The present generation regards itself as "liberated."
The old-fashioned taboos of the Dark Ages have been laid
aside by a more "enlightened" society. There is almost
nothing the modern generation is hesitant to discuss --
without shame or blushing. The psychologists have assured us
it is better if we "let it all hangout."
Thus, multitudes of those professing to be God's
people may be heard arguing wildly in defense of the right
to: murder unborn children, practice homosexuality, turn to
the drug culture for relief from boredom, and do almost
anything that "feels good." The tragic part is that so many
have psyched themselves into believing that they may do so
WITH GOD'S APPROVAL!!
In the words of the wise man: "Most men will
proclaim every one his own goodness; but a FAITHFUL man, who
can find?" (Proverbs 20:6). In the face of seemingly
insurmountable unbelief it is easy to empathize with the
psalmist who cried: "Help, Lord, for the godly ceaseth;
for the faithful fail from among the children of men. They
speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering
lips and with a double heart do they speak." (Psalm
12:1-2).
During the past few years there has developed a
popular, yet alarming, tendency to depreciate the role of
FAITHFULNESS in the lives of the saints. "Crucifixion with
Christ" is portrayed as something far too hideous, for
our young people to accept. To speak of injury suffered
through " too great an emphasis on faithfulness "
during one's spiritual adolescents, however, is to talk such
nonsense as the flippant person who argues: "I don't go to
church because my parents MADE ME GO when I was a kid."
Contemporary culture is quite eloquent in the
witness it bears to the unpopularity of faithfulness. Parents
do not teach and require it of their children. Many
educational institutions regard any "moral issues as outdated
-- except when insisting upon something that is to their own
advantage. Few churches emphasize its importance, and, far
too many pastors, conscience of its demise in the eyes of the
masses, do not stress it -- being less fearful of divine
wrath than of their own carnal constituents.
The loose attitude manifested toward marriage vows,
labor contracts, national treaties and various other promises
in this decadent age, is nothing less than TRAGIC! And, for
all this we are ACCOUNTABLE TO GOD! We must stand before Him
in ultimate judgment, (2 Cor. 5:10).
Is it possible that this tendency to de-emphasize
the importance of "faithfulness" is, in essence, a compromise
with a flesh-tampering generation that has evaluated the cost
of the discipleship as too high?
Depreciation of FAITHFULNESS, as the only acceptable
walk of genuine Christian living, encourages the delinquency
of a generation that is pure in its own eyes, but not yet
washed from its filthiness -- a generation that "curseth
its father and does not bless its mother," (Proverbs
30:11-12).
A promiscuous ministry (one that takes indecent
liberties with the glorious principles of godliness as set
forth in the Scriptures) is ill-equipped to prescribe a
remedy for the ailments of such a permissive society as that
in which we live. And only wicked presumptuousness will
attempt to separate FAITH from FAITHFULNESS -- claiming to
live by the first while despising the very thought of the
latter.
Biblical Import
By "faithfulness" I speak of a consistent, active
quality of life that is rooted in a faith that is REAL. The
faithful PERSON is one who is steady, stable, steadfast,
trustworthy and true to the "high calling of God which is in
Christ Jesus."
Faithfulness involves a simple loyalty to the will
of God as revealed in Christ and set forth in His Word. It is
no spineless acquiescence to some blind impersonal fate; but
open-eyed commitment to the PERSON of Jesus Christ. A
creature of faith, and child of repentance, it springs into
action when the pride of our intellects, the arrogancy of our
wills, and rebellion of our hearts have been laid in the
dust.
The Scriptures place strong emphasis on the
importance of faithfulness. While the flesh-pampering world
stresses the importance of "SELF-realization" (self-esteem,
self-defense, self-promotion and self-righteousness), the
Word of God stresses the necessity of a rare quality called
FAITHFULNESS. "Most men will proclaim every one of his own
goodness but, a FAITHFUL MAN, who can find?"
FAITHFULNESS is the very life -principal of the
"just" man; it is his RULE OF LIFE, (Hab 2:4). It appears
that Scroggie is quite correct in suggesting that the word
"faith" is not actually used in the Old Testament. Our
English version uses it only twice (here and in Deuteronomy
32:20), and in both places it might be better rendered
"faithfulness" -- just as it is translated elsewhere
throughout the Old Testament.
The true people of God have the responsibility of
being "good stewards" of the manifold grace of God. Vast
riches have been committed to our trust, (Proverbs 10:22;
Ephesians 1:18; 3:18; James 2:5; 2 Cor. 8:9). The essence of
good stewardship is FAITHFULNESS, (1 Cor. 4:1-2). The
faithful and wise stewart is one who persistently follows the
will and Word of his Lord, (Matt. 24: 45-57). But, if a
servant gets tired of being faithful, and desides to run
things as to HE thinks they ought to be run, he will suffer
irreparable loss. The Word of God clearly teaches this to be
the case, (Matt. 24:48-51).
Israel is declared to be a very froward generation
-- "children in whom is no faithfulness," (Deuteronomy
32:20). Thus, God hides His face from them, (Deuteronomy
31:16-18). He further, moves them to jealousy by bestowing
upon the despised Gentiles the very blessings they have
forfeited through their faithlessness. And, New Testament
Christians are warned against such "high-mindedness" as
presumes that one may have God's blessings without meeting
the conditions upon which they are offered in His Word.
Faithfulness is set forth in the Scriptures as
highly commendable -- the ONLY life-principal upon which one
may please God, (Hebrews 11: 6).
Biblical Examples
God is faithful , keeping -- "covenant and mercy
with them that love Him and keep His Commandments to a
thousand generations," (Deuteronomy 7:9). He gave rest to
His people, Israel, "According to all that He promised:
there hath not failed ONE WORD of all His good promises,"
(1 Kings 8:56). Psalm 89 opens with these words: "I will
sing of the mercies of the Lord forever: with my mouth I will
make known thy faithfulness to all generations." "God is
faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of His
Son, Jesus Christ Our Lord," (1 Cor. 1: 9).
The "expressed image" of the Father's person,
and manifesting the brightness of His glory, JESUS is also
faithful in all things. He is just as faithful to His
THREATENINGS of judgment as to His promises of blessing, (2
Tim 2:13; Hebrews 2:17; 10:23; 1 John 1:9; Revelations 1:5;
19:11). And it is only through the faithfulness of the Son of
God that one is enabled to live the Christian life,
(Galatians 2:20; Romans 5:10).
Various biblical characters are also set forth as
examples of that fidelity which God commends. The one
outstanding quality in Abraham's life was his faithfulness to
God, (Genesis 15:6; Nehemiah 9:7-8; Romans 4:12, 19-30;
Hebrews 11:8-17; Galatians 3:7,9). Moses was faithful in a
house that was not his own, (Hebrews 3:5; 11:24-27). So
faithful was the prophet, and Daniel, that his jealous peers
could find nothing whereby they might accuse him before the
king, (Daniel 6:4). Timothy's faithfulness was commended by
Paul -- whose own life was a living example of faithfulness
after his encounter with the Son of God on the Damascus Road,
(1 Cor 4:17; 2 Timothy 2:1-2; 2 Tim 4:6-8). Various epistles
are addressed to men who are "faithful in Christ Jesus." And
a vast Honor Roll of such people is displayed in Hebrews 11.
Yet, no other even begins to compare with "the faith of
Christ" -- the total abandonment of the Son to His "Father's
Business."
Faithfulness Rewarded
Specific blessings are promised to those who are
faithful to God's sacred trust. "A faithful man shall
abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich
shall not be innocent," (Proverbs 28:20).
The Lord preserves the faithful, (Psalm 31:23). They
will be permitted to dwell with Him eternally, (Psalm 106:6;
compare Psalm 15) these will share the rulership of His
coming Kingdom, (Matt. 25:21, 23; Luke in 19:17; Revelations
21:10; 20:4). And, God is ever faithful to the faithful,
loving labors of His people, (1 Cor. 15: 57-58).
Thus, it is evident that faithfulness is a major
note in the harmonious message of the Holy Scriptures. It
must BEGIN with trust in Jesus Christ as a personal Savior
and Sin-bearer; but, it does NOT stop there. A faith that is
REAL will involve unconditional commitment to the actual
Lordship of Jesus -- accepting His will, following the
instructions of His Word, and walking in the way of His
appointment. He never fails the soul that trusts in
Him.
The story is told of the chaplain who was
ministering to a dying soldier during the war. He asked the
lad if he had a message for his mother. "Yes" said the lad,
"Tell her that I am dying happy."
"Is there anything else?" Asked the chaplain. "Yes"
he said, "I would like you to write to my Sunday School
teacher. Tell her that I DIED A CHRISTIAN, and that I have
never forgotten her teaching."
Sometime later the chaplain received a letter from
this teacher. It went something like this:
"God have mercy upon me! Just last month I resigned
my class. I felt that my teaching was doing no good. Scarcely
had my cowardly, faithless heart given up my appointed work
than I got your letter telling of the precious soul that had
come to Jesus through my teaching. I'M GOING BACK to my
pastor at once. I will tell him that I am ready to Try AGAIN
-- ' in Jesus' name; and I WILL BE FAITHFUL TO THE END!"
What matters if the clouds hang low?
What matters if the bleak winds blow?
What matters if I may not know?
The reason WHY these things are so?
God reigns! I will be true.
What matters if my friends be few?
What matters were they are, or who?
What matters what man say or do?
What matters what God leads me through?
God reigns! I will be true.
What matters if this life is brief?
What matters if I've toil or grief?
I, in my Savior, find relief.
Of all my joy, He is the chief.
God reigns! I will be true.
No matter what I must resign;
No matter how the fire refine,
If I've but in His image shine.
By faith I clasp His hand Divine.
God reigns! I will be true.
No matter if my bark is frail,
In Jesus name, I breast the gale.
No matter if all else shall fail,
Might anchor holds within the vail.
God reigns! I will be true. (Author Unknown)