By the prompting of the Holy Spirit, we desire to continue with our previous discussions on the faith of our fathers and why it appears different from this generation. We reiterate that faith is the soil in which God’s hand is moved in our favour. Our forefathers had fertile soils of faith through God’s word and his Spirit. What accounted for the soils of faith in God?
They had reverence for God
In our generation, faith appears to be based on convenience. However, the faith of our fathers was based on their reverence for God. Leviticus 19: 30 says you shall keep my Sabbaths and reverence my sanctuary: I am the LORD. The bible also says in Malachi 2: 5, my covenant with him was a covenant of life and well-being, which I gave him; this called for reverence, and revered me and stood in awe of my name. They had deep respect for God based on truth and obedience and honoured his instructions unconditionally. Mistrust does not go with faith. Do we revere God or not?
They walked close with God
Our fathers had a closer walk with God so they knew him to be trustworthy different from deceitful man. Moses testified to this fact based on his own experience and said in Numbers 23: 19, God is not a human being, that he should lie, or mortal, that he should change his mind. Has he promised, and will he not do it? Has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it? Our faith, unlike that of our fathers, shakes because of a weak relationship with God as our foundation. We need a solid foundation built on the Rock which is Christ Jesus in order to withstand the flood or storm of life when it arises, Luke 6: 48.
They were faithful servants
Our fathers were faithful to God until death, but we are promiscuous and flirtatious with the world also. John the Elder (The Apostle) quoted Jesus in Revelation 2: 10, Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. Our fathers cherished God’s companionship because they knew God was faithful. It is written in James 4: 8, draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. We draw near to God through faithfulness and thereby build our faith in God. How close are we to God to enable us to exercise faith in him who has called us into his marvelous light? Let us not be a faithless generation.
They considered faith as righteousness
Our fathers considered faith as unbridled righteousness. There is nothing greater than exercising unblemished faith in Christ Jesus from a pure heart. The Apostle James said in James 2: 23, Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,” and he was called the friend of God. Today, we get delighted to shift allegiance when the going gets tough without any due regard for God. True faith in God as our fathers exercised comes with suffering including violence and death. Many of us today are not ready to suffer or die for God. Daniel was cast into the den of lions, Daniel 6: 16-22. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were cast into the furnace heated up seven times more, Daniel 3: 19-28. Are we ready to suffer for Jesus?
The fate of the disciples and apostles
It is necessary that those who died in order to make the word of life available to us must be known. All the disciples except John who died from natural cause from old age though he was cast into boiling oil in Rome, and Judas who committed suicide after betraying Christ Jesus, were murdered yet they did not recapitulate because of Christ Jesus. They were first dispersed throughout the world for the sake of Christ Jesus and thus lost the comfort of their homes and families. They all died for their faith.
- Andrew was crucified.
- Bartholomew was murdered.
- James was stoned and clubbed to death.
- James, the son of Zebedee, was executed by Herod.
- Matthew was stabbed to death.
- Matthias who replaced Judas Is Chariot was burnt to death.
- Paul was beheaded by Emperor Nero of Rome.
- Peter was crucified head-downwards at his request not to die equal to Christ Jesus.
- Philip was killed by the Roman Proconsul for converting his wife.
- Simon, the Zealot was killed for refusing to sacrifice to the sun god.
- Thomas was murdered by piercing spears of four soldiers.
What to expect in exercising faith
The bible says in James 1: 12, blessed is anyone who endures temptation. Such a one has stood the test and will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. Our fathers showed their love for and faith in Christ Jesus till their gruesome deaths. Jesus said in Luke 12: 4-5, “I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that can do nothing more. But I will tell you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.
Jesus said in John 15: 21, but they will do all these things to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. He said in John 16: 2, they will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, an hour is coming when those who kill you will think that by doing so they are offering worship to God. John 16: 3 says and they will do this because they have not known the Father or me. Let us hold aloft the faith of our fathers and be true to God till death.
Paul said in 1 Corinthians 9: 24 do you not know that in a race the runners all compete, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win it. Are we ready to compete with seriousness to win the prize? If our mortal lives are crucified with Christ, we will gain eternal life with Christ after death just as Christ Jesus resurrected after death and we will reign with him. Paul said in 2 Timothy 2: 12 if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he will also deny us.
Prayer
Our Lord Jesus Christ, leads us to exercise the faith of our forefather. Help us to look up to the cross from where our help comes. Teach us to know more of you so our faith may grow. Help us to refocus on you because you are the final authority in all things. Renew our hearts to keep your ordinances and to apply them as you desire. Build our faith on no other foundation but on you. Always remind us that faith will move your hands in our favour. Thank you Jesus for we have prayed in your holy name, Amen!!
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