In 1994 the Chicago Tribune ran a story about a rather love-struck Brazilian artist named Marcio da Silva. He was madly in love with a young lady named Katia de Nascimento. (You've got to love these names.) Anyway, after a lengthy four-year relationship, Marcio's girlfriend Katia decided to break off the relationship. Marcio was devastated. He was totally heartbroken. He was beside himself. This was the girl of his dreams. What should he do? Was there any way for him to win back her affection?
Suddenly an idea struck him. His idea was to win back her love with a gesture of unparalleled devotion. He would literally walk over to her house on his knees, some nine miles, in order to salvage the relationship. And that he did. With pieces of car tires strapped to his kneecaps, the 21-year-old man shuffled along the highway some fourteen hours before he reached her home in Santos, Brazil.
Motorists and well wishers cheered Marcio the entire time. The news media went bananas. It was just the kind of drama they needed for the day's news. But when the thoroughly exhausted Marcio reached the end of his marathon of love, the nineteen-year-old woman of his dreams was not impressed. In fact, she had intentionally left her home before his arrival to avoid seeing him.
This story makes me think of the many ways that we try to impress God. An aching back, bruised kneecaps, sore ankles-- we will do anything to relate to God, so long as we can do it on our terms. In fact, we imaginatively create lists. This is what I'll do to show God my love. I will give him this fifty dollar bill that's in my wallet. I'll make it to church every Sunday. I'll give up something. I'll give up chocolate for a month. I'll read my Bible every day. I'll sing in the choir. I'll cut back on overtime. I'll stop watching questionable programs. That will rattle the gates of heaven.
You see, we mistakenly assume that our sacrificial acts of devotion will impress God. We assume that those things that are impressive to us and that get standing ovations on earth will get the same response in heaven. We gloss over the fact that our attempts to woo God often fizzle and fall flat. God doesn't cater to our whims and theatrics. He is not impressed with superficialities. He is looking for something much deeper and complete.
In fact, when you read the scriptures, you will see that there is only one thing God is impressed with. That thing is faith.
Jim Cymbala, pastor of the Brooklyn Tabernacle, in his book Fresh Faith wrote, "Never in the four gospels was Jesus astounded by anybody's righteousness. Never was he impressed with anyone's education. But he was amazed by one thing: people's faith." For example, in Luke 7:9 we're told that Jesus was amazed at the faith of a Roman centurion. In Matthew 15:28 (NIV) Jesus was struck by the faith of Canaanite woman. There he exclaimed, "Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted." Later, in Mark 6:5-6 we're told that Jesus was amazed by the lack of faith that existed in his hometown of Nazareth.
Faith catches God's eye.
We can forget about all the other things we have tried. Faith is what catches God's eye. We are wasting our time if we are trying to relate to God by any other way besides faith. That's why Hebrews 11:6 (NIV) says, "...without faith, it is impossible to please God."
Now with that said, it is worth noting that faith is one of the Christian basics mentioned in Hebrews 6. Along with repentance, faith is an essential. It's elementary. It's part of the nuts and bolts of what it means to be a Christ follower. Along with repentance, faith is foundational to our relationship with God.
So what is faith? What does faith look like in real life?
Almost everyone would agree that faith involves believing certain truths. Faith believes in the existence of an invisible God who created the world. Faith believes that Jesus Christ is fully God and that he came to earth in the flesh. Faith believes that Jesus Christ died on a cross for our sins. Faith believes that Jesus Christ was raised on the third day and that he reigns in heaven. Faith believes that Jesus Christ will one day return to judge the earth.
This morning I want to establish in your mind that biblical faith runs much deeper than merely believing certain truths. There is another dimension to faith that is equally important. That dimension is trust.
It is very easy for us to believe in something without putting our necks on the line. Back in the 1860's a famous tightrope walker named Blondin toured this country putting on exhibitions. He went to the Niagara Falls to put on a three-day show. Blondin stretched the tightrope across the falls and for two days he walked this rope. He drew a tremendous crowd. On the third day he said he was going to walk the rope blindfolded and push a wheelbarrow. Before he tried this feat he went among the crowd and asked, "Do you believe that I can do this?"
There wasn't anyone in the crowd who doubted him. So he climbed up on the rope and asked, "OK, now who will come up and get in the wheelbarrow?"
You see it is not enough to merely believe certain truths. Trust picks up where belief stops. Belief saturates the mind. It satisfies us intellectually. Trust saturates our entire being, heart, mind, body, and soul. Friends, write in your Bible these words. Faith always trusts.
God wants us to actually trust in him and to put our lives into his care. He wants us to risk something in his name, if there is such a thing as taking a risk for God.
Faith trusts in God's leadership.
In Hebrews 11 we find dozens of vivid sketches detailing a faith that trusts. Allow me to hit just a few of the highlights.
First, faith trusts in God's leadership. In Hebrews 11:8 (NIV) we're told that, "By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going."
This verse can be summarized with six simple words. By faith Abraham obeyed and went. By faith Abraham followed the call of God. Abraham trusted God's leadership. Abraham obediently left what was comfortable and familiar, and he ventured out toward a distant land that he would later receive as his inheritance. He placed himself entirely into God's wheelbarrow. He let God set the direction for his life and for his family and for his future. The bottom line is that he trusted in God's leadership.
In our day there is something to be said for a faith that trusts God's leadership. We want all the assurances of salvation while following our own wills. We want to pick and choose from God's word which of his commands fit our lives and which commands are out of the question. So often we presume that we know what's best for our lives and that somehow our judgment is more sound than that of our heavenly Father who created us. In our dark moments we find ourselves believing that God's leadership is optional. What a terrible thing! The faith that amazes God and that captures his attention always trusts and obeys his leadership.
Without a faith that trusts in God's leadership, it is impossible to please the Father.
Faith trusts in God's power.
Second, faith trusts in God's power. Hebrews 11:29 (NIV) says, "By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned." Hebrews 11:30 (NIV) says, "By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days."
In both of these examples God's people were up against a formidable challenge. In the first example they were seeking delivery from slavery. In the second example they were seeking victory over their enemy. In both examples God's people, in and of themselves, were completely powerless. In both examples God's people opted to put their trust in God's power. This was a wise move.
This last week when I was reading Jim Cymbala's book Fresh Faith, I had one of those Aha! experiences in which a truth got hammered home to me in a powerful way. Cymbala says that the key word many Christians use today to describe their Christian life is struggle. According to Cymbala we say things like, "I'm struggling to obey the Lord and do his will. I'm doing the best I can. We all struggle, you know."
When I read Cymbala's words I resonated with them, as I am sure you do. I know that in my life there are nagging sins from which I want to be delivered. There are areas in which I want to have a breakthrough and to experience victory. Yes, I'm struggling to obey the Lord and do his will.
But herein lies the problem. Cymbala points out that so often our Christianity is focused on our ability rather than on God's ability. He points out that so often we try to attain the goal by human effort instead of through the power of God's Holy Spirit. Cymbala says, "True Christianity is, rather, to know Jesus and trust in him, to rely on him, to admit all our strength comes from him. That kind of faith is not only what pleases God, but it is also the only channel through which the power of God flows into our lives so that we can live victoriously for him. It is what Paul meant in Philippians 4:13 (NIV) when he wrote,"I can do everything through him who gives me strength."
What a wakeup call! Faith trusts in God's leadership. Faith trusts in God's power.
Faith trusts in God's purpose.
My third point is that faith trusts in God's purpose. In Hebrews 11:35-40 (NIV) and the following verses, the writer of Hebrews shoots through a montage of chaos and suffering. "Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated-- the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground. These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect."
Throughout history, by faith God's servants have always trusted in God's purpose. Perhaps you noticed that there were some pretty graphic scenarios in that passage. While serving in the line of duty, some of God's servants were sawed in two. They were stoned. They faced jeers and flogging. They were put to death by the sword.
How difficult it must have been for them to face such suffering! How they must have pleaded with God in prayer, "Why, God? Why me? Why this?"
You know that God's servants of old did not have the panoramic view of God's plan that we have today. They couldn't see what was on the other side of their suffering. We have passages like Romans 8:28 that remind us how in all things, God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. We have Romans 8:29 that tells us how God's purpose for us is that in everything, we be conformed to the likeness of his Son, Jesus Christ. Our suffering isn't just random meaningless chaos. Our sufferings are the occasion God uses to mold us into Christ's likeness.
Right now in your life, in your circumstances, no matter how terrifying or frustrating or annoying, God is working to accomplish his purpose. Though you may not understand the intricacies of God's plan, you can be assured that all things are working for the good of those who love him. I like what Charles Swindoll wrote. "If his plan for you is a surprise or, perhaps a disappointment, let it be. I urge you to come to terms with the disappointment and accept the surprise. Go ahead. Call it a mystery. Let Him have his way with your life, for nothing is worse than resisting and resenting the One who is at work in you."
Faith trusts in God's leadership. It trusts in his power. It trusts in his purpose.
Faith trusts in God's promises.
A fourth point is that faith trusts in God's promises. In Hebrews 11:11 (NIV) we read, "By faith Abraham, even though he was past age-- and Sarah herself was barren-- was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise."
God had promised Abraham a son, and what a promise it was! Abraham was a hundred years old and Sarah was close to ninety years of age. Though in the beginning Abraham and Sarah laughed at God's promise, they quickly discovered that God wasn't joking. God keeps his promises. In the end it was God who got the last laugh. Abraham and Sarah gave birth to a son and called him Isaac, which in Hebrew means "he laughs."
Did you know that throughout the scriptures God has made hundreds of promises to us? And God is not some politician. He keeps his promises, every single one of them. He follows through on his commitments. If you trust in God's promises you can be assured that God will never leave you standing at the end of the day holding an empty bag. God has promised eternal life and a heavenly dwelling for those who trust in him. He will make good on that promise.
Faith trusts in God's leadership, his power, his purpose, and his promises.
Faith trusts in God's timing.
Lastly, faith trusts in God's timing. Throughout Hebrews 11 we find God working according to his own timetable. Abraham and a pregnant Sarah learned this lesson atone hundred years of age. Like Abraham and Sarah we are often tempted to help God as we impatiently force some kind of manmade resolution to a problem.
We must never forget that faith runs on a different clock. We must never forget that God's timetable is better than our timetable. We must never forget that God is perfectly choreographing our lives to best accomplish his purposes. And perhaps we should just allow God's timing to be a mystery. In 2 Peter 3:8-9 (NIV) we are reminded, "But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."
Friends, faith goes far beyond a mere belief in certain truths about God. Faith trusts in God's leadership. Faith trusts in God's power. Faith trusts in God's purpose and plan. Faith trusts in God's promises. Faith trusts in God's timing.
And without this kind of trusting faith it is impossible to please God. We can crawl on our knees for miles trying to relate to God in our own way. Or we can climb up into his wheelbarrow and relate to him through faith. The choice is yours this morning. Let's pray.