Can I Have Faith When I Don’t Know Where I’m Going?
Genesis 12:1-7
The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you.
“I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you;
I will make your name great and you will be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse;and all peoples on earth will be blessed because of you.
So Abram left, as the LORD had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Haran. He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Haran, and they set out for the land of Canaan, and they arrived there.
Abram traveled as far as the great tree of Moreh at Shechem. At that time the Canaanites were in the land.
The LORD appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.”
So he built an altar there to the LORD, who had appeared to him.
Can I Have Faith When I Don’t Know Where I’m Going?
Change is never easy
• It means leaving behind the things you are comfortable with. And sometimes, that might just mean becoming comfortable with something others would be appalled by. Like a garbage dump. How many of us would be willing to take up residence there?
(Following Illustration from SermonCentral.com) "Author and pastor Leith Anderson writes: Several years ago I was visiting Manila and was taken, of all places, to the Manila garbage dump and saw something beyond belief. Tens of thousands of people make their homes on that dump site. They’ve constructed shacks out of the things other people have thrown away. And they send their children out early every morning to scavenge for food out of other people’s garbage, so they can have family meals. People have been born and grown up there on the garbage dump. They have had their families, their children, their shacks, their garbage to eat, finished out their lives, and died there without ever going anywhere else, even in the city of Manila. It is an astonishing thing.
But Americans also live on the garbage dump. They are missionaries, Christians who have chosen to leave their own country and communicate the love of Jesus Christ to people who otherwise would never hear it. That is amazing to me. People would leave what we have to go and live on a garbage dump. Amazing, but not as amazing as the journey from heaven to earth...."
• It means seeking out something you aren’t sure you’ll recognize.
• It means trusting someone other than yourself. We need a good navigator. Someone who’s been there before, and can show us the way. Psalm 23 – Yea though I walk through the valley of the Shadow of Death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me.
Unless You Step Out In Faith, You’ll Never Experience The Promise
• God said He’d show Abram the way, but how could he know unless he went?
• Abram knew that things weren’t really all that great the way they were.
• He was an old man with no one to take care of him.
• God was offering him what he longed for, but not unless he obeyed by leaving the familiarity of home.
Faith is proved in the Practice
• The amazing thing is, Abraham went, even at 75 years old.
• You’re never too old to stretch your faith in obedience to God’s call.
• It may take a long time to see results. Even so, you can trust God to keep His Word.
• Because Abram had it when he didn’t know where he was going, God blessed him.
• Because Abram had it when he didn’t know where he was going, God blessed us.
• Because Abram had it when he didn’t know where he was going, we can to.
Application:
The Lord is calling us into the future. It’s going to be frightening for all of us . . . maybe even a bit painful. The familiar things of the past might be left behind, and we may step off into ground that’s a bit shaky. But we have no choice but to follow? We can indeed have the faith to do it.
SAILING AWAY (from SermonCentral.com)
A personal testimony.
Inspired by His calling, Joel Vicente. -------
I was secure at home when I heard the voice from the Captain exclaim,
"Come follow me. Go where I send you. No need to fear. I will be with you."
I asked, "But Captain, may I remain here on the shore where it is safe and help other sailors discover their way?" The voice echoed,
"Come after me. You’ll reach distant lands. No need to fear. You’ll be in my hands."
My plans did not include a journey to a strange land, so I again questioned the Captain. "How can I travel so far away if I am not skilled? What will I discover there?" The Captain advised me,
"This is my plan. Adding wisdom to your measure. Abide with me. You’ll find a hidden treasure."
I announced my venture as I said farewell to my yesterdays. These yesterdays included my family, friends, and dreams. The memories from home were cherished. Nevertheless, I would never return to repeat them. My departure became certain as I abandoned everything I knew to be familiar. So we sailed southward; I was unaware of my destination. Suddenly, I heard a roaring from the wind. I felt the crashing of waves and heard a whisper from the Captain say,
"Trust in Me. Do not fear. I’m with you. I’ll be near.”
The winds viscously forced me off the ship. The waves violently embraced me. I struggled in the grip of darkness. Below me was an endless void of despair. I yelled, "Captain, help me before I drown!" I heard no response. I reached for the ship and an outstretched arm took hold of mine and lifted me to safety. I appealed to the Captain, "You said do not fear. You said you would be with me. Why did I fall?" The Captain replied,
"Submit to My purpose. Surrender to My plan. Endure what surrounds you. With My strength you can."
The ship sailed on until it came to a sudden stop. I noticed that the anchor was launched. Ahead of the ship was an immense storm. I asked the Captain, "Why don’t we turn away from the storm?" The Captain replied,
“Keep watch for the calm. Storms are mysteries. Listen close to their secrets. In them are victories.”
At that moment, the storm leaped on me knocking me to the lower deck. The winds swept me back and forth like a pendulum. I had nothing to hold on to. I again shouted for the Captain. “Save me, before I go under!” As I glanced into the Captain’s quarters, there He slept as if the storm was my imagination. Ultimately, the storm would cease. I asked the Captain how He could sleep in the middle of the storm? Again I was replied to with silence. The Captain appeared to look right through my examination. Then the Captain handed me a compass. I read the engraved message, "Follow my direction, and do not fear for I am with you. When you don’t see Me, trust Me, when you don’t hear Me, remember my promises." I looked intently at the compass and the Captain appeared to be gone. I felt alone on the ship. Just then, I saw someone else drowning in the same waves, so I reached out my hand and lifted him to safety. The lost gentleman thanked me and asked where my courage came from. I was beginning to discover the mysteries that the Captain was displaying. While we spoke, I noticed that another ship was headed toward the same storm that I just survived. So I jumped from my ship and anxiously swam to the other vessel. I yelled as if my volume would exceed that of the coming storm. I warned them of their direction into danger and they turned to safer shores. I then discerned the secrets that the storm was revealing. I found the victory in saving others. This was my hidden treasure!
