I do not need proof that there will be a sunrise tomorrow, I can use past experience to validate my presumption that it will happen, but in reality, I can offer no proof, guaranteed proof, that it will.
Most Christians live in this world, a world of assumed proof, because something happened when I did this, then when I do that again, it will happen again, they live in a hope that is not known until it is verified. This is one of the roots of all works based religious organizations, whether it be based in an idea of who they believe God to be, or a quasi-religious group that prays to a statue, each of them bases their faith in a need for verifiable proof, they will not live by faith. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Heb. 11:1)
And this is not their faith. This is the question for you today then, if the Lord never answers even one more of your prayers, would you still serve Him, would you still maintain your faith in Him? The Roman Catholic cult and all of its many offshoots has their prayers at certain times, their beads and other works, the Charismatics have their dreams, visions, and “prophecies,” the Mormons their “good nature,” the list goes on and on, some form of an answer is required by them from whomever they call God, and that quite often, or they begin to lose their faith, in fact, many will begin to believe they can lose their salvation, if indeed they were saved in the first place.
For the born-again believer, the statements presented here are no less true, but take on a somewhat different perspective, they will begin to “feel” that they are out of the good graces of God, that their fellowship has in some way been broken with Him, and in fact, they will also begin to doubt, if not the loss of their salvation, then at least the assurance of it.
People need to be encouraged, they need reassurance, this was so prevalent not to many years ago that tent meetings were held, revivals they were and still are called, but they are rare today, not because all those saved individuals are on the right path, but because they think they are, without some form of intervention, without that revival though, if you like, most people tend to get lazy in their reverence of the Most High God, worship services become just church services, entertainment of one form or another must be brought in to keep at least part of the pews full, and many others cross the threshold of the building simply out of a misunderstood obligation. The tickling ears crowd (2 Tim. 4:3) has been with us for much longer than we might like to admit. If the Lord is not offering proof of His continued presence in their lives, then they will instead turn to their emotional needs, thus was the curse of the Charismatic movement started.
I do not know if the sun is going to come up tomorrow, I think it will, for it always has, but I have only one certifiable proof, God said it would, and so I know it will. “While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.” (Gen. 8:22) And I know for a fact that this earth, and probably the sun and all the rest of the stars in the sky, are always going to be here, because He is going to make, or remake, if you like, a new heaven and earth. (Rev. 21:1)
If your faith needs any more than what you have already been shown in the creation of all matter, in the truths of the Word of God, and the Holy Spirit within you, then you are not living by faith, and I will not question your salvation, but I know from the Word of God that you are not one of the just for “The just shall live by faith.” (Romans 1:17)
