Big Shoes! (part 3)

Let us begin by again reading the text we have begun considering.

“(17) as it is written, ‘I have made you the father of many nations’ -- in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. (18) IN HOPE HE BELIEVED AGAINST HOPE, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, ’So shall your offspring be.’ (19) He DID NOT WEAKEN IN FAITH WHEN HE CONSIDERED HIS OWN BODY, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb. (20) No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, (21) fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.” ( Romans 4:17-21 ESV)

“IN HOPE HE BELIEVED AGAINST HOPE”! Now that is remarkable faith. It is faith that even in considering the odds chooses to believe anyway! What a huge “faith print” such an outlook can make in life! If the fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham depended on Abraham and Sarah, it would have been reasonable to consider it a hopeless situation. Still, with HOPE against him in the flesh, Abraham looked beyond himself, retaining HOPE in the faithfulness of God. Abraham knew the God “who never lies.” ( Titus 1:2) To accept that reality regarding the character of God ought to nurture a strong faith on which to rest the HOPE regardless of what might be evident to the eye of the flesh.

Remember the Hebrew writer stated. . .
“Now faith is THE ASSURANCE OF THINGS HOPED FOR, the CONVICTION OF THINGS NOT SEEN.” ( Hebrews 11:1 ESV)

HOPE is retained when one moves the focus beyond the eye of the flesh to the eye of faith! Since God had declared, “So shall your offspring be”, Abraham believed his offspring would in fact come into existence. Even though he gave consideration to the reality his body was “as good as dead” and “the barrenness of Sarah’s womb” -- both being well advanced in years -- Abraham’s faith “did not weaken”!

Retaining HOPE AGAINST HOPE might be considered by some to be an irrational focus. However, history is filled with examples of people who accomplished much that others said could never be done. To recognize our own limitations is not only rational and reasonable thinking, it is also the humble perspective we ought to retain, lest we begin to trust too much in ourselves. However, when God and His Will are part of the equation, our HOPE in what He has declared should never be set aside! Then, like Abraham, we can give the “glory to God” ( Romans 4:20) as the “faith print” of our life continues to direct the attention of others toward Him.

Have a great day WALKING ON BY THE VISION OF FAITH’S EYE!
Carl

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