Real Faith – Is Not for Wimps
Habakkuk 2:2 – 3
“Then the Lord replied: “Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it. For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it lingers, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.”
If we follow God’s commands, decrees and are obedient to all God instructs us to do no matter how the situation may look or how we feel, we are operating by faith. Can I say that this is much easier said than done!
We often feel if we do everything we’re supposed to do then God should do what WE want Him to do, the way WE want Him to do it and when WE think it should be done. NOPE! That’s not how this works!
In the aforementioned passage of scripture, Habakkuk was asking God questions. Habakkuk trusted God, but he was confused about God’s methods. Habakkuk states, “I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts…” (Hab. 2:1a NIV) In other words, Habakkuk said he was not going to stop doing what he’s was supposed to do while he awaits God’s answers.
Habakkuk decided he was going to continue to fulfill his purpose and wait with expectation to get the answer he needs from God. He knew God might rebuke him but he still sought an answer.
To truly say we are operating in faith, we must wait for God’s timing AND still do what He told us to do WITHOUT complaining. Asking God questions, trying to get clarification is okay, but complaining is not okay. Remember when the Israelites started to complain in the wilderness after God had delivered them from slavery in Egypt? A trip that should have taken days ended up taking 40 years!
True faith; that “waiting on God to do it” faith, can be nerve wracking! Faith can cause you to lose friends and gain haters. True faith can be a dividing line; do you really trust God enough to work while you wait on the answer? Do you really trust God enough to know that the answer is coming in God’s perfect time which will probably not coincide with your time? Are you willing to never give up on your purpose no matter what other people may say or do?
True faith is not neat and pretty. True faith is often not easy nor convenient. It doesn’t come in a cute little package all wrapped up and delivered to us just when we need it. TRUE FAITH IS WORK!
Noah operated in true faith. He built an ark, according to God specifications without a basis for building it. People talked about him, ridiculed him but still, because he had true faith, he worked on the project God gave him until it was complete. Jesus operated in true faith. He allowed himself to die on the cross because He had enough faith to believe He would be raised on the third day.
So now, ask yourself, do you operate in true faith or wimp faith?
“Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” I Corinthians 15:58
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