Faith in Difficult Times
Now faith is the substance (realization) of things hoped for, the evidence (conviction) of things not seen' (Hebrews 11:1-2)
Faith.
Of all aspects of a Christian's life, faith, or the lack of it, is the
focal point in the development of the desired form the Master Potter
would have us become. Our future depends on developing faith in our
Creator and believing every word He imparts to us.
This aspect
is under our control. Each of us is responsible for growing in faith!
No human being has the level of faith Jesus Christ exhibited while He
lived on earth. Yet, by His example we are to exercise this character
trait to the best of our ability.
Further, the Master Potter
molds us by permitting trials and tests to come upon us, and He teaches
us through these lessons so we might become a person of great trusting
faith. To that end, there is the need to ask ourselves, how much of
this kind of faith do we have? How do we exercise or increase this
vital element that God says we need in order to please Him?
Through
the apostle Paul, Christ tells us: "But without faith it is impossible
to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and
that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him" (Hebrews 11:6).
Have we ever asked ourselves, "What is faith?" This Scripture explains
it very well. First, we must believe God exists. Second, we must
believe that God rewards (literally pays) those who "diligently seek
Him."
For those in God's Church, this truth seems self-evident.
However, during this period we live in now, Christ had this to say:
"... Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith
on the earth? (Luke 18:8.)
It is evident that false religion has
played a part in this tragic loss of faith. Satan also has muddied the
water with the pseudo science of evolution. Carbon 14 dating is not
reliable. The foisting of these false ideas through mass "education"
has a great deal to do with our world's lack of faith in God. How about
us? Consider what we believe now as opposed to what we believed before
we were called and added to God's Church.
CREATION IN TIME ORDER
The
book of Job reveals Job was a great builder. Job is believed to be the
architect of the Great Pyramid in Egypt. The accuracy of the
construction techniques and precise fitting together of giant blocks of
stone were so perfect that the Great Pyramid is the only remaining
member of the seven wonders of the ancient world (Wikipedia
Encyclopedia).
Due to his self-righteousness at being perfect in
every aspect (Job 1:8), and creating such a marvel and masterpiece of
construction that yet stands as a witness to his workmanship, it became
necessary for the LORD God to humble Job by paling the Great Pyramid in
comparison to God's awesome creation. "Where were you when I laid the
foundations of the earth? ... When the morning stars sang together, and
all the sons of God shouted for joy?" (Job 38:4-7.)
Jude adds an
important writing to what is found here in Job: "And the angels who did
not keep their proper domain ..." (Jude 6) That period when the angels
first lived on the earth is separate from the time of Adam and Eve.
Satan, remember, came to Eve as a serpent, a reptile, as were the
dinosaurs of that prior age!
In that earlier age, Satan and the
angels with him attempted to take over God's throne (Revelation
12:7-9), but were cast down to the earth. The result produced what
Genesis 1:2 calls "without form and void" or in Hebrew "tohu" and
"bohu," which means "a desolate ruin." Thus ended the age of dinosaurs.
In
the past decade, a book was written by Dr. Jack Cuozzo, titled "Buried
Alive." He is an orthodontist who had an opportunity to study what were
supposed to be the teeth, jawbones and skulls of Neanderthals.
Orthodontists specialize in treating young people with dental problems
and must allow for growth in young jaws and skulls. Hence, he was
perplexed when he examined actual skulls and jaws of ancient men with
teeth intact that were of "teen-age" specimens that had wear indicating
30 to 50 years. The stretch A WALL OF DEFENSE IS NEEDED
marks on the skulls indicated adults lived at least 200 years of age.
Before
the flood, men lived very long lives (Genesis 5:1-32). Real science
matches what God shows us. This is proof that is not taught in schools.
However, this increases our faith so we can believe in what God tells
us versus what Satan would foist upon us.
ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD
The
apostle Paul wrote of Abraham and his faith (Romans 4). He wrote how
important God viewed Abraham's faith, and the reward that came with
Abraham's actions that is a key for each of us: "He did not waver at
the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith,
giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had
promised He was also able to perform" (Romans 4:20, 21).
One of
our most cherished memories should be our baptism, when God gave each
of us His Holy Spirit! Without faith, we would not have received God's
Holy Spirit. In recent decades, many of our brethren have lost faith
because of the anarchy (a synonym to match "lawlessness" found in the
margin of Matthew 24:12, meaning iniquity) within God's Church.
We
must believe that God is at the heart of faith! Tested in this area,
many thousands of members left the Church due to insufficient faith in
what we had been taught through the true ministry who were fully on
track with the true teachings of Jesus Christ. If clay is to be molded,
it must not be dried out! Why is this important? In addition to our
recent past (a lesson in itself), our soon-coming future will test
every Christian's faith almost to the breaking point! (Matthew
24:21-24, Revelation 6:9-11)
In order to survive, we must
believe that God hears and answers prayers. This belief will build a
wall of defense around us. Knowing that God hears and answers our
prayers, builds a wall of defense around us in order for us to survive
the terrible times coming. Remember. The Israelites experienced the
first three of the 10 plagues of Egypt and were there to see the
results of all the plagues.
AN OIL-DRIVEN ECONOMY
A
parallel to that time is a probability for our future. As events unfold
in the next few years, where will our faith be? Will we be able to
"afford" fuel, heating bills and food? What about negative television
or newspaper coverage of God's people and His Church?
Satan will
be on the prowl for those who are weak in the faith - AGAIN - and he is
like a roaring lion (I Peter 5:8). Will we, like Peter when he walked
on water, be a bit doubting and begin to sink (Matthew 14:22-32)? Think
about it\ The world is headed toward famine - NOW! The western economy
is oil-driven! We were taught about these two problems long ago by
God's Church as the beginning of Jacob's time of trouble. Do we
remember? The snare spoken of by Christ in Luke 21:35 is about to be
sprung!
"And the apostles said to the Lord, 'Increase our
faith:" (Luke 17:5) Now, here is the answer we all really need in light
of all of the trials, tests and harassment Satan can possibly throw at
us.
But notice, the apostles asked this! That means this is the most
inside information anyone could possibly get from our Creator and
Savior. And His answer is very strange. Verses 7-10, give an answer
that seems disconnected from the question. Christ then says, "So
likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are
commanded, say, 'We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was
our duty to do'" (verse 10).
And this is all that Christ gave on
this subject! So by studying His answer, we find He is telling us about
an attitude we are to have - to "push the envelope" and be diligent in
more than just trying, but actually doing more than is expected of us
(Luke 17:5-10).
Along this train of thinking comes to mind many
positive statements Mr. Armstrong made a number of times about those
whose hearts were in "the Work." Are our hearts in God's Work? If so,
it will be very evident because our thinking will be centered on God,
His Church, and the fate of brethren. All the physical will be in
secondary positions in our thinking.
"So then faith cometh by
hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17). So there is a
very real connection between faith, being with, and behind God's Work.
The true ministry that follows God faithfully has access to God's
Spirit. They alone will be inspired to preach and teach what we need in
the way of spiritual food!
We must each ask ourselves: "Where am
I now?" Will Christ find faith in me when He returns? Faith is about
actions that allow God to mold us to become part of Christ's bride! As
the end time events ensnare the world, our personal connection to Jesus
Christ and God the Father will be tested. Those with faith will be
doing God's Work. Will we be found doing it? (Matthew 24:45-47.)
By Tom Cooper Philadelphia Remnant July/August 2008
