"It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness."

 

 

     One of the things that will help us build a strong faith in our Christian walk is the fact that God is faithful to his Word. The very fact that he remains constant is what provides the support we need to stand upon his promises without wavering. If God ever varied then we wouldn't have a leg to stand on. How can you have faith if what you are basing your faith on is unreliable or inconsistent? This is one of the reasons why I have such a hard time understanding how cessationists hold to the idea that miracles have passed away. The very proof of God's faithfulness has never or ever will be based upon how successful we are in believing his Word. Paul said: "If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself" (2 Tim. 2:13). Our ability or inability to draw from heaven's supply is not the criterion for determining his character. He is who he is, regardless of how successful or unsuccessful we in any area of our Christian walk.

 

The very hope that we have in becoming a powerful people in Christ all depends upon our trust in God's faithfulness.  

 

 

     That's why when I think about his faithfulness, I am reminded of the word God spoke through the prophets Haggai and Zechariah during the rebuilding of the temple, which occurred after Israel was release from captivity sometime around 520 B.C. Both sought to encourage Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah, and Joshua, the high priest, with words that would enable them to become strong in the midst of what appeared to be an overwhelming task. Listen to what God said: "Who is left among you that saw this house in her first glory? And how do ye see it now? Is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing? Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith the Lord; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Josedech, the high priest; and be strong, all ye people of the land, saith the Lord, and work: for I am with you, saith the Lord of host.  According to the word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt, so my spirit remaineth among you: fear ye not" (Haggai 2:3-5). What a powerful word! God was reminding them that nearly 1,000 years prior to this moment he supernaturally brought their ancestors out of bondage in Egypt and built a formidable nation. The fact that he is letting them know that he is the same God now as he was then and that his Spirit remained among them is no different than for us today! What he promised to do in the early church he is still willing and capable of doing today, if we will determine to hold fast to his Word. After all, does not his Spirit remain among us today just as it did in Zerubbabel's day? And does not the scripture teach us that "We have a better covenant established upon better promises" (Heb. 8:6)?

     The same encouragement came through Zechariah, saying, "...Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein: For I, saith the Lord, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her" (Zech. 2:4, 5). And if that was not enough, he added: "This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, "Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit saith the Lord of hosts" (Zech. 4:6).

     The very hope that we have in becoming a powerful people in Christ all depends upon our trust in God's faithfulness. That's why we are continually encouraged to stand on his Word because he cannot deny himself! When he made promise to Abraham, the Word tells us: "because he could swear by no greater, he swore by himself" (Heb. 6:13). What this should mean to each of us is that no matter what happens in life, God will always remain true to his Word. Each and every morning we are awakened to the realization that the sun still rises and sets and that the very atmosphere we breathe is still charged with all the elements needed to sustain life. That, in itself, is a testament to God's faithfulness! But listen! Here is the certainty that must grip our hearts: One day God is going to fold up the world around us like a vesture and it will be changed, but God himself will never change. He has declared himself to be "the same yesterday, today, and forever" (Heb. 1:12, 13:8). Whatever he has declared will stand for all eternity!

     Whatever Word he has spoken to you, just know this: He is a faithful God that keeps covenant! There is nothing more sure than that! All we are called upon to do is love him with everything within us and to hold fast to his Word. The rest falls upon the shoulders of his faithfulness, and surely there is no more greater and more perfect foundation to stand upon than that!*