We’ve Come This Far By Faith!
10th Anniversary
Scripture: 2 Cor. 5:7; Proverbs 3:5-6; Deut. 31:6; 2 Tim. 4:7; James 1:12
Introduction:
One of my favorite gospel song that I learned as a child is “We’ve Come This Far By Faith.” This song meant a lot for me when I was a child as I was constantly surrounded by people who were forced to walk in faith. I did not understand at the time what faith was, but I witnessed people around me discussing how they did not know how something would work out and later giving God thanks for the situation being resolved. These situations included food being provided, bills being paid, etc. Although they did not know how their needs would be met, they knew that they would be. This was my introduction to faith, even though I did not know that is what I was witnessing at the time. As I grew older and began to read and understand the Bible, I became aware of what the older people were talking about. I understood why they believed their situations would work out even though they were clueless as to how it would happen. I began to pray that way, telling God that I knew He would work something out even if I could not see it.
This morning I stand before you to tell you something that you already know, “we’ve come this far by faith!” This morning we will examine one of my favorite songs as the foundation for this message. As we examine each line I want us to think about this song as if we are the authors and we are speaking from our own personal experiences. Let’s begin with the first line.
I. We’ve Come This Far By Faith
The first line of the song says “We’ve Come This Far By Faith.” The two key words in this line are “this far”. I know that faith is important, but think of what these two words say. They say “this far” which represents the past and the present. “This far” denotes a measurement of time or achievement and it only states that something has been accomplished but has not been completed. “This far” indicates a beginning and a present state. You see, if I am standing here, and I want to get to the back of the church, if I take five steps, I would have gone “this far.” I will not be at the back yet, but I am further along from where I started. This line is a declaration of a fact; not a hope for something to be done, but a statement of what has been done. This is a statement saying that we have achieved something and it was achieved by faith. It does not say that the work is completed but acknowledges that where we are right now is due to faith. Second Corinthians 5:7 says the following: “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” If I walked by what I could see then the decisions I make would be based on my own understanding of what I was seeing. That is not walking by faith. Walking in/by faith means that I am choosing to walk towards something that has yet to be seen; realized; or available. I cannot see it being manifested yet, but I know it is coming. By faith, we have come this far and by faith we shall continue on. This first sentence says how far we have come (this far) and by what means we did it (faith). The next few sentences begin to fill in the gap of how we did it. Let’s look at the next line in the song.
II. Leaning On The Lord
The second sentence in the song says “Leaning on the Lord.” What does it mean to lean on someone? To lean on someone means you are choosing to allow them to support you – to help you carry your load. You are depending on this person to help you accomplish whatever it is you’re working on. This line in the song makes it plain that we came this far by faith leaning on the Lord. I was not leaning on my own understanding, but the Lord. Proverbs 3:5: “And do not lean on your own understanding.” We could not and did not lean on our own understanding but the Lord’s. You see, I can go to school and learn some things. I can learn math and understand that 1+1=2. I can learn this in school and use my own understanding of this equation to work out some of my money problems. But what this song is talking about in this line “leaning on the Lord” is when we see a problem that says 1+God=Enough! You see what I am saying? When we add God to any of our equations, He changes the formulation in such a way that our understanding cannot comprehend what the answer will be. When we are leaning on God, 1+God will always equal enough. I do not care what you are facing, bring God into the equation. The song “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms” says “What a fellowship, what a joy divine, leaning on the everlasting arms; what a blessedness, what a peace is mine; leaning on the everlasting arms. Leaning, Leaning, safe and secure from all alarms; leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.” Depending on how you sung the song, the person hearing it never hears that it’s Christ’s arm you’re leaning on. But for the one singing it, you know Whose arms are being referenced! Quit leaning on your own understanding and begin leaning on the Lord. Let’s move on to the next sentence.
III. Trusting In His Holy Word
The next sentence says “Trusting in His Holy Word.” The song says that while we were leaning on the Lord we were trusting in His word. Think about this in your mind. You are walking down the street with a close friend who is supporting you and as you lean on their shoulders they tell you everything is going to be okay. They tell you what actions they are going to take on your behalf and because you trust your friend, you believe what they have told you. Trust is defined as “the firm belief in the honesty and reliability of another person….confident expectation; hope.” If you trust someone you have a firm belief in their honesty and you are confident in your expectations of them. Think about what this means with our walk with the Lord? The song says we are trusting in His Holy Word! Do you understand that everything God speaks to us is Holy? When He speaks to you spirit, that’s a Holy word being given to you because of the source. It’s not just the written spoken Word; it also includes the specific word He speaks to you directly through your spirit.
Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart. And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” The writer states that we should trust in the Lord with all our hearts. He left no room for discussion, doubt or debate. All means all; it means with everything; with all your heart. My trust should be so strong in the Lord that even when my own understanding disagrees with what God is telling me, I will defer to God. We sing a song that says “I will trust in the Lord, I will trust in the Lord, I will trust in the Lord, until I die, until I die…” When we sing this song we are making a profession through praise that we will trust in the Lord until the day we die. In the song “We’ve Come This Far By Faith” it says that we have come this far by faith; leaning on the Lord; trusting in His Holy word…and then comes another strong declaration.
IV. He Never Failed Me Yet
The next sentence makes this declaration, “He never failed me yet.” This declaration declares that God has never failed me. The writer made it personal. Before it was a community song, “we’ve come this far….” But in this line it changes from “we” to “me”. I like “me.” I cannot speak for you, but I can speak for “me!” I cannot tell you that God has never failed you, but I can surely say He has never failed me! I cannot tell your story but I can expound on the story of “me” in great lengths. I cannot speak about what God has done for you in your faith walk, but I can tell what He’s done for “me”. I can tell you about the early morning discussions in April of 2002 between God and “me” when He told “me” to start this Church. I can tell you about what He said this Church was supposed to represent and how He had already chosen some people to help me get it started. I can tell you about what He told “me” about my conduct. I can tell you how He has chastised “me” when I was wrong. I can tell you all of these things about “me” because it is my story to tell. This line professes that God has never failed “me” so when you’re singing this song and you get to this line, it becomes very personable. There are individuals out there who do not understand that God has never failed them. Because something bad happened to them they falsely believe that God had failed them. Because they might not received everything they have asked God for this mistakenly think He has failed them. This sentence changes the song from the community aspect of the song to the very personal. There is no way to sing the words of that song without reflecting on something God has done for you.
In Deuteronomy chapter thirty-one, when Moses was 120 years old, he gathered all of the Children of Israel together to give them his last counsel. He shared with them that he would not be allowed to take them into the Promised Land but that God would cross over and lead them into His promise. He told them that God would continue to do for them what He had already previously done for them. In other words he was telling them to walk with the One who has proven Himself over and over to them. In the sixth verse he makes the following statement: “Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the Lord your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.” (Deut. 31:6) To fail means to no accomplish something that was meant to be done. To forsake means to turn your back on or to give up. He told them to be strong and of good courage because God will never fail nor forsake them. He will do exactly what He said He would do and He would never turn His back on them if they walked with Him. They were not to worry about what they would face as they crossed over because God was with them. Moses wanted them to walk in confidence, that even though he would not be with them, God was going to fulfill His promises to them and bring them into the Promised Land in a mighty way.
This sentence says that God has never failed me yet. The use of the word “yet” is not in anticipation that He is going to, but rather a proof statement verifying what He has already done and what is expected that He will continue to do. He has never failed me yet nor do I ever expect Him to fail me. It has not happened and it will not happen! End of story! Now we come to the exciting line of the song and it begins with an “Oh”!
V. Oh, Can’t Turn Around, We’ve Come This Far By Faith
The next line is one of my favorites. It says, “Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, can’t turn around, we’ve come this far by faith.” That word “oh” is a word that is used for added emphases. If you asked me to describe a piece of cake that I was eating and I said “it is good” you would walk away thinking that the cake was good but maybe not have an immediate desire to try a piece. But, if I told you, “oh, this cake is so good” you’d probably think that it is worth having a piece. But if I said, “Oh, oh, oh, this cake so good!” I would not get to the third “oh” before you’d be asking for a piece yourself. It all about the “oh” and how you say it. In this sentence there are seven “oh” and I believe they are meant to add emphasis on the fact that we can’t turn around. Oh, we cannot quit or stop moving forward. Oh, when the road gets rough, we will keep on fighting! Oh, when times are hard and we have bills to pay; we will keep fighting on. Oh, when all of your friends and family have left you and you’re standing alone, you’ll find God right there beside you! When you’re thinking about your situation and what you’re planning to do about it, add in that “Oh” and make a difference. Oh, I will be praying this week! Oh, I know God has a plan and He will work it out! It’s all about the “Oh!”
Those seven “oh” pushes the importance of not giving up! Paul after serving in the ministry for over 30 years wrote to Timothy before his death and told him the following: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith.” (2 Tim. 4:7) Paul had completed his course and he was looking forward to the next phase of service in God’s presence. James said “Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” (James 1:12) There is a reason that we cannot give up and turn around. When Jesus witnessed the withdrawal of some of His followers, He asked His twelve would they leave Him too. Peter responded by saying “….Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” (John 6:68) There is no where for us to go but forward – we can’t turn around.
The last sentence in the chorus repeats what was said at the beginning; we’ve come this far by faith. Again, this is a final statement or declaration of truth. Although we have not completed the course; we have not arrived at the finish line; we have not fought all of the battles; what we have done; where we have gotten to as of this day, was accomplished through faith.
Conclusion
As I close out this message this morning, I want to ask you a question that was asked of me. “Where do we go from here?” We have been in existence for 10 years, where do we go from here? Well, let me tell you: we fulfill what God has called us to do in this place. The verse in the song says the following: “Just the other day, I heard a man say, he did not believe in God’s word. But I can truly say, the Lord has made a way, He’s never failed me yet.” What do we do from this point forward? We find those men, women and children who do not believe God’s word and we share with them that God has never failed us yet and then we give them examples of what we’re talking about.
Thank you New Light for all you’ve done to help this ministry complete 10 years of service. May God forever bless and keep you is my prayer.
