The Fight of Faith (part 2)

While some believers have been trained or conditioned to see opposition and trials as spiritual attacks from the devil, the Bible holds forth an alternative view that may surprise you:  to view all we experience as from God Himself.  Since God's ways are higher than our ways, everything He does is beyond our understanding.  This means by our own reasoning we are unable to discern or determine what God is doing or exactly why He has done something--unless He reveals it to us personally.  This may happen later, and sometimes we will never know.  But knowing God is always good, righteous and worthy of being trusted means we continue to trust Him even in the midst of pain or loss.  Rather than blaming Satan for robbing him of his wealth, family and health, Job said of the almighty God in the first part of Job 13:15, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him."  Those who imagine God is like a genie obligated to fulfill their wishes or Santa who rewards them for being good girls and boys, it is no wonder many are disillusioned by the idolatrous image of God they have created in their minds.

The Bible teaches that regardless of the instrument God chooses to employ, God ultimately takes responsibility for allowing everything that happens.  This is frankly impossible for some people to accept because they are unwilling to submit themselves to God in faith according to His revelation of Himself in the Bible.  In light of their pains and disappointments, they will not believe God is altogether good and gracious, a Saviour and redeemer.  They cannot comprehend how God could be good and still allow evil to occur.  Without faith in the truth of God's word, it is not difficult for these people to look at their lives, pains, losses, or those who suffer and imagine there are countless reasons to doubt God's goodness.  This is where the fight of faith in God is won, by continuing to trust God as revealed in Scripture is good, righteous, just, merciful, compassionate and faithful to His word in every instance--even when we cannot understand and it hurts.  God is never the source of evil or sin, but He is good and powerful enough to use what is meant by men and Satan for evil and make it work for good.  Without God, there could be nothing good in this world or in our lives.  Paul suffered the loss of all things and counted them as nothing compared with the knowledge of Christ and the righteousness of God by faith he received by God's grace.

When we place our faith in Jesus Christ, we do not need to try to make excuses for what God has chosen to do or allow.  Though Satan worked to destroy Job, he said by faith in God concerning his suffering and loss in Job 12:9-10, "Who among all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this, ¹⁰ in whose hand is the life of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind?"  Job credited God for causing him to suffer, not realising it was God's design to doubly bless him in the end, a man victorious by faith in God.  The prophet said in Amos 3:6, "If a trumpet is blown in a city, will not the people be afraid? If there is calamity in a city, will not the LORD have done it?"  God is able to use a foreign nation to chasten His erring people, a lying spirit in the mouths of false prophets, the sound of marching in the trees, a plague of leprosy He puts in a house (Leviticus 14:34), or Satan who filled Judas Iscariot to accomplish His awesome plans that are good and glorious.  Faith the size of a mustard seed in God is able to accept this without becoming bitter and resentful towards God or envious of others who have not suffered as we have.  If we will receive good from God's hand we should also receive evil, knowing God loves us and will refine us as gold.

David maintained this perspective of seeing God over all things even when he fled Jerusalem to prevent bloodshed by his usurping son, Absalom.  As David and a great company departed, a man named Shimei mercilessly cursed David, threw stones and kicked up dust.  When Abishai suggested he decapitate the Benjamite for speaking thus of the king, 2 Samuel 16:10-12 says:  "But the king said, "What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? So let him curse, because the LORD has said to him, 'Curse David.' Who then shall say, 'Why have you done so?'" ¹¹ And David said to Abishai and all his servants, "See how my son who came from my own body seeks my life. How much more now may this Benjamite? Let him alone, and let him curse; for so the LORD has ordered him. ¹² It may be that the LORD will look on my affliction, and that the LORD will repay me with good for his cursing this day."  Now had the LORD God literally commanded Shimei to curse David?  I cannot say, but it is plain from the Scripture that is how David viewed the situation.  David reasoned because God allowed him to be afflicted with insults from an angry and wicked man, it provided an opportunity for God to bless him in the end.  This is what winning the fight of faith looks like.

God employs tests, trials and tribulations to serve His ends, and one purpose for them is so we can know our faith in God is genuine.  There would be no fight of faith if our lives were without troubles or pain-free since our conversion.  God tested His people by allowing enemies to remain in the land of Canaan (they refused to drive out) to see if they would keep His commands or not.  God already knew His people would depart from Him, and God who gave them His Law by which is the knowledge of sin graciously provided a way for cleansing and restoration.  God also knew He would demonstrate His love by sending His only begotten Son Jesus to die on the cross for sinners to save them forever.  Faith in God does move us to malign Him for what He does or has chosen not to do, for faith knows He loves us with an everlasting love.  The Bible teaches God is far more than the giver of good and the doer of what men see as evil:  He is only good and in Him is no darkness at all.  We are often in the dark because of our ignorance and fleshly folly, but through faith we worship our glorious God and rejoice to praise Him forever.  The fight of faith isn't primarily against the world or the devil but takes place inside us:  will we choose to trust, hope in and love God or not?