Inspirational
New Questions, One Old Answer
Over 2,000 years ago, the Lord revealed to prophet Habakkuk that sinful Judah would be invaded by the evil Chaldeans.
Habakkuk, therefore, rightfully predicted the ruin of Judah, and later, also the doom of the Chaldeans. But he said there was hope for individuals to preserve their life—by faith. He said in Habakkuk 2:4 (NKJV), “Behold the proud, his soul is not upright in him; But the just shall live by his faith.”
The reward promised to those who would patiently wait on God is life, the grace of deliverance from destruction.
Many generations later, Apostle Paul echoed Habakkuk to the Romans, (Chapter 1: 17), “. . . in [the gospel] the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, ‘The just shall live by faith.’”
Habakkuk and Paul both remind us that when we have doubts about God’s ways, we must not be impatient. After pouring out our complaints and requests before Him, we must observe His answers by His Word, His Spirit, and providence.
God will not disappoint our expectations if we wait to hear what He will say to us. Though the promise is deferred, it will come—to abundantly reward us for waiting.
Those who distrust God’s timing will not walk right with Him, but the just or the righteous shall live by faith in these precious promises, even if their delivery is not forthcoming. Only those who live by faith shall be happy here and forever.
2015 ushers in new, tough questions:
What if the global warming worsened and killed more people and crops?
“The just shall live by faith.”
What if the evil came to power after the elections?
“The just shall live by faith.”
What if China claimed all of the Philippines’ shores?
“The just shall live by faith.”
What if someone I love betrayed me?
“The just shall live by faith.”
To a non-believer, this one old answer may be the ultimate cop out: hanging on by faith?
Yes. A child of God lives by faith. Even if he goes through a grinding mill or thrown into a snake pit, he will always live by faith.
Habakkuk thousands of years ago expressed this distinctly, and so did Paul, hundreds of years later: Faith alone will receive the righteousness of God, the Giver of faith.
Happy New Year!
