It has become trendy in recent generations to mock faith and to belittle those who believe in God or who trust God above other things. I faced the mockery of university lecturers when I was at Sydney University in the early 1970’s. I have read and seen many statements of ridicule against people of faith.
Yet, history reveals that the simple and seemingly powerless act of believing God is the most profound thing a person can do. Much more has been accomplished by faith than by education, human reasoning, money, military might or the force of human will.
Abraham’s Transformation
A nomad from 2,000BC came to be the most significant figure of the ancient world and impacts the entire globe today, through the simple act of believing. Abram was a shepherd, living in a tent, with no fixed address, no land holdings and a small family. Tens of thousands of people like him came and went without a mention. Yet Abram, better known by his new name, Abraham, is revered by three of the world’s largest religions, and is regarded as the father of all people of faith that ever lived.
How did Abraham come upon such significance? Was it by attending the universities? No. Was it by amassing amazing wealth? No. Was it by out performing everyone else on the planet? No. Was it by showing his male prowess? No. Was it by proving he could live independently of God? No.
Abraham’s transformation came about by the stupidly simple act of believing God.
“For what does the scripture say? Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness.” Romans 4:3
Abraham believed God! That’s all. It’s so simple that any child could do it. It was completely unlike the things which many men today try to excel at.
All those men who are amassing wealth, going to the gym, dressing to kill, climbing the corporate ladder, wooing the women, impressing their peers, outperforming the competition, gaining fame and notoriety in sport or on the stage, or otherwise seeking to make their mark are destined for obscurity and oblivion. They are not doing the simple thing that made Abraham great.
The Call to Believe
It was the Believing that counted in Abraham’s case. And it’s just the same today. God wants us to Believe, and He will credit us with everything He has to give if only we will expect Him to do the impossible, because He said He would.
David believed and so he took on Goliath (1Samuel 17:42-49). No one would face such odds without believing that God would do the impossible.
Elijah believed God when he took on the prophets of Baal (lKings 18:36-40). He believed God so much that he asked for gallons of water to be poured over the sacrifice. When the sacrifice was saturated he called on God and fire consumed the offering, stones and the water! Only someone who believed would dare set up such a challenge.
The centurion believed in Jesus for his servant’s healing. (Matthew 8:5-13). He believed God so much he only wanted Jesus to speak a word of healing. He was sure it would work. Jesus had not seen such great faith from a Jew.
Many great things can be done, if only we will Believe!
Tags: belief, believing god, faith
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