Dear Ones:
The clarion is a “shrill, narrow-tubed war trumpet,” which gives a “loud and clear” sound. Why? Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 14:8, “…For it the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?” What is the clarion message throughout Scripture which reveals to us the unchanging ways of God, and makes so very clear the basic principle by which we are to live? It is, “…The just shall LIVE by faith.”
When God gave to Habakkuk the vision of what was soon to befall Israel because of her disobedience, He reminds Habakkuk that in it all, and regardless of the times and circumstance, the ways of God remain immutably the same. In particular, “… the just shall live by his faith.” (Hab. 2:4) Now, why does He say this? Why is this the clarion message, declared so loud and clearly throughout Scripture? It is because of three realities. The first is that all that is “good” in the sight of God must first come from Him, for as Jesus said, “God alone is good.” Paul would follow this up by saying, “…there is none righteous, no, not one…there is none that doeth good, no, not one.” (Rom. 3:10,12). The second reality is that God IS good, and all that He does and gives, is good. The third reality is simply that we are created to be “receivers.” We have no goodness, nor can we do good, unless we receive it BY FAITH from God…for He IS our goodness.
Scripture tells us that we are “justified by faith.” How is this so? It is because the goodness of God leads us to repentance, and that means, that we look heavenward and not inward for His righteousness. “But as many as RECEIVED Him, to them gave He power (authority) to become the sons of God.” (Jn. 1:12) So, we must receive the “free gift” of His righteousness in all of its completeness, beauty, and holiness…and are thus, justified. What about our walk, and of being conformed into the image of Christ? It is the same principle. We might say, “We are sanctified BY FAITH…” We thus live BY FAITH, and are changed, because we RECEIVE of Christ, by the Spirit. We receive, and thus, are able to give that which is good.
The life of faith is a life lived by the Spirit, being led by Him, strengthened by Him, enabled by Him…it is a life of receiving from Christ all that is needful. It is a life of abiding in His life, as He abides in us. THIS is why the clarion message is so very important, for if we do not grasp that we are receivers, and that God is the blessed giver of all that is good, ever desiring to give that which is His highest and best, then how shall we please Him and glorify our Maker and Redeemer who has loved us with an everlasting love?
So today, let us respond to the Lord’s words in Psalm 81:10: “…I am the Lord thy God which brought thee out of Egypt: open thy mouth WIDE, and I WILL FILL IT.” (Ps. 81:10) Let us obey it, and believe it, taking the Lord at His word.
Love, Dad