Title: Faith of Abraham (Romans 04:14-25)
Content What sustains human life in the human world on this earth is mutual trust, that is, trust. This is true not only between individuals, but also between nations and nations, and between peoples and nations. After making a promise to each other, they exchange things like certificates and treaties as a token that they won't break the promise. This is necessary in the sense that we will faithfully keep our promises to each other. However, even when that piece of paper is just a piece of tissue paper, there is a king. In other words, it is a human limitation that there is no basis for fundamental trust in each other.
However, here is a perfect covenant that cannot be broken with anything. That is the covenant between God and man. It is a completely different level of work from the treaties and contracts that humans make. This is well illustrated in today's text in the eternal covenant between Abraham and God. Abraham was the father of faith who thoroughly trusted the promises of God. Let's look at what kind of faith Abraham had in God.
1. Abraham hoped and believed in the midst of hopelessness (14-18).
Early on to Abraham (Genesis 12:1-2), the LORD said to Abram, "Leave your land, your relatives, and your father's house, and go to a land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great. It will be a source of blessing.” In a way, this was truly an absurd one-sided notice. To abandon the foundation of life you have built so far and go to a place you are not sure about, a place you do not know where you are yet. From a human point of view, it was impossible to understand. However, despite the age of seventy-five years, Abraham went on his way 'according to the word of the Lord' (Genesis 12:4). It was a bizarre thing indeed. Even though nothing was guaranteed and there was nothing he could hope for, Abraham left only by relying on the word of God.
However, although this road is unknown, it was a road full of faith that even a heart that believes in God went. This faith of Abraham has important implications for us today. Abraham's action is a serious challenge for modern Christians who live in the comfort of reality with an obsession not to give up even the smallest thing. True faith is the courage to give up what to give up and make a decision according to God's command.
2. Abraham thoroughly trusted God's promises.
It cannot be said that there was no conflict in Abraham's heart as he left behind his beloved home and supply post. And it cannot be said that the journey was not without difficulties. Sometimes there were conflicts and doubts in his heart, but each time Abraham trusted God more and more and was able to overcome those difficult moments.
Abraham was a fearful man. He was a great man who was so afraid of his own life that he even deceived his wife as a sister. However, he was able to overcome his weakness by trusting in the word of God until the end. That's right. The secret to not falling behind on this lonely path of faith and continuing to the end is only trust and faith in the Word of God. Isn't it a weak faith that loses trust in God even when small difficulties come? Like Abraham, even if conflicts arise and are shaken, in the end we must hold on to only the word of God's covenant and overcome this path of faith.
3. Abraham’s ‘confidence that he is able to accomplish it’ made him a model of faith (19-25)
In verse 21, God counted as righteousness the faith of being able to accomplish what he promised. It was said that Abraham's actions were not the basis for righteousness, but faith itself was the basis for justifying him. But more importantly, Abraham's faith in God is a revelation of that faith in which all mankind accepts Jesus Christ as their Savior. In other words, it is a new revelation of justification not by works, but entirely by faith (22-24).
The fact that God counted Abraham's faith as righteousness was not just for Abraham, but foreshadowed the righteousness given to all who receive Jesus Christ as their Savior.
In this world, even when the winds of small trials and tribulations blow, we must receive a new alarm and challenge from this weak faith that shudders and shudders in fear. Just like a reed that never bends no matter how strong the wind blows, we must maintain the purity of our faith in spite of the hardships and storms of the world and have faith that lasts until the very end. Like Abraham, let us have an attitude of relying only on the Word of God, even when faced with difficult situations. For this, let's pray without ceasing and become a spirit that longs for God's help by living a life of gratitude for everything.