Faith Unlimited

"I live by the faith of the Son of God." (Gal. 2:20)
"Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him ..." (Job 13:15)

In this day and age we have an enormous amount of material on the issue of faith. There are numerous moves in the body of Christ heralding specific aspects of faith. Many doctrinal camps have been built into institutions, for better or worse, concerning the issue of faith. While many of them we may highly question, and maybe with good reason, I would like to put my stone down and speak of another aspect of faith that may be outdated or not considered in the minds of many.

Sheer determination drives mortal man to obtain many things, but they can all be obtained in this realm of limitation, yet this realm of limitation does not have the final say so on the outcome of time itself. You see, time itself is a mere tool in the hand of God. So, while the unregenerate man may capture the desire of his heart, this temporal peace is swallowed up with the craving for yet another desire. Whether the wealthy man, who in the world's eyes may be sitting on top of the world, or the ones who are looked on as bums, this chain of misery hold no bounds -- It covers the entire human race!

Nevertheless, God has placed a link between Himself and those He has apprehended. I dare pose the question, "Has this link been mistaken as a vehicle for things that perish, and resemble the goals of those who do not even know God?" There are several accounts of the miracle working power all through the Bible. Many flocked to the Son of God while He performed the Father's will. But who flocked to Gethsemane to see Him perform the very essence of the Father's will? History itself has seen the Church in its time of refreshing which provided moves of God that drew the multitudes, and why should anyone belittle these accounts? Yet, there is something far exceeding the realm of the natural, the confines of time, the visible results of this current age, and all the things that perish with it! There is something produced in the vessel that holds dear to its only treasure that surely shall not see corruption! This treasure is not produced by man, but by his Maker!

While many thrill to see the crowded halls, the packed buildings, the huge stadiums and the entire atmosphere of what can happen, because it seems that all the proper things are in place for God to move. Indeed, in these events He has and can still move in a mighty way. Yet, there is still another atmosphere that holds an undeniable confidence in God alone, no matter what the naked eye may see or not see, no matter what one may feel or not feel, miracle or no miracle. The reality of Christ and His ever sustaining power dwelling within has kept a people from a frail and fickle mind set that opens the door for conditional, lop-sided faith and all the extremities that go with it!

I am speaking about none other than the faith that says in the face of death, "If I perish, I perish." I speak of the faith that humbles us to the ground even though the prayer seems unanswered, it seems we have failed, some secret sin has crept in, but NO! He is still God. Miracle or no miracle, He still rules and has the entire creation under control, for it was His creation to start with and though we feel untouched and even dry, results or no results, God has still got a people in this earth, no matter how scattered, that will just yield to the thump of the mighty hammer as He reshapes, refines, and restores His possession to a higher estate! Perhaps one of the greatest miracles of all, is the unwavering faith that stands solid while the world around it crumbles.

This faith I speak of is the one that clamps down in the pit of pain knowing that the very Spirit of God is well able to lift us into a realm that cannot be hindered by what is happening in the grips of corruption! A faith that would have a man move in reverence to prepare himself for the end of an age and the beginning of yet another age, another world!

This may very well be the faith that compels a man to continue to just do what God said, even if it means preaching 120 years and never seeing a single convert! This is the faith I pray to share by the grace of God with my fellow man. This is the type of faith I pray to challenge and be challenged with. This is the faith that depends not on instant results, but takes great advantage of the riches found in the fellowship of Christ, even when it includes waiting in peace and confidence, instead of short sighted vision resulting in a loss of sweet communion. This type of communion develops in us an expression that bears witness to something that may be lacking to the churches hurt -- "stability." The very faith that drives us to lay our soul down so that it may be impregnated with something that may mean death, but only to bring forth a greater expression of Christ and be raised back up in a higher dimension that declares, "The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ and He shall reign forever and ever." Now let us have communion with Him who is able to perform this in us! His faith is unlimited!