OceanSide church of Christ

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LET US SIMPLY “WALK BY FAITH”

Victor M. Eskew

 

“For we walk by faith, not by sight.”  These words are recorded II Corinthians 5:7.  They set forth that which governs the Christian’s life each day.  His is a walk of faith.  This is not a blind leap in the dark.  Oh no!  Faith is acquired through a divine medium, the Word of God.  “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Rom. 10:17).  God’s children hear the voice of God and follow His directions explicitly and without question.  In so doing, they walk by faith.

          There are many examples found throughout history of those who have walked by faith.  In Genesis 6:14, we read of God’s command to Noah.  “Make thee an ark of gopher wood:  rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shall pitch it within and without with pitch.”  Rain had never been seen upon the earth.  The ship to be constructed was of monstrous proportions.  Could it be that God would really destroy all flesh upon the earth?  These things could have been obstacles to Noah’s faith.  Noah, however, refused to waver.  “Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he” (Gen. 6:22).  His obedience constituted a “walk by faith.”  “By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became the heir of righteousness which is by faith” (Heb. 11:6).

          Abraham was another servant of God who “walked by faith.”  He had waited patiently for years to have a son.  Finally, Isaac was born and brought the patriarch great joy.  Then, God’s word came that contained a difficult command.  “And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of” (Gen. 22:2).  What would Abraham do?  How would he react?  This noble man did as he should have done; he walked by faith.  “By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac:  and he that had received the promise offered up his only begotten son” (Heb. 11:17).

          Walking by faith is a simple process.  God’s facts, we believe.  God’s promises, we embrace.  God’s commands, we obey.  However, walking by faith can also be difficult.  God’s promises and God’s commands often go against human reason and understanding.  We begin to ask:  “Why?”  Our own understanding leads us in a direction away from God’s commands.  Solomon’s words exhort us when we reach such a point.  He said:  “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.  Be not wise in thine own eyes:  fear the Lord, and depart from evil” (Prov. 3:5-7).  In order to walk by faith, we must remove the “buts,” the “what abouts,” and the “I thinks” from our vocabulary.  We must trust God fully and with our whole heart.

          Many Christians have ceased to walk by faith.  Their lives are often characterized by ignorance of God’s Word, little interest in spiritual things, immorality, and a disgust for those who are seeking to remain faithful to God.  Their own reasoning and rationality have replaced a deep faith in God.  They are like Israel in the days of the judges, every man doing what is right in his own eyes” (Judges 17:6; 21:25).  Such ought not to be so!  We exhort all with love to simply “walk by faith.”