LET’S TRUST GOD ENOUGH TO…

Victor M. Eskew

 

          God came to a righteous man named Noah and commanded him to build an ark (Gen. 6:14-16).  The reason Noah needed to build an ark is because God said He was going to destroy the world with a flood (Gen. 6:13, 17), but this was something that Noah had never experienced (Heb. 11:7).  Noah, however, trusted God enough to do exactly as God commanded.  “Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he” (Gen. 6:22).

          God came to another man by the name of Abraham and told him that he was going to have a son.  Through this son, God was going to bless all families of the earth.  The only difficulty was that Abraham and his wife were passed the age of childbearing.  Yet, Abraham trusted God enough to become the progenitor of the Jewish people.  “Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations according to that which was spoken, so shall thy seed be.  And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about a hundred years old, neither the deadness of Sarah’s womb:  he staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; and being fully persuaded, that what he had promised, he was able also to perform” (Rom. 4:18-21).

          God came to a third man and asked him to go against a strong alien army.  This enemy had some 135,000 soldiers.  Gideon, on the other hand, was initially given only 300 men.  The word “outnumbered” hardly describes this situation.  But, Gideon trusted God enough to initiate the battle.  “So Gideon, and the hundred men that were with him, came unto the outside of the camp in the beginning of the middle watch; and they had but newly set the watch:  and they blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers that in their hands.  And the three companies blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers, and held the lamps in their left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands to blow withal:  and they cried, The sword of the Lord, and of Gideon.  And they stood every man in his place round about the camp, and all the host ran, and cried, and fled” (Jud. 7:19-21).

          Noah, Abraham, and Gideon trusted God enough to do the things God wanted them to do.  Noah had to build an ark.  Abraham had to trust a promise.  Gideon had to fight a battle.  The question we ask in this article is:  “Do we trust in God enough to…?”  Let’s expand upon this question.  Do we trust God enough to put Him first?  Remember, first means at the top of the list and before all others.  Jesus sets this test of faith before us in Matthew 6:33.  In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus proclaims:  “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”  Individuals would do well to learn what the “all these things” are to which Jesus alludes.  They involve the basic necessities of life, food, drink, and clothing.  Jesus told His listeners to seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness before seeking even the basic elements of survival.  Many do not trust God enough to do this.  In fact, they will forsake God and the responsibilities He has laid upon them in order to obtain food, clothing, and shelter.  Dear readers, Jesus feeds the birds of the air (Matt. 6:26).  Jesus clothes the grass of the field (Matt. 6:28-29).  If this is true, will He not feed you and will He not clothe you?  “Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat?  or, what shall we drink?  Or, wherewithal shall we be clothed” (Matt. 6:31).  Trust God enough to seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness trusting that “all these things shall be added unto you” (Matt. 6:33).

          Next, do we trust God enough to leave all of our cares and worries at His throne?  Worry has plagued all of us at some point in our life.  It is that sense of uneasiness of something bad that looms to bring us or those close to us harm in the future.  We are troubled about it because we often feel we have little or no control over the situation.  It is in those times that we have been commanded to leave these things in the hands of God.  Paul writes:  “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ” (Phil. 4:6-7).  Paul’s words contain three main points.  First, there is the admonition:  “Be careful for nothing.”  A simple commentary on those words is:  Do not worry.”  Second, he sets forth the approach.  “But in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”  As the old hymn teaches:  “Take it to the Lord in prayer.”  Third, there is the assurance.  “And the peace of God…shall keep your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ.”  For many this is not easy.  Oh, they have no problem praying about their worries.  The problem they have is leaving them with God.  Yet, this is what we must trust God enough to do.  Give Him your dirty laundry and let Him clean up the mess.

          In addition to the two areas mentioned, let’s start trusting God enough to talk to others about the gospel of Jesus Christ.  The reality is that almost everyone with whom we come in contact is lost.  This means that these individuals are destined to eternal condemnation.  We might be their only contact that has the truth about the salvation found in Christ Jesus.  When we think about talking to these individuals we tense up.  We make all kinds of excuses as to why we can’t talk to them.  Paul tells us:  “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.  How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed?  and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard?  and how shall they hear without a preacher?” (Rom. 10:13-14).  The lost need a preacher.  They need someone to talk to them.  Oh yes, they may not be very receptive, but, then again, they may be.  Give them an important Bible verse.  Give them a tract.  Give them an invitation to services.  Dear readers, let’s trust God enough to talk to others about our precious Savior.  Here’s the promise:  “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.  He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him” (Ps. 126:5-6).

          Lastly, let’s start trusting God enough to do the difficult commands He sets forth.  It is difficult to rejoice and be exceeding glad when we are persecuted (Matt. 5:12).  It is difficult to love our enemies (Matt. 5:44).  It is difficult to rebuke our brother who trespasses against us (Luke 17:3).  It is difficult to always pray, and not to faint (Luke 18:1).  It is difficult not to be conformed to the world (Rom. 12:2).  It is difficult to be angry and sin not (Eph. 4:26).  It is difficult to esteem others better than ourselves (Phil. 2:3).  It is difficult not to murmur (Phil. 2:14).  It is difficult to practice church discipline (2 Thess. 3:6).  It is difficult lay aside sinful things like malice, guile, and hypocrisies (1 Pet. 2:1).  It is difficult grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Pet. 3:18).  It is difficult to remain faithful to the very point of death (Rev. 2:10).  Yes, God has given us difficult commands.  Let us remember that these commands are doable.  Too, our obedience to them enables us to be conformed into the image of God’s dear Son.  Our obedience will also grant us access into the holy city in the world to come (Rev. 22:14). 

          Trust is not an easy thing to give.  When we trust, we often feel vulnerable.  It is here that we rely on God to pick up the slack and pull the weight.  He comes to our aid, and we are made better because we trust in the Lord with all our hearts and do not lean unto our own understanding (Prov. 3:5-6).  As we close, let’s keep two verses from Hebrews in mind.  The first is Hebrews 3:12.  “Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God.”  The second is Hebrews 11:6.  “But without faith it is impossible to please him:  for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”