GENESIS 12 THE JOURNEY OF FAITH I noticed as I focused my attention on the Fertile Crescent, that in spite of the godless, self-centered city where he lived, Abram was there with a sense of God's presence. God saw him as a man of faith. So, he departed from all that was familiar, to go to a place as yet unknown to him. He didn't even know where this place was, but he trusted God completely to guide him. His departure was a Departure of Faith. Probably many asked him where he was going and why he was leaving all the people he knew all his life. He would have told his neighbors he didn't know where he was going but God told him to leave and he believed God would direct his way. To people today as well as then, the life of faith is not only strange but foolish. Faith has a certain authority to it and the actions of faith are based alone on what God says. God told Abram all he had to know at the time, and he obeyed God.
The Destination of Faith was when God told him "this land" was God's gift to him. This led him to the sincere Worship of Faith as he built altars for sacrifices wherever he moved. At those altars was where he could pray to and worship the God he had learned to trust. The altar would be a reminder to him of God's promise to make a great nation of the seed of Abram and through him all families on earth would be blessed.
I learned as I watched in my mind, this man leaves Ur for Haran, and then Haran for Canaan; that when one knows God has called you, then take action on what God says even though one might not know the outcome. Faith in God can always assure us this is the right way to take. The call of God has authority to it. The call of God will be a separating call. The call of God will be beneficial. The call of God will preserve me. The call of God will be effective.
Even though Canaan was cursed, it was in that place Abram was blessed. I don't have to leave the world to know the blessing of God. When there is the obedience of faith and I am prepared to walk in the path of faith, that is when the portion of faith, a better city, a better country, becomes real to me today. The response of faith will keep me worshipping as I go forward. Faith is the basis of God's giving to Abram and it is to me. Faith spurs us on to go farther for God than we thought we were able to.
As I observed this man of faith, I noticed the barrenness that came over the land of Canaan and instead of faith being strengthened to trust the Lord, his faith declined when he went to Egypt. The attractions of a seemingly successful world are always there to tempt us to find our source of sustenance there. One must be watchful because almost without knowing it, I can fall not only to the temptation of the moment, but into the trap of half-truths.
To rely on part of the truth to avoid the pressure of the system around me, is really denying the faith that I profess.
A Declining Faith can affect my whole spiritual life. It will affect my love for God and His people. It will adversely affect my knowledge of God and His Word. The grace that is manifest through a person of faith will give way to a critical spirit and a lack of Christ-likeness in my life.
I need that faith to be in me - even me!
When there comes to me a call from God It is wise for me to quickly obey. Often that call will be directly from His Word As I read God's messages every day. There are some times when my spirit with His Is urged to act on common sense. Whatever way God calls, I have learned to know this - It is time to rise up and go hence.
The promises of God are "Yea" and "Amen," So that to me there can be no doubt As to what He has said and what He means When His work I must be about. "Lo, I am with you to the end of the age," Is a promise that motivates me - To press ahead with what He gives me every day - To claim promises, obedience is the key.
"An altar" to a believer takes us to the cross; I have gained everything when the Lord paid the cost With His life when my sins on His body He did bear. Now, an altar to me is a place to worship and pray - A time and place to be with the Lord in fellowship. At that altar I take time to hear what He has to say, And from me there goes to Him praise and worship.
Abram had his hits and sometimes had some misses, But the bent of his life was to live by faith. And I found personally that God truly blesses, Those who love Him and appreciate His marvelous grace. People today find as Abram did, God is always faithful to His Word - And in spite of our failures, He remains true. To "build an altar" of praise and worship to the Lord - Is one of the best things in life a Christian can do.
"Father, I thank Thee for allowing me to hear Thy call. I know I have not always been faithful to Thee. But I pray Thou will forgive the failings of Thy servant and for Thy own name's sake, be glorified in the preaching of the Gospel here, and in the salvation of souls. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen."