Jump Start # 3171

Hebrews 11:8 “By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going.”

Recently I preached a sermon that I called, “The Challenges of Faith.” There are a lot of challenges in life. In the military, it’s the obstacle course. In college, it’s the entrance exams. At home, it’s folding those dreaded fitted sheets. But the greatest challenges are those of our faith. It’s when we face fiery furnaces, bigger than life giants, and those dark valleys of shadows and death, that our faith is stretched, tried and tested.

There are three great challenges in Abraham’s life.

• He faced the “I don’t know where,” factor when God told him to leave Ur and go to a place he did not know where he as going. God knew. Abraham didn’t. Abraham had to trust God.

• He faced the “I don’t know how,” factor when God told him that late in life his wife was to have a baby. That didn’t make sense. Abraham had to trust God.

• He faced the “I don’t know why” factor when God told him to take that child, now a teenager, and sacrifice him. No one had been resurrected at this point. This was before Jesus came. Abraham had to trust God.

Where? How? Why? Those are the things that get us. They can shake us. They can rattle our faith and make us take spiritual inventory. What is interesting about those three challenges in Abraham’s life is that he wasn’t a young puppy. These challenges came late in life. And, they remind us of three myths that we love to hold on to.

First myth: As we get older, things get easier. They didn’t for Abraham. And, they don’t for us. Talk to a senior citizen about TV remotes or cell phones or insurance forms.

Second myth: As we get older, we have more time. That’s the dream world many have of retirement. Sleeping in every day. Watching movies whenever you want. Perpetual vacation. But one common thing I hear from senior citizens is that “I don’t have time…”

Third myth: as we get older, the challenges of our faith subside. They didn’t for Abraham. We get in our minds that we simply get too old for Satan and he’ll just leave us alone. He never will as long as we are in this room of God’s house.

Looking at the life of Abraham, we learn that our greatest challenges may still be ahead of us. These challenges may be personal, emotional and intense. Leaving Ur was nothing compared to having a baby when you are one hundred years old. And, that’s nothing compared to having to offer that child as a sacrifice, a burnt offering.

Looking at the life of Abraham, you can face challenges because of the victories God has already given you. Abraham didn’t start with a knife raised above Isaac. He stated with leaving home. Then a child. Then a sacrifice. There were a series of challenges and victories that Abraham learned from. The same is true of David. Before the giant, there was the bear and the lion. Small victories help us to see the Lord’s hand and help. Small victories give us the courage to fight the major battles in life.

There has been days that you resisted the devil and he ran. There were days when you have stood firm and allowed your convictions to speak for you. There were days when you were triumphant over trouble. When others were bowing to idols, you stood. When they said you can’t pray, you did. When you were told to no longer say the name of Jesus, you said His name. Victories at home. Victories at work. Victories among others. You can face whatever challenges come your way because you already have. You have the scars. You wear the badges of victory in Jesus.

When God stopped Abraham’s arm with a raised knife in it, ready to sacrifice Isaac, the Lord said, “Now, I know.” Abraham believed. Abraham would obey. Abraham trusted God. God knew. Abraham also knew. And, the devil knew as well. It might take a great challenge for you to face before you really know that you can trust the Lord.

Now I know…come what may, we can face the challenges of life.

Roger

Jump Start # 974

Hebrews 11:8 By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going.

This verse has been on my mind recently. It is interesting how events in life will find connections to Bible verses. We are in the process of moving. This is the most unusual move for us in our marriage. If I counted right, this will be our 8th move in our marriage. Eight different houses. That amazes my dad. He’s one who has lived decades in the same place. Not us. Some of the moves were to different cities as I worked with churches. Several moves were of necessities because of a growing family. This move is different. I’m staying with the same congregation. All the kids but one are out of the house. It’s time to think about the next phase of our life and that includes grandkids. This move is more about that.

I’ve found that just about everyone hates to move. I’m in that group as well. I don’t like things not in their place. I feel restless until everything is just right. It takes a while for the “just right” feeling to come. It’s amazing how much stuff that a person accumulates. I might lose my “man card” on this one, but I think I have more clothes than my wife does.

Moving. Abraham moved. That’s what our verse tells us. He wasn’t looking for a bigger house. In fact, he lived in tents. His tents where huge, nice and with rugs. Abraham’s move was called by God. The Lord wanted him out of Ur and the Lord had some plans for Abraham. God had promised Abraham a land. His descendants would occupy that land. What is fascinating about our verse is that Abraham wasn’t told exactly where he was going. The text says, “not knowing where he was going.” That’s the part most of us would struggle with. We could go if God told us. But, please tells us first, where we are going. God didn’t do that with Abraham. His journey was a journey of faith. God knew. Abraham didn’t.

You and I are also moving. Our move doesn’t involve boxes, painting, or lifting furniture. God has plans for us and is taking us places. Our journey with the Lord, like Abraham’s, is a journey of faith. The Lord opens doors, grants opportunities and moves hearts. He does all that to fulfill His will. That’s what was behind Abraham’s move. God has plans for us. His plans involve His will. Sometimes God leads us through the valleys, as David experienced in Psalms 23. Sometimes God leads to difficult places as Paul experienced. Prison was included in Paul’s journey, but that turned into something special as the household of Caesar was introduced to the Gospel.

Abraham’s journey involved faith. He didn’t know where he was going, but God did. He trusted God. He knew that God knew. We do well to have the same trust in the Lord. The ups and downs of life, the journeys, or “the adventures” as my wife likes to call them, are less toiling upon us when we trust in the Lord. There is a purpose greater than ours. There is a cause greater than our happiness. When we seek to please the Lord in all that we do, the journeys will have value and become productive. You can’t park your faith just because you are going through some tough times and you are very stressed at the moment. Faith continues on. Faith is needed in the sunny days as well as the stormy nights. Faith keeps our order in order. Faith reminds us to behave. Faith reminds us that we are Christians. Sometimes in doing the right thing, you feel like you get the short end of things. Some times it seems that some are taking advantage of you. Be nice, noble, honest and let your light shine. This is what God would want from you. This is what God expects.

It’s sad to see some park their faith because we are busy or are on vacation or grandma’s in the hospital or there is a big project at work. Don’t you need faith in those things? Could it be God is using you in those places.

Abraham moved. God told him. He went. He went believing. That makes all the difference in the world.

Just a note, this will be the last Jump Starts for the rest of this week. I will be transitioning from one place to another and discontinuing internet and starting up internet and until everything is running smooth again, I will hold off writing. I apologize. Look for us again on Monday.

Roger