The Basis of our Faith

The Scriptures reveal that Abraham believed God was able to perform what He had promised. The basis of Abraham’s faith was not that God would do anything at any time. Rather, Abraham believed that God was able and willing to perform the specific commitment that He (God) had made to him (Abraham). This indicates that a word had been spoken to Abraham prior to faith entering into his heart. By contrast, the Israelites (who demonstrated unpersuadableness) did not interact directly with God. Instead of cultivating deep, intimate and personal relationships with God, they chose to hide behind Moses for relayed directives (Exodus 24). However, they failed to realise that unpersuadableness could not be conquered by the receipt of second hand commands from God. The presence of intermediaries in heaven’s information pathway (particularly concerning intimate details of a man’s life) greatly inhibits the growth of faith in his heart. The latter will always live in the uncertainty of God’s will for his life. He will constantly look for the confirmation of his election by other men neglecting the command in 2Pet 1:10, ‘wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall. This certainty of vision can only be obtained when direct lines of communication with God are opened. The failure to directly and personally communicate with God is a major obstacle to developing the faith of God in an individual. The possession of vast knowledge from books and other sources can never be used as a substitute for revelation knowledge that has been inspired by the Holy Spirit. These external sources of knowledge could potentially enhance the frequency at which revelation knowledge is received by a Christian however, they lack the innate ability to produce living and genuine faith. Living faith can only be produced by quiet moments of meditation and communion with God. The knowledge of the former principle was the basis of Paul’s admonition to Timothy in 1 Tim 4:15, ‘Meditate upon these things give thyself wholly to them that thy profiting may appear to all.’ This was also the same command issued to Joshua by God in Josh 1:8, ‘this book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then, thou shalt have good success.’ Meditation on the written Word (Logos) causes the revelation of God to dawn within you. The next you are confronted with a practical challenge of life, meditate and ponder on the written Word and on other enlightening sources of information until God’s Spirit causes revelation to in you.

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