Lord’s Day, Vol. 3 No. 38
(1) Marks of True Faith
Abraham’s faith was characterized by obedience and patience.
(a) Obedience
Hebrews 11:8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
Abraham submitted to God’s instruction. He complied and acted upon God’s call. He willingly ventured into the unknown. Despite the uncertainty, he embarked on a spiritual pilgrimage of faith, led by God. Abraham did not go alone. His entire family went with him. He was the spiritual leader of his family and he led his family as God led him. He was already 75 years old at that time. Abraham affirmed his faith by his obedience.
Spurgeon observes well, “Faith and obedience are bound up in the same bundle. He that obeys God, trust God; and he that trusts God, obeys God.”
Obedience is the outward manifestation of faith, a faith that works.
Abraham obeyed God’s instruction to “Get out of his country, and from his kindred, and from his father’s house, unto a land that God will show him.” (Genesis 12:1). In those times of strong clan and community spirit, leaving their clan was suicidal. Forsaking the old heathen tradition, the deep-rooted family value system which he was brought up in, must be most difficult. A heavy price to pay in severed family ties and material losses.
Faith is just lip-service if it is not followed by obedience. Abraham obeyed and trusted God to take care of him when he packed up and left the land of Ur. God was calling Abraham to a life of holiness to start a new nation consecrated to the Lord. God was calling him to count the cost of discipleship and be willing to pay the price by his obedience.
For some of us who come from pagan background, becoming a Christian often means being called “unfilial”. There is a Chinese saying, “Wang Zu, Wang Zong”, forgetting your ancestors, forgetting your roots. But this is furthest from the truth. God created us. We are simply acknowledging our Creator who is the source of our life.
The step of faith to come out was just the beginning.
(b) Patience
Hebrews 11:9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise.
By faith Abraham lived as a stranger in Canaan. He gave up his past life of unbelief, pagan friends and lifestyle, to dwell in the land of God’s choice. The book of Genesis tells us the LORD said to him, “Unto thy seed will I give this land” (Gen. 12:7).
Abraham lived in tents. He lived a nomadic life with Isaac and Jacob, his son and grandson. Imagine the daily grind in the foreign land. Why was he able to sojourn in that strange land for so long? He died at the age of 175, meaning that he lived for a century in Canaan. The heirs of Abraham did not inherit the promise land until the generation of Joshua. What kept Abraham steadfast and unmoveable, trusting in God to fulfil His promise? Hebrews 11:10 tells us the reason.
Hebrews 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
The book of Hebrews broadens the sphere of Abraham’s entire earthly life as a time of sojourning while awaiting for the true inheritance in heaven.
Hebrews 11:16 “But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.”
Likewise, when we repent of our sins and believe in the gospel that Jesus Christ died for our sins and three days later rose from the dead, we become children of God. This world is our temporal home. We look forward to our eternal home in heaven. We are to live daily, like Abraham, in obedience to God’s Word and with patience, look for the fulfilment of God’s promise. When we take our last breath, our souls will certainly be ushered to heaven.
(2) Devotions
Thank God for enabling us to devotionally study the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John written by JC Ryle from 1 August 2014 to 19 September 2015. Today, we begin a new devotional series on the Book of Romans. It is made available both in the church website and mobile app. May our hearts be encouraged in the things of God.
Yours lovingly,
Pr. Lek Aik Wee