CHRISTIAN FINE ART GALLERY > BELIEVER’S ROAD SERIES 2 > The Just Shall Live By Faith (Habakkuk 2:4)
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God’s Word is truth (John 17:17). God is faithful to keep all his promises (Psalm 145:13). Therefore our faith in him and what he says is based upon what is firm, secure and assured. Despite what situations might look like around us, as we walk by faith, the solid rock of God’s Word is the safe path underneath our feet which will never fail.
Artist’s Reflection:
“…the just shall live by his faith” (Habakkuk 2:4 KJV)
“We live by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7)
What I love about God’s Word is that it is 100% trustworthy and true.
GOD’S WORD IS REALITY.
It is not dependent upon man’s faith to exist or to be true.
God’s Word simply exists and is true–completely apart from our faith in it (or lack thereof).
“Sanctify them by the truth; your [God’s] word is truth.” (John 17:17)
I had not realized how, over the years, disappointments, faith in misinterpretations of the Scriptures, spiritual immaturity, circumstances in my life I couldn’t understand, demonic attack, disheartenment and sin, among other things, had slowly eroded away my once robust faith in God’s Word. So long and subtle was my digression into unbelief that it went unnoticed for a very long period of time. However, there finally came a time when the Holy Spirit began to point out my unbelief to me, and I realized just how far I had fallen. “How did I get here?” I wondered to myself.
I remembered the Scripture, “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).
I was also reminded of the Scriptures in Numbers 13-14 where the Israelites failed to trust God and disobeyed his command to occupy the land of Canaan and to drive out its wicked inhabitants. In part, this is a historical example of how Christians are to overcome sin and possess the blessings of the Christian life through faith in God’s Word (1 Corinthians 10:1-13). In these chapters we see the conflict between faith and unbelief, spiritual boldness and fear (the frequent companion of unbelief).
I was grieved over my sin of unbelief and how I was failing to live in the fullness of the abundant life Christ purchased for me on the cross (John 10:10). I also grew weary of how I afforded the enemy opportunities to oppress me through my unbelief. Why should a child of God put up with living like this when she doesn’t have to? This was not the victorious Christian life God desires me to live, and it definitely wasn’t pleasing to God.
In my crisis I cried out to God in repentance and petition to help me overcome my unbelief. Like the discouraged father who had only seen defeat for a very long time (Mark 9:14-29), I exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24).
Praise God he heard my cry and swiftly answered my prayer…but little had I known that he was going to throw me cold turkey off the deep end to do it…
God immediately sent me out to face Goliath, even though I felt a lot more like a member of the cowardly Israelite army than a faith-filled David (1 Samuel 17). God, on the other hand, was completely confident in his Word. He knew it was the truth, and he wasn’t afraid in the least to have me square off with Goliath because he knew he had sufficiently equipped me with everything I needed for victory.
But would I use it? Would I believe God’s Word? Would I trust God?
I had no other choice; I had to walk by faith now.
Like the man in my drawing I felt like God had brought me to the end of a tunnel with the enemy hard at my heels. In front of me lay a chasm of fear, doubt and unbelief, but God had provided the rock solid bridge of his Word extended out over that chasm, which was my only way of escape. Foolishly, however, my eyes were fixed on the bottomless pit beneath me, not God’s Word in front of me.
I was reminded of the Scripture in Matthew 14:22-33, when Peter, though he was walking on water, chose to take his eyes off Jesus and to look at the wind instead (Matthew 14:30). In my rational mind, I knew I was actually being irrational to not trust in God’s Word because I knew that it was the truth and was 100% safe to put my trust in.
I just had to do it–to take that first step in faith.
Now that I think back on it, I am reminded of that moment in Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade, when he took that first step and discovered the solid stone bridge underneath him.
I do believe, Lord!!
God’s grace finally empowered me to take that first step, and having done so, I slowly began walking by faith, one step at a time. Like the walls of Jericho (Joshua 5:13-6:27), the strongholds of unbelief and fear in my life began to come crashing down (2 Corinthians 10:3-5).
I wish I only had to walk by faith once and it would all be done and dusted, but during that season God kept thrusting me out to face new Goliaths. I didn’t like that, to be honest. However, each time the battle became easier, and the victory came more swiftly. The new faith skills God taught me soon found application in other areas of my life as well.
All glory and thanks and praise be to God, for he is faithful, and his Word is the rock solid, 100% trustworthy truth!
“All the nations surrounded me, but in the name of the LORD I cut them off. They surrounded me on every side, but in the name of the LORD I cut them off. They surrounded me on every side, but in the name of the LORD I cut them off. They swarmed around me like bees, but they died out as quickly as burning thorns; in the name of the LORD I cut them off. I was pushed back and about to fall, but the LORD helped me. The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: ‘The LORD’S right hand has done mighty things! The LORD’S right hand is lifted high; the LORD’S right hand has done mighty things!'” (Psalm 118:10-16)
“…for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.” (1 John 5:4-5)
“Now faith is the assurance (title deed, confirmation) of things hoped for (divinely guaranteed), and the evidence of things not seen [the conviction of their reality—faith comprehends as fact what cannot be experienced by the physical senses]. For by this [kind of] faith the men of old gained [divine] approval.” (Hebrews 11:1-2 AMP)
See also:
I Trust You (Believer’s Road Series 2)
Walk By Faith (Peter and Jesus Walking on Water, Matthew 14:22-33) (Events of The Bible Series)
The Overcomer (Spiritual Warfare, Victory, Freedom, Healing Series)