When Our Faith is Tested

by Jeff Curtis

James 1:3 says, “The testing of your faith produces endurance.” Probably, the “testing” he refers to meant persecution. The idea is that when a Christian’s faith is tested and he still remains faithful, he grows spiritually. Unfortunately, not everyone passes the test.

Is our faith ever tested? Are we ever tempted to give up on God? When life goes bad for us – because of personal sickness, bereavement, financial difficulties, family conflicts or personal problems – our faith is tested. Sometimes this is true even when our lives are going well. Prosperity can tempt us to be materialistic, for example. What do we do then? The experience of the Israelites as they stood on the shore of the Red Sea gives us a few guidelines.

When our faith is tested, we should remember matters are not as bad as they seem. That was true of the Israelites. They thought they had escaped. Imagine their joy! Then they reached the Red Sea, and their joy turned to despair. They faced the sea to their front and Egypt’s army to the rear (Exodus 14:9). The forces against them seemed to be overwhelming. They saw no hope, no way out. However, since we know the rest of the story, we know that there was a way of escape. Ultimately, God delivered them.

Like the Israelites, we tend to look at the negative, imagine the worst, and fail to see the positive possibilities when we are faced with problems. We must have faith that the situation is not as dark as it seems.

When our faith is tested, we should look to God. The Israelites “cried out to the Lord” (Exod. 14:10). That much they got right – but then they started to complain. In doing so, they showed two negative attitudes that continued to characterize them: forgetfulness and ingratitude. They forgot what God had done for them, and they were ungrateful for His blessings. Nevertheless, God responded to their cry by promising them deliverance. Moses assured them that God would rescue them: “Do not be fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord” (Exod. 14:13,14).

Turning to God when our faith is tested should become natural for us. In God – through prayer, through Scriptures and through our fellow Christians – we can find the help we need in times of trial. Sometimes people move farther away from God instead of drawing closer to Him, even turning away from the church. May that never be said of us.

When our faith is tested, we should move forward. We must press on in the upward way, heading for our promised land. The most remarkable thing about the story in Exodus 14 is found in God’s instructions. After Moses said, “Stand by and see” (Exod. 14:13, God said, “God forward” (Exod. 14:15). Their faith was tested. To their credit, despite their misgivings, they did “go forward” into the sea. As the sea opened, they marched through on dry ground. By doing so, they were saved, delivered from the peril they were so afraid of.

What about us? When our faith is tested, we usually know what we ought to do. The question is whether or we will do it – in spite of our misgivings, fears and problems.

Often, when our faith is tested by trying circumstances or difficult situations, we need to do what Israel was told to do: (1) Depend on God; “Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord” (14:13). (2) Then “go forward” (14:15). Paul said, “Forgetting what lies behind and reaching for what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call pf God in Christ Jesus” (Php. 3:13-14). Is there a sea in front of us? God can open that sea. Is there a wall in front of us? God can help tear down that wall. Have we encountered a closed door? God can open that door. The solution to the testing of our faith is simply to “keep the faith,” to keep doing what the Lord would have us to do.

Conclusion. God has the answer for our individual lives and for the corporate life of the church. We must hear His instructions and press on, even when the way ahead seems impossible. The God who could open the Red Sea can open a door for us that will result both in our being blessed and in our being a blessing to others. 

True Religion

by Jeff Curtis

Matthew 23 is often called “The ‘Woe’ Chapter” because of Jesus’ use of that term (Matthew 23:13,14,15,16,23,25,27,29). The word from the Greek translated as “woe,” indicates the Lord’s sorrow due to the spiritual state of the Jewish leaders, as well as the promised judgment that would fall on them. The scribes and the Pharisees were religious and zealous, but they were lacking in the qualities that are acceptable to God. Five lessons about true religion can be gained from this chapter.

1. An act may be religious without being righteous (23:1-12). The Pharisees performed many religious acts, but often these were done only to be seen by men. They broadened their phylacteries and lengthened their tassels. They loved the position of authority of teaching and all of the perks that resulted from it, including seats of honor and reverential titles. The motives behind their acts invalidated them.
2. An act may be religious without being beneficial (23:13,15). In fact, such acts might even be harmful. The Pharisees exerted great effort om making converts. The end result, however, was that these converts were even more corrupt that those who converted them.
3. An act may be religious without being adequate (23:23). Jesus didn’t condemn the Pharisees for being faithful in minor things. For the Jews, tithing even the smallest of garden herbs and spices was a good thing. Instead, He condemned them for majoring in minors. While emphasizing the smallest matters, they neglected the more important things: justice, mercy and faithfulness.
4. An act may be religiously visionary and idealistic but useless if it is not carried out (23:29-36). The Pharisees honored the tombs of the prophets, whom their forefathers had murdered; but they had not changed their hearts. They also mistreated and killed those sent by God in their time – Jesus and His disciples.
5. Those who engage in religious acts that are wrong do not have to remain wrong forever (23:37-39). They can repent and be right with God. It is a fearsome error for one to reject the Lord permanently, but no one has to remain in an unsaved condition.

-------------------------------

Enoch Did Not See Death

by Heath Rogers

Genesis chapter 5 contains the genealogical record of Adam to Noah. A familiar phrase is found 8 times in this chapter – “and he died.” When men like Joshua and David said, “I am going the way of all the earth” (Josh. 23:14; 1 Kings 2:2), they were referring to their approaching deaths as a common experience of all mankind (Heb. 9:27).

The phrase “and he died” is found 8 times in Genesis chapter 5, but there are 9 men who are mentioned in the chapter. Of Enoch it is said, “So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years. And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him” (Gen. 5:23-24). What exactly happened to Enoch?

Hebrews 11:5 clarifies the matter for us. “By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, ‘and was not found, because God had taken him’; for before he was taken, he had this testimony, that he pleased God” (emphasis mine – HR). Enoch did not experience physical death.

One interesting note about Enoch’s being taken in Genesis 5 is that it is the first evidence in the Bible that man continues to exist after his physical life on earth is over. Enoch did not cease to exist. He was taken from this world to another place. This begins the Bible’s teaching on man’s eternal existence.

Job asked, “If a man dies, shall he live again?” (Job 14:14), to which Jesus later responded, “Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth - those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation” (John 5:28-29). This physical life is not the entirety of our existence; it is just the beginning. Are you planning for eternity?