“Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.” (Heb. 11:3)
“Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.” (John 8:56)
Take your pick, speaking to and hearing the Almighty occasionally over the course of your life, perhaps walking alongside the Lord Jesus Christ for the three plus years of His earthly ministry, or a copy of the completed and inerrant Word of God, His Holy Bible?
Which would you choose?
That personal, one on one experience is what I believe most would choose, and I believe that would be in error, because to never have His written Word would leave you only to your own thoughts as to the entirety of His will for us.
I am not attempting to say that the Most High does not speak to us outside of His Word at times, if you are born-again the Holy Spirit resides within you, and the wisdom He offers us in many times seen most clearly in life application scenarios.
“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” (John 14:26)
“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” (1st Cor. 2:14)
Those who trusted in the Lord, who rejoiced in the knowledge of His day, knew the reason, sin is prevalent, there is no way for us to earn our way into heaven, a perfect sacrifice must be offered, and it was their faith in that truth that caused them to be righteous in the eyes of the Living God.
“Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” (Gal. 3:6)
You could put Moses’ name there, Samuels, Davids, every single person who believed in the promise of One who would save us from our sins. Can you put your name beside theirs, never having spoken in person to the Lord Jesus Christ, can you in faith say your name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life with nothing but the Word of God at your disposal?
“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17)
“No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6:44)
One book, some of them bastardized by evil religious cults, even wicked men, parts left out, parts added onto, traditions and rituals overriding its simple plain truths. No visits from above, no angel knocking on your door, no dreams or visions to assist you, just His Word.
Do you need more than His Word to believe?
Do you need to see to believe?
“The just shall live by faith.” (Romans 1:17)
“Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.” (John 20;29)
The Charismatic cult needs a sign, some visible proof, some emotionally uplifting moment. The Romanist cult offers on occasion a bleeding statue or other form of deceit, nearly every cult wants to offer you some visible, tangible proof, and many seek for the same.
They, my friends, are not the just.
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Heb. 11:1)
Can you live your life in faith and faith alone without a sign from the Almighty, can you praise His Holy name just as fervently in times of need as well as in times of plenty? Is your faith secure enough to receive everything from His hand, no matter if it is beneficial or seemingly at the present moment detrimental?
Do you retain the assurance of your salvation even when you have fallen into temptation, when you doubt, does your faith retain the knowledge that He abides forever, and that you will abide with Him?
Just a point of conjecture for you then, simply to cause you to contemplate what has been written here today.
If the Lord had appeared to Abraham, made Himself known to him as who He is, the Sovereign Lord of all creation, and said to Abraham, “We can speak for a while occasionally during your life, or I can give you my completed written word,” what would he say?
What would you say?
