Honey From The Rock

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Honey From The Rock
Psalm 81:16

"Sweet Stuff From God's Word"

A daily Bible study with Victor Knowles
Copyright 2007

WITHOUT FAITH

This entry was posted on 12-01-2009 and is filed under INDISPENSABLE THINGS.

Every man and his dog knows that certain things are absolutely necessary to physical life: light, water, food, air, shelter from the elements. Why is that that when it comes to spiritual life, men immediately begin to deny the indispensables? I believe that there are absolutes - things that are absolutely necessary to pleasing God at attaining eternal life. For me, these are simply indispensable - vital and fundamental truths that are not subject to debate or neglect. Faith in God is one of those indispensable things.

"Now without faith it is impossible to please God, for the one who draws near to Him must believe that He exists and rewards them who seek Him" (Heb. 11:6 CSB). There are really only two ways to live: as a believer or a doubter. Doubt is never, ever rewarded in Scripture. Yet I hear some say today that voicing or venting your doubts is a healthy thing to do. Oh? Then why did Jesus (on more than one occasion) rebuke people - even His disciples - for doubting? This text tells us that if we want to enjoy a close walk with God we must believe in His existence. There is no room for doubters, skeptics or atheists in the kingdom of God. Only believers may walk and talk with Him in fellowship. Faith is defined for us in the first verse of this great chapter. "Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen." Every person mentioned in Hebrews 11, the Faith Chapter of the Bible, is cited for their faith and trust in God. Faith in God motivated them to accomplish great things for God. I like how John puts it in 1 John 5:4-5, "This is the victory that has conquered the world: our faith. And who is the one who conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?"

Edwin Hubbell Chapin said, "Skepticism has not founded empires, established principles, or changed the world's heart. The great doers of history have always been men of faith." If you want to please God then you must be a person of faith. "Faith is dead to doubt, dumb to discouragement, blind to impossibilities" (The Defender). Lord, make us dead, dumb and blind!