out the prominent people who made significant contributions to our country’s welfare, where would you search for them? In the Halls of Fame. The term Hall of Fame was popularized in the United States by “The Hall of Fame for Great Americans,” a sculpture gallery completed in 1900 and officially dedicated in 1901. Located in The Bronx in New York City, it is on the campus of Bronx Community College[1]

            The meaning of “fame” has changed over the years, originally meaning “renown” for achievement, as opposed to today’s more common definition of “celebrity.” The induction into the halls of fame is essential because “they connect the past with the present. They serve to recognize the best of the best and give current kids and families a blueprint for success.”

            As Rick Warren says, “There are 750 Halls of Fame in America and 450 Who’s Who Publications, but you won’t find many real servants in those places. Notoriety means nothing to real servants because they know the difference between prominence and significance.”[2]

            We have been on a quest to find out “better things in life” in the Book of Hebrews. For the next few weeks, I would like us to visit what I call “Faith’s Hall of Fame.” We will glean faith principles from the lives of men and women who have gone before us. In chapter ten, we were told not to throw away our confident trust in the Lord because he is coming back soon

            To continue to do the will of God during challenging times, we need patient endurance. God is not pleased when we turn away from Him. We are His righteous and faithful ones, so we are to live by faith. We live in the Last Days, where many people lose their faith in God, especially during this COVID-19 Pandemic worldwide.  Jesus even wondered, saying, “when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?” Luke 18:8

I.  WHAT BIBLICAL FAITH IS NOT?

            Why is it essential that we understand this crucial Biblical concept of faith? Firstly, the word faith is commonly used by many people, especially pastors and politicians, and it is often misunderstood. Secondly, a lack of proper understanding of faith could be destructive.

            The dictionary definition of faith is confidence or trust in a person or a thing. For religious purposes, it is the belief in God or the doctrines or teachings of religion. For our discussion, we are talking about biblical faith. Let’s look at what it is not first. Biblical faith is not presumptuous. A presumptuous person is the one who fails to observe the limits of what is permitted or appropriate. In the Bible, we see several people who acted presumptuously.

            For example, at the time of sacrifice, King Saul took matters into his own hands, did something that God did not permit, and offered the sacrifice because the Prophet Samuel was delayed in coming to the temple worship. The result was, Saul, lost his Kingdom.  I Samuel 13.

            Presumption is a grave offense. Whether we care to admit or not, we tend to act arrogantly at times and take matters into our own hands. Therefore, we should remain humble and pray, as King David prayed. Ps 19:12-13, “How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults. Keep your servant from deliberate (presumptuous) sins! Don’t let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin.”

            Biblical faith is not acting foolishly and expecting God to bail us out. Remember, Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness. He took Jesus to the top of the temple and asked him to jump down. He even wrongly quoted scripture to Him,” ‘He will order his angels to protect you.

            And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.” Matt 4:6 What would have happened if Jesus had acted foolishly and jumped off the temple? It is like foolishly jumping in front of a moving train and expecting God to protect us.

            Biblical faith is not a Hyper-Faith. There are many Christians around the world who are being swept under this new movement called Hyper-Faith. What do we mean by the term “hyper-faith”?  According to one pastor, “The prefix hyper describes that which has gone over or is blown out of proportion. That is what we mean by hyper-faith. It is faith that is overstated or is blown out of proportion. It is faith out of balance.”[3]

            Hyper-Faith people lay overemphasis on trusting God for healing without seeking medical intervention. Jeff and Marci Beagley from Oregon City were recently convicted in February for failing to seek medical help for their son. The couple had laid their hands on their 16-year-old son and prayed for him but did not take him to the hospital. Neil died from complications from a urinary tract blockage. The parents were found guilty of criminally negligent homicide.[4] Incidents like these misrepresent the nature and the character of God.

            God is powerful to heal any and every sickness; therefore, we ask Him to heal us. In some cases, He heals us without any medical intervention; other times with medicines’ help. Yet other times, He may not heal us like in the case of the Apostle Paul, who prayed for a thorn to be removed from His body three times. Instead of healing, God said, my grace is sufficient for you.                         Unfortunately, some of my good Christian friends here and back in India are falling for these false teachings of Hyper-Faith, and the prosperity gospel. God warns us to be careful about such erroneous teaching and teachers. 1 Timothy 4:1-2, “Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons. These people are hypocrites and liars, and their consciences are dead.” With the help of the Holy Spirit, we try to avoid all extremes. With that background, let us talk about what Biblical Faith is all about and where does it come from.

II. WHAT IS BIBLICAL FAITH?

            Vs.1, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for.” (NIV) In NLT, Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation.”

            The word faith occurs 503 times in the Bible in various forms. That shows its significance. The Greek word Pistis means having a belief in God and His divine truths. In our passage, after encouraging his audience to persevere, the author defines faith, saying it is the confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

            Biblical faith is always tied to an active trust in God and his Word. For the believer, there is no such thing as “blind faith.” Faith is the sensible response to God’s revealed will and the privileges he has promised his people.  Our Faith in Jesus and his finished work plays a crucial role in our salvation. Romans 10:9, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

            Biblical faith is not something we can earn, but a gift from God.  Ephesians 2:8, “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.” This gift of faith is about our salvation. But there is also a spiritual gift of faith that the Holy Spirit gives to whoever He pleases. In the list of spiritual gifts in I Corinthians 12:9, we are told the Holy Spirit gives great faith to some and others the gift of healing.

            Can we pray for our faith to grow? Indeed, we can, but God doesn’t increase our faith; instead, He will send specific experiences on our path to make us grow. James 1:2-3, “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.”

            Vs. 2, “Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation. 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.” This passage encourages us to look back at the heroes and the heroines of the Old Testament’s Faith. It also commends them for their faith, saying they earned an excellent reputation. In the coming weeks, we will learn about them.

             Let us look at what is the basis of the biblical faith? It is not our assumptions or people’s explanations that give us faith. But our discipline of hearing God’s word through reading, and listening, and applying the scriptures in our daily lives.  We cannot substitute the reading of God’s word daily with anything else because that is where we grow in our faith. Romans 10:17, “So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.”

             Hearing in this verse is not merely tuning to YouTube or TV channels of great speakers. In the scriptures, hearing is always tied to action. So, when we say faith comes by hearing the word of God, it means applying it to our situations and trying to live accordingly. For example,     Matthews 6:31-33, “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”

            I wonder how many Christians apply that scripture and live accordingly? This passage is certainly not advocating laziness and passivity but is calling us to trust God because our heavenly Father knows that we need food, water, and clothing. He is capable of providing them.

            What are we encouraged to do? To seek the Kingdom of God above all else and live righteously, and God will give us everything we need.  How do we seek God and His Kingdom first?  We will learn from the many examples in Faith’s Hall of Fame in the coming days. Amen!

 

 

           

 

             

 

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[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_halls_and_walks_of_fame

[2] Rick Warren. Purpose Driven Life. Zondervan Publishing, Grand Rapids Michigan. 2002, pg. 263.

[3] https://amos37.com/what-is-hyper-faith/

[4] https://www.christianpost.com/news/pentecostal-leaders-talk-faith-healing-reject-hyper-faith-movement.html