Faith

The tests God sends are not meant to tear us down but to build us up. God is in the process of developing us today for what He wants us to do tomorrow.

This verse describes exactly what I don’t want to do and exactly who I don’t want to be. It describes a half-hearted follower of Christ, who does the right things but not necessarily for the right reasons. Let’s not allow this verse to describe us.

There is only one “monument” that can stand - a life transformed by Jesus. It is erected by grace through faith, “decorated” by the atoning blood of the Perfect Sacrifice. And there in its deep solid foundation is chiseled the name of its Maker. This life will stand forever.

No one, on his own, can see God and live. But there is One who intercedes for us. Jesus stands between the holy God and sinful man and by his death bridges the great separation.

The fact is that we are not going to get out of this life alive. One day, all too soon, we will be gone. When our children leave our grave and walk to their cars, will they do so in the power of the Spirit or with meaningless religious remnants?

When a godly leader has truly lived a life of faith, they can say to those who come after them, “Do not be afraid . . . the Lord your God himself will fight for you.”

How does one acquire such a full-out faith? I believe the answer is this: a firsthand experience of God’s power and faithfulness. You cannot live a wholehearted faith just by hearing the stories of God’s great work. You have to experience it up close and personal.

Those on the journey of faith have a different mindset. We are willing to invest in eternal things. We must be willing to plant trees so that those who come after us can enjoy the shade . . . and plant trees of their own.

We live in the middle of “wickedness on earth” as well. People all around us are following the evil inclinations of their hearts and ignoring God. But here’s the question: Is there a contrast between us and the people of our time?