THE REFUGE DEVOTIONAL
Abraham was a man of great faith and he is established in the scriptures as a pattern of faith in which we can look to, for he trusted in God, not with natural eyes, but with spiritual eyes as God breathed life into him. God awakened his heart to the reality of His existence, altering the entire course of his life. While the world was setting in darkness worshiping nature and man-made objects, Abraham saw the Living God who sustains the world by the breath of His word, and his life would never be the same.
Saving faith is not something that man achieves on his own will, for scripture clearly states that he is spiritually dead from the time of his birth, but faith is a gift given to him by God according to His sovereign mercy. The scripture’s tell us, “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the men of old gained approval.” Faith is a supernatural work done in the heart by God, bringing those whom He calls to believe that He exists, the He is the creator and ruler of all things, and that He is the provider and bestower of eternal salvation through His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ.
Abraham’s life would never be the same. According to the faith that God worked in him, he left all he knew in pursuit of knowing the God who altered the course of his life forever. He would face many different trials along the way as God continued to strengthen him from faith to faith.
He had many sons and became the father of an entire nation. He was known as the man who believed God; his life is set forth in scripture as an example of saving faith because he carried out the commands set before him by God. His life was not marked with perfection, but with love and obedience, therefore God’s grace was continually with him.
James, the half brother of Jesus Christ, thousands of years later quoted the writings of Moses, saying, “And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.” Then James, still speaking of Abraham says, “He was called the friend of God.” James continues to tell us that Abraham’s faith was active in such proportions that he was even going to sacrifice his son, Isaac, on the alter believing that God would raise him from the dead.
James wrote, “Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar?“ James is not arguing that we are justified in the eyes of God by what we do or say, but that what we do and say becomes an outward reflection of a new heart which God has given to all of His beloved.
Ezekiel, speaking as he was being moved by the Spirit of God said, “Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes, and you will be careful to observe my ordinances.” Saving faith results not only in an outward profession of faith, but a life followed by repentance and obedience to God’s word.
May the grace of God allow us to humble ourselves to examine our own heart’s to see if we are found wanting. For there are many like Judas Iscariot who clothe themselves in the garments of religion for wealth and filthy lucre. Maybe you are like Hamor and Shechem, who were filled with sexual immorality and sought only to be grafted into the Jacob’s family for his provisions.
Listen to the conversation of these men, “Will not their livestock and their property and all their animals be ours? Only let us consent to them, and they will live with us.” Do you merely seek power to build your own kingdom and prestige as Simon Magus whom the Apostle Peter cried against, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! You have no part or portion in this matter, for your heart is not right before God.”
Such men like these throughout history sought to cloth themselves in religion. On the outside they look clean, but on the inside were full of deadman’s bones. They are in the flames of hell suffering the eternal wrath of God at this minute. Will you be found wanting on the day you face the God of Abraham?
Rodney Nantz
“But the righteous will live by his faith.” Habakkuk 2:4 NASBS