You've Come This Far By Faith

You’ve Come This Far By Faith!

Scripture: Second Corinthians 5:7; Proverbs 3:5-6; James 1:12

Good morning Strangers Rest. Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for prosperity and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” When this Church was formed ninety-nine years ago I believe it was the beginning of a plan that God had established for this community with this Church.

In 1947, Deacon R.D. Meeks wrote the following statement: “The Master taught in His word that Christians should dwell together in unity and it is always regrettable when they divide. From the days of Jeroboam and Rehoboam, we have had church splits. Perhaps as with other things, God is able to bring good out of the evil that men intended. Such is the case with the Strangers Rest Baptist Church. Twenty-two years ago, we left Mt. Zion Baptist Church and formed this organization. It has grown now to be, in 22 years, one among the front lines of Sister Churches.” This statement of faith was written 77 years ago when the Church celebrated its 22nd Church anniversary. In two weeks, you will come together to celebrate your Church’s 99th anniversary. For ninety-nine years this Church has been in this community serving God by faith. The title of my message this morning is “You’ve Come This Far By Faith.”

One of my favorite gospel songs learned as a child is “We’ve Come This Far By Faith.” This song meant a lot to me because I was surrounded by people whose lives were a testament to their faith in God. I did not fully 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 held this unshakable belief that the God they loved and served would provide for them. This belief, as I learned later, was simply their walking in faith. This was my introduction to faith. As I grew older and began to read, study, and understand the Bible, I became aware of what the older people were talking about. I understood why they believed their situation(s) would work out even though they were clueless as to how it would happen. I began to pray that way, confessing to God that I knew He would work something out even if I could not see it. And when you think about it, isn’t that the very definition of faith?

I stand before you today to remind you that although you were not present when this Church was formed, you have ensured its continued existence by your faith. You have come this far by faith! Today I will use a few lines from that song I learned as a child as the foundation for this message. As I examine each line I want you to think about this song as if you were one of the authors and is speaking from your own personal experience. Let us begin with the first line.

The first line says, “We’ve come this far by faith.” The two key words in this line that I want you to focus on are “this far.” I know that faith is important, but I want you to focus on what these two words say. The two words “this far” 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 farther 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 far” is a statement saying that you have achieved something, but more importantly, that something was achieved by faith. It does not say that the work is complete, but it acknowledges that where you are right now is due to faith. Second Corinthians 5:7 says the following: “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” In the Scriptures, “to walk” often denotes “to live, to act, to conduct in a certain way.” Romans 4:12 tells us, “And the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of the faith which our father Abraham had while still uncircumcised.” Also, Romans 6:4 tells us, “Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”