Shifting Shadows

Faith in Christ: He Makes it Easy

Watchman Nee wrote in The Spiritual Man that “We should inquire once again as to what the life of faith is. It is one lived by believing God under any circumstance.” Brother Nee gives an example of the man of God, Job, who experienced those circumstances. Brother Nee quotes Job 13:15, “If he slay me,” says Job, “yet would I trust in Him.” Brother Nee also wrote: “He who is able to accept everything gladly from the Lord...and completely disregard self is he who lives for Him.” The Spiritual Man, Volume II, 244–245.
Hebrews 11, sometimes called the “Hall of Faith,” lists many Godly men and women whose faith in the Lord was unshakable. Abel’s faith required that he offer to God a better sacrifice than Cain—Abel offered the Lord the first fruits of his flock of sheep whereas Cain gave the Lord just “An offering of the fruit of the ground” (Genesis 4:3–4; Hebrews 11:4). Enoch’s faith pleased the Lord so much that He spared Enoch the process of dying (Genesis 4:24; Hebrews 11:5). By his faith Noah became an heir of the righteousness of God, by His grace, for Noah was the only man on earth who, with his family, was chosen to survive the flood of God’s wrath on the corrupt (Genesis 6:8–8:22; Hebrews 11:7). Abram obeyed God’s command to go to a place even though he did not know where it would lead him (Genesis 12:1–4; Hebrews 11:8). Moses gave up his right as an Egyptian royal to bear the suffering and castigation of his own people, the people of God (Exodus 2:11–12; Hebrews 11:24–26). By her faith Rahab, a Gentile harlot of Jericho, helped the children of Israel by shielding two of their spies from the king of Jericho’s men (Joshua 2:1–22; Hebrews 11:31). The Lord credited the faith of these Godly men and women as righteousness. “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes” (Romans 10:4).
In spite of all the examples in His Word of faithful servants, we sometimes hear it said, “It’s so hard to believe when I can’t see or hear God.” Jesus even heard this from His disciples. (See for example Thomas in John 20:25 and Philip in John 14:8–9). After all the miracles they’d seen Him perform, they still expressed confusion and doubt as to Jesus’ deity.
But the Lord is visible and can be heard if we just take the time to look and listen. He makes it easy for us to believe in Him. Jesus Christ said, “Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves” (John 14:11). In essence Jesus said that if you can’t believe in Him without seeing or hearing Him, then look around and see the miracles He did and continues to do. Jesus told the two disciples of John the Baptist that He’d cured the blind and lame, cleansed the lepers, gave hearing to the deaf, resurrected the dead, and preached the gospel to the poor (Matthew 11:5).
But you say, “That was then; this is now!” Be assured. Have faith that He is indeed the Creator of all the visible and the invisible (Hebrews 11:3). Look and see His wondrous works. For example, see and beware of the limitless sky, the countless stars, the light of the sun by day, the light of the moon at night, the air we breathe (just the right amount of oxygen), the abundance of water available for us to drink, the food He provides, the health He gives, the temperature range on earth that is perfect for life, and the mind He gives us that enables us to know Him. The list of His “works” is endless. The psalmist with heavenly words describes the wondrous works of the Lord in Psalm 104. It’s not just the miracles of old that were seen and heard. It is ongoing.
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). He created light, the evening and the morning, the first day and every day thereafter, the waters of the earth, the sky above, the plants and trees, the sun and the moon, every living and moving thing, and He created us! Jesus says to look at His works if you have any doubt that He is who He says He is. “All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made” (John 1:3).
Remember the faith of the ancients and “Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:7–8). Be like the centurion of whom Jesus said, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!” (Matthew 8:10). The centurion didn’t even need to see Jesus’ works, for his faith alone confirmed that Jesus would heal his servant just by the Lord’s spoken Word.
It’s easy to have faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. Just “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks, it will be opened” (Matthew 7:7–8).
O Lord, may we live our lives by believing in Him as Brother Nee urged:
“under any circumstance.”