Faithfulness... It's a God Thing!

"What then? If some did not believe, their unbelief will not nullify the faithfulness of God, will it? May it never be! Rather, let God be found true, though every man be found a liar, as it is written, 'THAT YOU MAY BE JUSTIFIED IN YOUR WORDS, AND PREVAIL WHEN YOU ARE JUDGED.' But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? The God who inflicts wrath is not unrighteous, is He? (I am speaking in human terms.) May it never be! For otherwise, how will God judge the world?" -Romans 3:3-6

So, here's one of those things that's going to be really fun to think about... God's faithfulness! It stands throughout the entire span of time; past, present and future! His faithfulness is carried out in many different ways....

First, we see His faithfulness through the promise of redemption. Jesus Christ, God in flesh, came to earth and lived a sinless life. He was then unjustly tried and crucified for the sins of the world. He took upon Himself the punishment which was due each of us, for our sins, and made a way for us to be found acceptable in the sight of God. John 14:6 says, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me." So, we see God's faithfulness to provide a way of redemption...

Next, we must look at God's faithfulness to carry out judgment against sin. God is holy! This means that sin cannot be found in His presence. We are sinful beings. Without the blood of Christ to atone for our wrongs, we cannot come into the presence of God. Therefore, God's judgment is carried out against the unrepentant heart. This demonstrates God's faithfulness to His holiness. He does not change! His Word stands forever! Sin must be punished, and God is the perfect and righteous Judge. He is faithful to judge the nations, and the heart of every man.

"For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." -Romans 8:38-39

Here is another aspect of His faithfulness to consider. He does not change! (1 Sam. 15:29; Malachi 3:6) God is immutable! This means that His character does not change! He is, always has been and always will be faithful to His character. This is a great relief for those of us who have been betrayed, time and time again, by others... When Jesus said, "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out." (John 6:37) He is saying, "If you are Mine, then you are Mine, I shall never leave you nor forsake you!" (Deut. 31:6).

So, basically what Paul is getting at in Romans 3 is that we might not comprehend the mind of God, but that He is faithful, nonetheless. Let every man be found a liar, but God's words and promises will stand forever! We see this in an even clearer light when we look at Isaiah 55:8-11...

' "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,' declares the LORD. 'For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, And do not return there without watering the earth And making it bear and sprout, And furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.' "

It's actually quite comforting to know that God's mind is infinitely greater than our own! Let's face it... if the Creator of the Universe thought along the same lines and at the same level as the average human being... WE'D ALL BE IN TROUBLE! If He was subject to change as often as we are... if He was not the very essence of stability for all of matter... then we'd be living in chaos!

So, thanks be to God! That He is ever faithful! His promises are true! And we can count on His faithfulness when ours runs out! His love is faithful, even when we are not... such faithfulness truly transcends the human capacity for understanding! So, if we can learn to live with the same faithfulness, to the same cause, as Christ, which is to magnify His Father in everything, then I think we just might be on the right track! Let's learn to live in faithfulness! First, to our God, then to His Word, then in everything which His Word shows us.

My simple thought pattern is this... If it's a characteristic of our God... it's probably worth modeling! Let's learn to be faithful beings!

Grace and Peace!

Questions or Comments? E-mail me at afflquestions@yahoo.com .