“…and shall not doubt in his heart, but believe…” Mark 11:23
Dear Ones:
It is the most logical of all concepts that man should trust in God. Why? First, the matter and evidence of His existence is a massive part of the reason. Who is wiser and more powerful than the Creator, and the Sustainer of life? Secondly, who has given us the highest motive for believing in Him, God, by the giving of His Son to die on a cross to pay for the sins of humanity. Thirdly, the present opportunity by the grace of God to believe. And fourthly, the individual call by God for man to believe. “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13)
The author of the book to the Hebrews has laid before us the starting point in considering “doubtless faith.” He writes: “For he that comes to God MUST believe that He IS, and that He is a REWARDER of them that diligently seek Him.” (Heb. 11:6) He begins not only with the certain existence of God, but the certain interjection of God into His creation, specifically with regard to US. He is a God who “rewards,” intervening in lives and circumstances in wonderful and multiple ways, but He is also a God who can be FOUND by the seeking heart. “He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek HIM.”
The second reason for having faith in God, without doubting, concerns the motive of God in His dealings with us. Sadly, we have become too familiar with the phrase, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son…” And yet, in that phrase is revealed an attitude of God which is not only resolute, but total. His commitment to mankind, to save and to bless, is perfectly manifested for His glory and the highest good of man. In writing of the “testament,” or covenant, which the Lord has made toward mankind, He writes, “For where a testament IS, there must also be of necessity the death of the testator.” (9:16) He goes on to speak of the force, or strength, of the testament being based on the death of the one who died to establish it. Herein is the greatest expression of this highest of all motives, that Christ died to SEAL, ACCOMPLISH, FINISH an eternal, unalterable work to save us all, and individually. Look at the extent of God’s commitment to us, and love for us, that the Father should at such great cost to Himself, give His Son, and the Son in return at such great cost, give His life. Can faith doubt such love?
Thirdly, we learn from the Old Testament Scriptures, extending into the New Testament, that the Lord God declares Himself to be “…merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth.” (Ex. 34:6) Even Jonah would declare, “…for I KNEW that Thou art a Gracious God, and merciful…” (Jon. 4:2) The Apostle Paul would write almost eight hundred years later, “…For by grace are ye saved by faith, and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.” (Eph. 2:8) This sovereign God extends His gracious hand to all that “would” believe, by issuing them a call to “come.” He waits to GIVE faith to believe, a faith that does not doubt because of the revelation of the heart of God’s gracious and merciful heart to our own.
Lastly, the call to believe “without doubting,” is the personal address to the individual. He who knew us before we were born, even in our mother’s womb, who calls us by name, calls us to a total trust in Him…the unfailing, uncompromising, and unchanging God. The words of the Apostle John ring down the centuries as they did the first time they were written: “…if ANY man hear My voice, and open the door, I WILL come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.” (Rev. 3:20)
Dear Father, You who are worthy to be trusted fully, without reserve, give us grace this day to do so, knowing that You have given us a knowledge of the truth as a basis for trust. Strengthen us to cast away all doubt, especially when we do not understand Your dealings with us. Give us to trust Your heart, wisdom, and power, KNOWING that You are unfailing, unceasingly loving, and graciously caring, rewarding those who truly seek you diligently. We thank and praise Thee in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.
Love, Dad