Fearless Faith and Awestruck Joy—What happened? Did I Get it Wrong?

All too often, we humans equate prosperity and comfort as success. Particularly, within the United States; we equate happiness and success to those who have obtained prosperity.

Even, as Christians we tend to believe that “if I am pleasing God, my life is going to go smoothly and I will enjoy success as well as happiness.” I will be healthy, my family will be always safe, and there will be few bumps along the road if I can just stay in God’s will and get this Christian walk right. By following after God, if my faith is strong enough; I can avoid pain and suffering on this earth as well as look forward to heaven one day. Too often we have it all wrong,

we think that if we live a “good enough” life we should have our reward here and now. Too often we misjudge others and say, “Well, if their faith was stronger or if they lived a better life this wouldn’t have happened to them.” Mistakenly we think that if trials and tribulations come it is because of a lack of faith or a failure to do what God has commanded us. This is faulty understanding of the gospel and just not true. Christ taught us in Matthew 5 that sometimes things will go well and sometimes they will go badly. “Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. ¹² Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you….¹⁶ Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

Continue reading What happened? Did I Get it Wrong? →

Fearless Faith and Awestruck Joy-Sealed in Righteousness by Faith and Grace

Where do we find a faith that stands fearless against the circumstances that surround us? Where is there a faith that allows us to stand for God when we are surrounded by evil? Where do we find the faith that allows us to believe God’s promises to provide a way through our darkest hour, a shelter through the storms of life, His Joy to carry us through our deepest sorrows, and His Grace to seal us in Christ as His righteous, chosen, blessed, redeemed children?

Hebrews 11 “⁷ By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.”

As time had gone by, the descendants of Cain continued to follow after their own selfish desires and intermarried with the descendants of Seth (who had been representative of those who followed after God). Less and less did anyone follow after or seek God in the world that God had created. Hero worship began as mankind grew stronger and stronger in the world-violence and corruption became their way of life.

picture used by permission of Ronald Barba, for more information concerning his art and how to obtain copies; please go to http://www.barba-art.com

“And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually…. and the earth was filled with violence.” (Genesis 6:5, 11). The word of God said, that God was grieved. God is grieved by man’s sin.  God so wanted to share His love, joy and Glory; yet, man wanted no part of God’s gifts.

Continue reading Sealed in Righteousness by Faith and Grace →

Fearless Faith and Awestruck Joy—Enoch-A Journey of Hope, Faith, and Joy

Enoch was seventh generation from Adam and the great grandfather of Noah as we are told of in Genesis. We are told very little about Enoch; yet, he was included in God’s Faith Hall of Fame recorded in Hebrews 11. “⁵ By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.” Because of faith, Enoch was “raptured” several years before the flood that would bring judgment upon the sins of this world as we see recorded in Genesis.

Artwork used

by permission of Ronald Barba and is protected by copyright restrictions. Please click on link for more information. 

Enoch had a faith that was said to “please God.” The writer of Hebrews further defines a faith that pleases God as: “⁶ he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Indeed, he wrote,” But without faith it is impossible to please him” (Hebrew 11:6).

What do we know about Enoch beyond this description in Hebrews 11 and what can we learn about faith from Enoch’s life? If we look at Genesis 5, we see recorded, “²¹ And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah: ²² And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: ²³ And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years: ²⁴ And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.” In these 4 verses we see symbolized the Christian walk—Salvation, Sanctification, and Glorification. When you understand these 3 stages of the Christian walk, your heart can be filled with hope, faith, and joy as you journey here.

Continue reading Enoch-A Journey of Hope, Faith, and Joy →

Fearless Faith and Awestruck Joy (Part3): The Heart of the Matter

Fearless Faith in the heart of the believer begins with the absolute confidence that God is the Sovereign Creator of the Universe and that He rewards those who diligently seek after Him. The question arises then, do you and I believe that God is Sovereign? Do we really believe that He rewards those who seek after Him? Are we looking for those rewards here and now or are we focused on our future with Him? If I know for a certainty that by investing now, I will in 20 years become a multimillionaire; would I squander that investment on frivolous items today? Too often, in the world of world finances we are not convinced with a certainty that our investment will be secure; thus, opting for today’s pleasure instead of tomorrow’s security. What about spiritually?

If I truly believe that in Christ I am God’s beloved, blessed, redeemed Child—heir of God’s kingdom; would I ever be worried about the cost of my investment here and now? If I truly believe that God’s promises are all “yes and amen” in Christ; could I ever worry about today’s trivial circumstances when all of eternity in His presence is mine? The Creator of the Universe longs for a relationship with me and was willing to pay the price of my sin that I might be able to walk with Him, talk with Him, and have His Holy Spirit always present within me.

How then is it that I would ever feel fear? How would I not always feel overjoyed with the awe and wonder of His presence? As I look at the majestic beauty of His creation which is only a tiny glimpse of the Glory of His common grace upon all of mankind, how would I not fall before Him in humble worship? When I look back at all that He has done just to draw me closer to Himself, how could I ever doubt for a split second His desire to do good to and for me in every circumstance?

Continue reading The Heart of The Matter →