In this series of posts, I want to encourage you to have an authentic relationship with Jesus. This relationship’s glue is faith! Join me in reflecting on various quotes that relate to faith being tested. Quotes are from Chambers’ devotional “The Unsurpassed Intimacy of Tested Faith”
Important Question:
When my strength runs dry and my vision is blinded, will I endure this trial of my faith victoriously or will I turn back in defeat?
Chambers
1 minute reflection
For context, Chambers is relating the trials of Mary and Martha in Lazarus’ death in John Chapter Eleven. I discuss this passage in detail:
Finding Yourself in Sorrow
Our times of sorrow, defeat, and uncertainty are tests of faith! The question essentially requires us to consider if we are walking by faith or by our own sight (2 Corinthians 5:6-8). What guides us in the dark fogs of life? Is it our faith that God is present or active? Or do we seek to solve or improve the situation using our own human understanding?
Being honest and authentic. . .
Writing about this topic isn’t easy. It’s painful and brings to mind present and past difficulties. Walking with God in a pilgrimage of faith will take you on a path that is narrow, difficult, and discouraging at times. Writing this post is an act of faith for me: I have to trust that God will speak to the right person in the appointed moment. I have no control over who invests time in reading these words, nor who this post will touch if it touches anyone.
I started write about authentic relationship/faith in Christ to encourage believers and non-believers to seek out Christ anew each day! No one alive is beyond the reach of God’s Marvelous Grace. It’s not too late to turn to Him and cry out for His mercy and forgiveness. Christ calls you to Him!
Faith & Conflict
Faith must be tested, because it can only become your intimate possession through conflict.
Chambers
Faith becomes “intimate” when you face trials and difficulties. You possess faith as God’s Truths are tested in your life. This pattern is all through out God’s Word. No one escapes trials, tribulations, and painful choices in life. All the men and women of faith in God’s Word struggled against various difficulties and seemingly impossible situation.
Yet, God shows up in His Mighty Power! Think about Mary and Martha as Lazarus’ body lays in the tomb. The sense of loss and grief is real and they have questions. Jesus comes and it certainly seems as though he has come too late. But God has other plans–that we all might know that:
25Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me will live, even though he dies. 26And everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25-26 Berean Standard Bible (BSB)
They assume that Jesus is talking about the future resurrection. Jesus demonstrates His amazing power in this moment of grief and loss. Lazarus had to die before he could be given life anew.
The Conflict
There were witnesses of Lazarus’ return to life. How did they respond?
45Therefore many of the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in Him. 46But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. John 11:45-46 BSB
Some believed meaning they recognized Jesus as the Anointed One, but others went to the religious leaders and reported. The following verses reveal the leaders’ response:
53So from that day on they plotted to kill Him. John 11:53 BSB
This is tragic situation! Jesus restored a dead man to life and they were determined to kill Him. The Origin, Giver, and Reason for all life (John 1, Colossians 1) would ultimately be sacrificed. Jesus Himself faces great conflict and difficulty in His Mission. If we follow Him, why would we possible expect it to be any different?
If we receive and share God’s love we will be put to the test! Some will eagerly accept the Good News and produce good fruit in repentance and salvation. Others will mock and scorn us and the Gospel.
Hope in Conflict
The ultimate thing is confidence in Jesus. “We have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end…”
Chambers
The author of Hebrews reminds us to: Hebrews 3:12-14 (BSB)
12See to it, brothers, that none of you has a wicked heart of unbelief that turns away from the living God.
13But exhort one another daily, as long as it is called today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.
14We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly to the end the assurance we had at first.
The context of this passage is important. The author is explaining how Jesus is Our High Priest and warns us against unbelief by quoting from Psalm 95. He is referring to the desert experience of the Hebrew people and how they rebelled against God. He warns us that sin is deceitful. Sin leads us away from trusting in God.
Verse fourteen is a great encouragement to press ahead in times of difficult. Ultimately, you will endure if Christ has hold of you! For more about the meaning of this verse:
https://www.biblestudytools.com/hebrews/3-14.html
In summary, we know we are His because we are united to Christ in faith! True faith endures because true faith has it origins and power in Christ, God Heavenly Father, and Holy Spirit. Jesus speaks of this at length in John Chapter Ten.
Also we are to encourage and remind each other of God’s Truths! As God strengthens your faith, you can give testimony and walk with others through their times of difficulty.
Real-Life example
Several years ago, a local teen perished in an automobile accident. One of the teens that I mentored at church was a close friend. Sunday was a difficult day for many in the community. After the service ended, he came to me in deep grief and seeking comfort.
I gently reminded him that God is always with us. God walks with us through the dark valleys of grief, and loss. I referenced Rev. 21 and assured him that God was aware of his loss and his deep sadness/inner turmoil. God sees our tears and knows our deep hurts!
God’s love and mercy are eternal and He deeply loves His children. That was my prayer of comfort over the grieving teen: that He would feel God’s presence and that God would sustain Him during the many times when he would miss his friend. God walks through the valleys with His!
No one knows why God allows tragedies to happen specifically. We know in general that we live in a fallen world and that death and loss are the result of being here. Yet, death isn’t the end! Processing grief and loss is a journey. God will walk with you too!
A Tangible Hope
Jesus is Our Resurrection and Life. John uses the word zoe. This word means:
zōḗ – life (physical and spiritual). All life (2222 /zōḗ), throughout the universe, is derived – i.e. it always (only) comes from and is sustained by God’s self-existent life. The Lord intimately shares His gift of life with people, creating each in His image which gives all the capacity to know His eternal life. https://biblehub.com/greek/2222.htm
Notice the origin of this life: God’s life! It is a gift that God shares with everyone and is part of being made in His image. God’s Love and Life is eternal!
That’s why Paul writes in Romans 8 (BSB)
38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor principalities, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Authentic Faith is Proven Faith
Faith is absolute trust in God— trust that could never imagine that He would forsake us
Chambers
Jesus is our Firm Foundation. He will be faithful and hold us day and night. City Alight reminds us that “He is Good and Kind.” Are you trusting in Him?
As the wonderful hymn reminds us:
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives, all fear is gone;
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living just because He lives.
Last stanza
And then one day I’ll cross the river,
I’ll fight life’s final war with pain;
And then as death gives way to victory,
I‘ll see the lights of glory and I’ll know He lives.
May God’s grace, hope, and presence comfort you in your times of need!
Words of Grace & Hope 