How can you be so sure
Hebrews 11:1-6
1Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. 2This is what the ancients were commended for.
3By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. 4By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.
5By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. 6And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
A story… It was autumn, and the Indians on the remote reservation asked their new Chief if the winter was going to be cold or mild. Since he was an Indian Chief in a modern society, he had never been taught the old secrets. When he looked at the sky, he couldn’t tell what the weather was going to be. Nevertheless, to be on the safe side, he replied to his tribe that the winter was indeed going to be cold and that the members of the village should collect firewood to be prepared.
Also, being a practical leader, after several days he got an idea. He went to the phone booth, called the National Weather Service and asked, "Is the coming winter going to be cold?"
"It looks like this winter is going to be quite cold indeed," the meteorologist at the weather service responded. So the Chief went back to his people and told them to collect even more wood in order to be prepared.
A week later, he called the National Weather Service again. "Is it going to be a very cold winter?"
"Yes," the man at National Weather Service again replied, "it’s definitely going to be a very cold winter." The Chief again went back to his people and ordered them to collect every scrap of wood they could find.
Two weeks later, he called the National Weather Service again. "Are you absolutely sure that the winter is going to be very cold?"
"Absolutely," the man replied. "It’s going to be one of the coldest winters ever."
"How can you be so sure?" the Chief asked.
The weatherman replied, "The Indians are collecting wood like crazy."
How can we be sure about God? We don’t signs like Indians collecting wood. No one can put him in a test tube and replicate Him in a lab. You cannot touch Him for You cannot see Him. He’s seems to be like the illusive sniper in the Washington area who has been killing people one shot at a time. You don’t see him, be sure would like to catch Him. And if He is God how can I trust Him, things in this world have a way of saying that the world He created is pretty lousy. See the suffering, diseases, such as all sorts of cancers, wars, famine… Can I trust Him…
Story of Abraham Gen.22 was told to sacrifice his son…
17By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, 18even though God had said to him, "It is through Isaac that your offspring[2] will be reckoned."[3] 19Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death.
This is how much faith he had… even in the most insane of times, ridiculous request, He had faith that God would protect Isaac. The Lord will provide… some way, some how. Just gotta trust!
Gen. 15:6 “And Abram believed the LORD, and the LORD declared him righteous because of his faith.”
1One day Jesus told his disciples a story to illustrate their need for constant prayer and to show them that they must never give up. 2"There was a judge in a certain city," he said, "who was a godless man with great contempt for everyone. 3A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, appealing for justice against someone who had harmed her. 4The judge ignored her for a while, but eventually she wore him out. `I fear neither God nor man,’ he said to himself, 5`but this woman is driving me crazy. I’m going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!’ "
6Then the Lord said, "Learn a lesson from this evil judge. 7Even he rendered a just decision in the end, so don’t you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who plead with him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when I, the Son of Man, return, how many will I find who have faith?"
Lk. 18 (NLT)
1. Persevere: DON’T GIVE UP ON GOD
23When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth. 24Jesus looked at him and said, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! 25Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
26Those who heard this asked, "Who then can be saved?"
27Jesus replied, "What is impossible with men is possible with God."
28Peter said to him, "We have left all we had to follow you!"
29"I tell you the truth," Jesus said to them, "no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God 30will fail to receive many times as much in this age and, in the age to come, eternal life." Lk. 18 (NIV)
Life context of Hebrews 11 is persecution… this was written to encourage faith in the most desperate of times.
2. Proceed with caution: DON’T BUILD YOUR HOPES ON WHAT YOU CAN SEE AND TOUCH, IT WILL FADE AWAY!
Rich ruler depended on what he can see – his wealth. That’s tough! People like that have no room for faith – things which they cannot lay their physical hands on. Story of man who wanted to take all his money with him when he died. Told his wife to put the money into his grave. At last moment before the casket is lowered into the ground. The widow threw a piece of paper into the grave, when asked why – she told about her husband instructions and then added “So I wrote him a check.”
3. Profit: IF GOD IS WHO HE SAYS HE IS, WE’RE IN THE MONEY!
The disciples of Jesus asked what’s in it for us to have faith in God? There is a profit a big benefit, a deep and satisfying benefit of faith – there will be reward beyond our wildest dreams and imaginations. “You will not fail to receive many times as much!” We cannot say to God show me the money, but we can believe we’re in the money!
READ Lk, 23:30!
. 6And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
I cannot reproduce the events of the life of Jesus and Him rising from the dead. But did He exist? Sure, He did. I am pretty sure. He points me the way to God. He says through Him I can find the way to God, find the truth and find eternal life and eternal rewards and blessings and that I can have more than what I can dream or imagine. All these are attested to by His power over death, resurrection of Jesus. But that pushes back to faith I can’t see the resurrected Jesus! But I am sure of what I hope for, certain of what I cannot see, feel or touch physically. I have faith!
Today things may be insane don’t give up, persevere in God, then treat things of this world lightly, proceed with caution you can’t take it with you and believe with your heart God’s going to profit you mightily.
