November 28, 2020
In every aspect of life there is a Trust Factor:
• I trust that when I close my eyes at night, I will wake up in the morning.
• I trust that the battery will not be dead when I go to start my car.
• I trust that when I go through an intersection, I will not be T-boned by someone running the red light.
• I trust that when I go to buy groceries there will be money in the bank.
• I trust that when I flip the switch the light will come on.
• I trust that ones I love will love me back.
We may not really think about it, but trust plays a huge part in our everyday lives.
The Trust Factor also fills the Bible from cover to cover and is a focal point within relationship with God:
• Adam – Trust me, don’t go near that tree.
• Noah – Trust me, built an ark.
• Abraham – Trust me, you will have a son even though you are old.
• Joseph – Trust me, even though you are a slave.
• Peter – Trust me, even though I am hanging on a cross.
• Paul – Trust me, even though it will cost you your earthly life.
Each of the above experienced crisis during their lifetimes and in each crisis a decision had to be made to trust God or trust self. In some cases, they trusted themselves and the results were not good. In some cases, full confidence and trust was placed in God and results were very different.
Trust in the Bible, is most clearly seen in the life of Jesus. Imagine the King of the Universe, creator of planets, chose to come to planet earth as a baby. As noted last week, it was The Plan from the very beginning. Jesus knew how His life would go and what the final ending would be, yet there was never a time when He relied on Himself.
• John 8:28-30 - Jesus therefore said, "When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and I do nothing on My own initiative, but I speak these things as the Father taught Me. 29 "And He who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him." 30 As He spoke these things, many came to believe in Him.
He sought instruction and encouragement from His Father every day.
He never went about his own business.
He never had His own agenda.
He was never self-motivated – He was always God motivated.
• In their desert encounter, Satan did everything in his power to get Jesus to rely on Himself – Jesus CHOSE trust His Father (Matthew 4:1-11).
• In the Garden of Gethsemane, when the weight of sin nearly crushed out His life – Jesus CHOSE to trust His Father (Matthew 26:36-44).
• When Jesus was arrested and Peter cut off the ear of the slave, Jesus told Peter that if He chose, He could call down legions of angels to rescue Him, but that was not part of the plan – Jesus CHOSE to trust His Father (Matthew 26:51-54).
Throughout Jesus’ multiple trials and eventual crucifixion, when He felt the separation from His Father most keenly, even then, He trusted His Father enough to stay on the cross.
What Jesus demonstrated throughout His life and death is that it is not the circumstances we find ourselves in that matter so much as Who we trust with those circumstances.
However, sometimes we can become resentful that we have to experience anything bad at all. We may feel that God owes us a good life full of peace. Nowhere in scripture does God promise such a life. In fact, He promises the exact opposite:
• Matthew 6:33-34 - But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you. 34 "Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
• Romans 5:3-5 - And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
• Philippians 1:29 - For to you it has been granted for Christ's sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake,
• 1 Peter 4:19 - Therefore, let those also who suffer according to the will of God entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.
God wants your heart because you believe and trust Him in the midst of the circumstances of life, not because you get special favors. But God will not MAKE you trust Him. You can doubt if you want to. He has given ample evidence of His trustworthiness, but if you want to look for reasons to doubt you will find them.
God alone sees the big picture of your life. Which means God’s plan for your life is the best plan – how could it be any other way?
If He is the God of scripture, the infinite, eternal, all knowing God of wisdom, power, and love, would He devise a plan for your life that would not be good for you? Of course not. Our trust in God develops as we admit our limitations and submit to His wisdom.
He is asking you to trust that He sees things you do not see and that He always has your best interests in mind.
Trusting God is like jumping out of an airplane with a parachute:
• You can watch skydiving on T.V.
• People can tell you about their personal skydiving experience,
• You can read all about skydiving,
• You can stand in the open door of the airplane….
But you still won’t trust the parachute until you JUMP. Jumping out of an airplane is a total commitment --- You have to JUMP!
Likewise, trusting God is a total commitment – you have to JUMP.
Wrapping Up
The problem is this --- we don’t trust God. We think we’re smarter and know better, so we go it alone. Rarely does that end well and sometimes the results are fatal. But instead of acknowledging our fault we blame God for the predicament we find ourselves in. It’s our fault, but we blame Him!! NICE!!
So, what does it mean to trust God?
• You have to believe that He desires your best good despite the evidence or how you might feel.
• You have to admit that He is wiser than you are and that your understanding is finite and His is infinite.
• You have to commit to living your life His way.
• You have to let go and let God.
• You have to JUMP
The road may not always be easy or smooth, but trusting God leads to peace within our circumstances because we know God is in control.
GOD IS IN CONTROL.
Proverbs 3:5-6 - Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.
