Hold Fast to God for Grace and Peace
Posted by Pastor Pat on December 11, 2008
“If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established.” Is. 7:9
The year was 720 BC. The messenger was the prophet to the kings, himself of royal descent. The recipient of the message was the wicked king of the Southern Tribe Ahaz. The nation stood on the brink of civil war with the 10 Northern tribes seeking to ravage their Southern “brothers.” “The hearts of the people shook as the trees of the forest shake with the wind (7:2).” Isaiah’s message was simple, “Take care and be calm, have no fear and do not be fainthearted because of these two stubs of smoldering firebrands (7:4).” And yet he added a very sobering reminder, “If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established.” Isaiah’s words remind us of our two options for living life. We will either believe “the facts of God” or work off of “the feelings of man.”
The circumstances facing Ahaz were real and threatening.
He could “see the white of their eyes.” He could “feel the weight of their words.” He could “taste the darkness” that was beginning to swallow up the nation. And yet Isaiah called him to believe God. God would destroy the Northern tribes. None of the evil planned against Judah would stand or come to pass (7:7).
My Bible reading led me through several “facts of God.”
Proverbs 6:22-24 reminded me it is the Word that “guides me,” “watches over me,” “talks to me.” It is the Word that is a “lamp and light.” (See also Ps 119:105). It is the Word that “reproofs for discipline” my fleshly appetites and worldly ways
(See also 2 Timothy 3:16). And it is the Word that “keeps me” from immorality.
The Apostle John likes to remind his readers that they are “victors” and “conquerors.” (See 1 John 2:13, 14; 4:4; 5:4).
1John 4:4
You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.
1John 5:4
For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world–our faith.
Like King Ahaz of Judah we have the natural tendency to follow “the feelings of man” and allow our circumstances to determine how we feel and thus think and act. Yet if we do not believe God as to who and what we are and have in Christ, we will forfeit what is ours by birth. It’s always there. Nothing can alter “the fact of God,” but it sits idly by waiting for us to lay hold of it. So instead of abiding in grace and peace we live with frustration, hypocrisy and stress. It is time we daily claim what is ours by faith believing what God has said is true and thus establish ourselves in Him. Consider with me this short statement.
“GODISNOWHERE”
Depending on how you read it, it will either say,
“God is now here,” or “God is nowhere.” It is simply a matter of perspective. Today let us choose to say, “God is now here.” What He said is true and I will chose to live in light of His promises. He, Jesus Christ, is my reality. It is a joy to join you in this pilgrimage of grace. May grace continue to reign!
By Pastor Patrick J. Griffiths. For more information see the Waukesha Bible Church series on Galatians.
