As we near the close of probation, when we will be required to walk by faith alone, it is important for us to know that faith in Christ should not be viewed as an option, only to be engaged only when we are in difficulty; rather it is a way of life that God has given us to exist by. All our thoughts, and actions ought to be molded by faith, our decisions and choices are to be directed by faith in God and in His word, for it is only by so doing that we may serve Him in spirit and in truth.
In other words, genuine faith in God dispenses with plan “B” wherever it is opposed to the revealed will of God. Too often the tenets of modern Christianity allow for several options on the table, with different substitutes to what God has already plainly stated.
Faith in God allows for no negotiation as it pertains to a plain “Thus saith The Lord” even though “logic” may reason otherwise.
Thus, we will often find that logic is the diabolical enemy of faith, for satan has mastered the art of logical reasoning, which often appeals to that which is seen, heard or felt. Faith on the other hand makes logic subjective to God’s revealed will, even though doing so may at times tug at our heart strings. Logic demands a clear path forward before obeying God’s commands, and insists on detailed explanations and back-up plans, and guaranties, just in case.
Faith, in contrast, urges an advance forward, once God’s will has been revealed. Faith does not wait to see the end from the beginning, obeying God only when there is no risk of failure. Instead, it moves on courageously forward, trusting that The same God who promised is able to do over and above what we may ask or think.
That is why faith and logic often butt heads, the one appealing to our reason, and the other appealing to belief in God. The two modes of thought and action have indeed proven to be diametrically opposed to each other, and as we near the close of probation, it will be seen that they are too often also diabolically opposed. Indeed, the two modes of thought cannot work together except one be subject to the other.
The following passages are of critical importance to us as we move forward. Let’s read:
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.
Habakkuk 2:4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.
Romans 14:23 For whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
Therefore, as Christians living in a world that is for the most part antithetical to the teachings of God’s word, we should be extremely careful about using logical reasoning as a spring board for our decisions and actions, especially when God says differently. Some of the diabolical logic was used by Lucifer, in the heavenly courts to throw one third of the angels into doubt and confusion.
For instance, he reasoned that because angels were created perfect they should be left to their own way which would always guide them aright. This logic is what was used in Eden as the serpent reasoned so cunningly to the unsuspecting Eve. God had said to them that they should not touch, nor eat of the fruit of the forbidden tree. Satan then comes along and touches it, showing Eve, that if by touching, nothing happened, then by eating one would also be safe.
Faith in God would have led Eve to believe in the words of God, even though her senses suggested otherwise. Again, Sarah and Abraham were both tempted on logic, because Sarah had long past her menopause, in addition to being childless her whole life. So, it was difficult for them to believe after time had elapsed, that the promises of God could ever be fulfilled. Let’s read:
Genesis 18:9 And they said unto him, where is Sarah thy wife? And he said, Behold, in the tent.
10 And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him.
11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women.
12 Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?
13 And the Lord said unto Abraham, wherefore did Sarah laugh?
14 Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.
15 Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And he said, Nay; but thou didst laugh.
Genesis 17:17 Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?
It is important for us to understand why Abraham laughed in context, for he and Sarah had waited so many years for the promise of a son to be realized with no sign of a son, and she was now 90 years of age. Thus, as they waited, satan presented logic to them, urging plan “B” as the only possible way God could fulfill His promise. In our experience too, our faith is often riddled with plan “B” as a backup plan, just in case God does not come through for us as we expected.
As a general rule of thumb, this mode of thought always leads us into contrary paths, which, as was the case with Abraham and Sarah, often triggers adverse repercussions which extend for many years and generations. Again, Abraham’s faith was to be severely tested with the sacrifice of his son Isaac. It would seem, by the very nature and wording of the command, that all hope was lost. Let’s read:
Genesis 22:2 And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah.
Here again comes the false prophet logic, to reason from a strictly rational point of view, for if Abraham is to take his “Only” son, then it must mean that he isn’t to expect any more. Then how will the promise of God be fulfilled, that Abraham’s offspring would be as the sands of the sea? In addition, God’s law plainly states “Thou shalt not kill”, and it wouldn’t seem logical that God would require that which He has expressly forbidden.
Thus, satan tempted him with temptations to walk contrary to what God had plainly required. As the issue rolled over and over in his mind, it seemed as if he might have misunderstood the voice of God, but he decides to brave the consequences and trust in God. This time, Abraham decides to walk by faith alone, with no plan “B” and the rest is history.
Brethren, the time is coming very soon, when we will have to trust God, with no backup plan, and it will be revealed whether or not our professed faith in Him was superficial, or whether it was genuine. In many of the accounts in the scriptures, where God’s faithful people demonstrated genuine faith, we can observe that they had to swim upstream against the gravitational pull of logic; but by so doing they were able to cross the invisible threshold between faith and logic, and the rest is history. Let’s read:
Hebrews 11:32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephtha; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets.
33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions.
34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection.
This brings us to the core of our study, in which the exercise of living faith in God, resulted in a miracle that continued to run for about two years. Elijah is sent by God to warn of a coming famine, and when it occurs, all the horrors of starvation, and mortality are to be seen across the land. After one year, the famine deepens to the point where one woman and her son are down to their last meal.
And now, God sends Elijah to this woman with a proposal, and a promise, that if she was to hand over her last meal, she would be fed miraculously by God, whom she had never seen. Logic clamors for her to protect her scant supplies of food, but faith encourages her to let it go. Would she yield to reason or to logic? Let’s read:
1st Kings 17:10 So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.
11 And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand.
12 And she said, As the Lord thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.
13 And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son.
14 For thus saith the Lord God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the Lord sends rain upon the earth.
Let us just hypothesize that the woman had a husband, for she did have a son. And let’s suppose that he was a man of logic, while she was a woman of faith. As she listens to Elijah’s proposal, it seems quite rational and reasonable to surrender their last meal, for in her mode of thought and action it is the only sensible thing to do.
Her husband on the other hand is sitting inside the house in the darkness crunching the numbers to see how far they could stretch the last morsel. He is also writing up his will, for certain death is staring them in the face, according to the woman’s testimony. So here comes his wife, all belated, and excited, with what she considers to be great news. In his anxiety, he asks his wife about the good news.
She then relates the proposal to him, stating that they must first give up their last meal and then God, whom they have never seen has promised to supply food miraculously for as long as the famine lasts. He being a man of logical reasoning, would most likely view the proposal as being unreasonable, ludicrous and mean, for how can God ask for their last morsel without first providing groceries which he could see? Thus without hesitation he calls, 911, and 411.
His wife on the other hand, views the same issue with optimism, for in her mind it is the only sensible thing to do. Those two modes of thought and action are diametrically and diabolically opposed, making reconciliation in such emergencies as this, virtually impossible. Two cannot walk together except they be agreed, and if someone of faith and someone of logic are faced with problems of any sort, the stark difference in resolution will be made manifest.
However, just for the record, it’s important for us to see how the woman’s faith in the proposal turned out, for too often we are tempted to believe that if we were to take the faith route, we will be sorely disappointed, as if God’s hands are tied, so that He cannot fulfill His promises. Let’s read:
1st Kings 17:15 And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days.
16 And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord, which he spake by Elijah.
Another food crisis looms just on the horizon, in the form of the mark of the beast, in which very tough economic sanctions will be issued to try to coerce the conscience into a false system of worship. And in this emergency, faith, and logic will play a major role, as individuals, and families grapple with the grim realities.
Logic would argue “what shall we eat and drink and wherewithal shall we be clothed?” Faith will urge an advance forward, trusting in the very same God of Elijah, and the widow woman, who had provided sufficient food for months and years, while those who trust in logic will see no other way out than to yield to the powers that be. Let’s read:
Revelation 13:16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.
Thus, as we stand upon the borders of the eternal world, as the enemy of souls comes in for the final conflict between faith and logic, we will be required to walk by faith alone. When economic sanctions are instituted to coerce the conscience, and when we will have no plan “B” to fall back on, like those faithful in ages past, we will need to let go and let God.
Let us therefore, in our decision-making processes, always incorporate the faith factor, for by choosing to do so continually, we will be enabled to develop a very rugged faith relationship with God, that will withstand a hurricane, when the winds of strife, as predicted by the prophet John, begin to blow across the earth. We therefore close with two passages of scripture which we do well to ponder as we move forward, for the time is closer than we believe, and practice makes perfect. Let’s read:
Revelation 7:1 And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.
2 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,
3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
Matthew 7:24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
26 And everyone that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
28 And the people were astonished at his doctrine.
God Bless!