Stories of victory amidst incredible obstacles always fascinate me. Defeat seems certain, and yet somehow victory is won. Perhaps that's why Abraham is such an outstanding example and encouragement. Notice what a man named Stephen - destined to become the first Christian martyr - said about him:
"He gave him no inheritance in it, not even a foot of ground, and yet, even when he had no child, He promised that HE WOULD GIVE IT TO HIM AS A POSSESSION, AND TO HIS DESCENDANTS AFTER HIM." (Acts 7:5)
God promises Abraham the land of modern Israel, but he didn't receive so much as a foot of ground in his lifetime. God promised Abraham innumerable descendants, but he was childless in his old age. Talk about obstacles to faith!
The biblical definition of faith is this: "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1) Faith sees the unseen. Undoubtedly, Abraham operated by this kind of faith; he saw as reality that which did not exist. And this is the faith we are called to.
It's difficult for me to imagine that the meek will inherit the earth (Matthew 6:5) when the wicked and arrogant have such a stranglehold on it. A vision of the age to come is often dimmed by tears at the heartache and disappointment of this age. And yet, faith sees that which is to come when human vision cannot see it.
We live much of our life as though it were the bottom of the ninth inning and there are two outs. Faith holds on and sees the victory when so-called reality shouts of defeat.
May we be Abraham people. Amidst circumstances that shout defeat, may we see the unseen victory that is ours in faith. May we confidently move toward that which others cannot see. May faith move mountains in our lives, and move us toward the reality of the kingdom of God that we are called to declare and demonstrate to an unbelieving and cynical world.
Steve
©Steve Taylor, 2012
"He gave him no inheritance in it, not even a foot of ground, and yet, even when he had no child, He promised that HE WOULD GIVE IT TO HIM AS A POSSESSION, AND TO HIS DESCENDANTS AFTER HIM." (Acts 7:5)
God promises Abraham the land of modern Israel, but he didn't receive so much as a foot of ground in his lifetime. God promised Abraham innumerable descendants, but he was childless in his old age. Talk about obstacles to faith!
The biblical definition of faith is this: "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1) Faith sees the unseen. Undoubtedly, Abraham operated by this kind of faith; he saw as reality that which did not exist. And this is the faith we are called to.
It's difficult for me to imagine that the meek will inherit the earth (Matthew 6:5) when the wicked and arrogant have such a stranglehold on it. A vision of the age to come is often dimmed by tears at the heartache and disappointment of this age. And yet, faith sees that which is to come when human vision cannot see it.
We live much of our life as though it were the bottom of the ninth inning and there are two outs. Faith holds on and sees the victory when so-called reality shouts of defeat.
May we be Abraham people. Amidst circumstances that shout defeat, may we see the unseen victory that is ours in faith. May we confidently move toward that which others cannot see. May faith move mountains in our lives, and move us toward the reality of the kingdom of God that we are called to declare and demonstrate to an unbelieving and cynical world.
Steve
©Steve Taylor, 2012
posted by steve @ 8:44 AM
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