“And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, ‘The Lord, He is the God; the Lord, He is the God.'” 1 Kings 18:39
Where does faith begin? We can always say, and it is true, that true faith begins in Jesus Christ, as he is the “Author and Finisher of faith.” Being the Beginning and the Ending, the Alpha and the Omega, Christ, with the Father, by the Spirit, is the Designer of faith, even as He is the builder and maker of the city of God. But, from a human standpoint, from the perspective of the creature, what is the recognizable beginning point, that fundamental first thing, that has to be right, clear, even a a cornerstone and foundation must be laid? It is revealed to us in the Lord’s own words: “Know therefore this day and consider it in thine heart, that the Lord He is God in heaven above: there is none else.” (Deut. 4:39) The great and fundamental truth upon which faith comes, and is built upon, is that there is ONE God, and no other. He thus, alone, is worthy of the trust and devotion of His creation.
God began laying for mankind the basis for faith by revealing it in Genesis 1:1. “In the beginning, God…” In the Garden of Eden, we see how God deals with man concerning this truth of Him being the only God, and God’s call to faith according to this truth. With regard to the tree of good and evil, the Lord told Adam, “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” (2:17) The call of God to man to exert true faith has its specific application in man’s submission to God’s authority, according to His word. True faith always involves commitment, not only of the mind, and emotions, but of the will. We discover also in the Garden of Eden, the presence of someone who would contest the fundamental truth of God’s unique oneness. Satan will put himself forward as one who has the “right” to contradict God, not only by tempting Eve to question what God had said, but by directly contradicting God’s word to Adam concerning the result of eating the forbidden fruit. Satan will set himself up to take the place of God. Sadly, Adam and Eve, will yield to the deceitful scheme of Satan, and embrace “the truth of God for a lie.” The critical point for true faith is their choice, and action, of obeying Satan rather than God. We see this same scheme of Satan when he tempted the Lord Jesus in the wilderness at the beginning of His ministry. Christ’s response to him is so clear and powerful: “Get thee behind Me, Satan: for it is written, ‘Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him ONLY shalt thou serve.” (Luke 4:8)
If there is any doubt in our minds as to how important the truth of God’s unique oneness is to faith, let’s look at His dealings with Israel. In giving to Israel the ten commandments, He begins by giving them this first one: “I am the Lord thy God which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. Thou shalt have NONE other gods before Me.” (Deut. 5:6-7) The Lord takes the truth of Him being the only true, and living God, the applies it very clearly to His people. The fact that He is the only God is to be believed, proved, and lived by His people refusing any “likeness” to the things of earth in representing Him. He is holy, and can only be worshipped in Spirit and truth, not by, and according to the thoughts and imaginations of men. He goes on to tell Israel, “Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them (idols, creations of man’s imagination): for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God.” (5:9) He then deals with the hallowing of His name, not using it in vain.
Holy Father, Grant to us to see and worship Thee as Thou art…unique and holy, worthy of singular devotion. In Jesus’ name, Amen.