10.3.24
This week we are looking at the trustworthiness of our God. Though he is faithful and deeply committed to us, our hearts often fail to believe that he can always be counted upon. And the author of Hebrews here shows us how Abraham gives us a model for learning to grow in our trust.
As we deal with this challenging topic, it’s important to note that nobody fully trusts in God. There is a distinction between placing the trust of your life in Jesus for your salvation - and the ongoing day to day belief in that trust. For a Christian, the way to distinguish the difference is to ask yourself, “If I were to die tonight and have to stand before God, and he were to ask me, ‘Why should I let you into my heaven?’, the only answer is Jesus. We have nothing else to stand upon. There can be no references to “I did my best”, or “I was better than most.” The life and death of Jesus in my place is the ONLY answer that will suffice on that day. Once that decision is made, that kind of trust can never be lost or shaken.
But, having made that commitment, the daily struggle to live out what we believe is one that we will never fully overcome in this life. And the reason is obvious. Failing to trust in God isn’t one of many sins we have to overcome. Mistrusting God is the core of what sin is. Go back to the original entrance of sin into the world in the Garden of Eden. What was the lie that brought mankind down? It was the lie that God can’t be trusted. That he has glory and life and joy and wisdom that he’s not willing to share with us. He’s a miser, holding out the best for himself. And he wants to keep us in our place by holding us back with his restrictive laws.
This lie not only entered into the heart of Adam and Eve, but the Bible tells us that every person is now born believing that lie. It is the sin beneath every other sin in our lives. And it’s the core of mistrust that causes us to freak out every time a challenge comes our way. And we will never fully shed its cynical impact in this life.
However, even though we will never fully trust God this side of heaven, it IS something that we can grow in. God gives us things to look back upon as markers - stones of remembrance - that can take weak trust and grow it into a stronger trust. The most obvious marker is the cross. If God loves you that much, why would he stop now? But there are other markers as well. We can all look back over our lives and see countless times where God was faithful despite overwhelming circumstances. And he calls us not to forget these times, but to remember. And re-remember, over and over again, as the foundation for being able to grow in our trust for the next obstacle when it comes our way.