IS YOUR FAITH GENUINE?
"For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him. But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.” Hebrews 10:37-39.
“Now without faith it is impossible to please God, for the one who draws near to Him must believe that He exists and rewards those who seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6 HCB
"But the just will live by his faith.” Habakkuk 2:4 NASB
A genuine faith will manifest itself in every area of your life. Your reaction to every one of life’s stimuli will evidence its reality. Such a faith has many facets. Here is a four-part question that will help you determine if your faith stands the test of genuineness.
IS IT A LIFE-CHANGING FAITH?
“Now when He rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons. She went and told those who had been with Him, as they mourned and wept. And when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe.” Mark 16:9-11.
A faith too weak to change your life is a faith too weak to save your soul! James made this truth clear when he wrote, “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” James 2:26.
Ephesians 2:10 tells us “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”
IS IT AN UNDIVIDED FAITH?
“Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.” Job 13:15.
Job would not abandon his faith in God even if that faith led him to his death. Genuine faith is just that tenacious! John quotes our Lord Jesus as saying, “Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.” Revelation 2:10.
IS IT AN UNSWERVING FAITH?
“By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” Hebrews 11:8-10.
The writer of Hebrews declares of the true Christian, “But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.”
The little inspirational chorus goes “I have decided to follow Jesus. No turning back! No turning back!”
IS IT A LAUNCHING-OUT FAITH?
So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets. Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat. When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, ‘Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.’ But Simon answered and said to Him, ‘Master we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.’ And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. Luke 5:1-7
As most of you already know, I do not participate in the Texas state lottery. I have three basic reasons for not doing so. First, it is contrary to my interpretation of Bible teaching; second, I consider it a “tax” on the poor; and third, my reasoning ability that enables me to consider the odds against my winning. But, one thing could change all that!
If the State of Texas presented me with a signed, dated and sealed document that guaranteed me that if I bought one single $1 ticket that I would “win” the multi-million dollar jackpot, I would run…not walk…to the nearest merchant and buy that ticket. In this scenario, there is no gambling, no chance taking. It simply would be one very good investment involving no risk whatever.
Now this is what “launching-out faith” is really all about! Jesus said, "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” There is no gamble or risk involved when you “forsake all and follow Him!”
A “launching-out faith” will cause us to obey the Lord’s commands in our life even when we feel that the possibility of success is “slim to none”. Doing so provides verification of Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” NIV
IF YOUR FAITH IS GENUINE...YOU WILL LIVE BY IT!
"But the just will live by his faith.” Habakkuk 2:4 NASB
This does not mean that doubts, concerns and questions will not arise in our minds from time to time. They will. What it does mean is that at the end of the day our soul will rest comfortably in the assurance of Romans 8:28, Philippians 4:19, Matthew 28:20 and a multitude more.
