Faith and Trust: Lessons from Abraham's Journey

"By faith Abraham when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance obeyed and he went out not knowing whether he went and he went out not knowing whether he went and sure we'll all agree that the great and indeed the greatest problem finally confronting us all if the problem of how to face life and all its attendant circumstances the problem of how to face especially an unknown future." [00:00:10]

"Now this is the great theme of the Bible from beginning to end the Bible is a book about life it is a kind of textbook of life and it's great message is to teach us how to live and that affects everything that comes to meet us in a well shatter this the bible of course goes further and it makes it claim that it and it alone can teach us how to do this that nothing else finally can give us the key to this particular understanding." [00:01:28]

"God has always dealt with his people through the principle of faith there's nothing new in that since he says in Christianity there is no essential difference in that way in God's dealing in the Old Testament and God's dealing in the New Testament God he says as always dealt with people in terms of this faith principle and then having laid down that proposition in the first verse faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen." [00:06:49]

"Abraham when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance obeyed and he went out not knowing whether he went now this is another word for reference to the call of Abraham as he'd been born and brought up in the district known as our of the kelvins he'd always lived there his family had lived there before him it was a pagan society and there he was living like everybody else suddenly this men receives a call from God." [00:08:43]

"Now here I say is the first great secret the first great principle of how to meet interface life was successfully and triumphantly you notice it's a negative point but oh what an important one Abram I say was not a bit concerned to know the future that was coming to him I remember once reading a book and I've never forgotten the very first sentence that was in the book I didn't agree with the philosophy of the book that the first sentence certainly contained this very self same principle it said it isn't life that matters it is the courage that you bring to it." [00:12:31]

"It isn't life that matters it isn't the things that happen to us in life that never it's the way in which we face them they've never that's the principle and so you see once you get that principle you're no longer concerned about the things that are going to happen they are not the important he went out not knowing whether he wept and I say not carry as to what was going to happen now this is important for this reason it has become so many people indeed the world in general doesn't know anything about this negative principle that it goes wrong and things are as they are most people think of life and the future in terms of what their what they're going to get what's going to happen what's going to take place that is the basis on which most people offer life what does it consist of what determines it well the things I have the things I possess the things that happen to me that is their whole process of thinking and you see it's the very antithesis of that which guided aber because the moment you start with that idea you develop an inordinate desire to know exactly what's going to happen to you and you want to peer into the future people are looking to the what's going to happen interested in prophecies interested in forecasts foretelling always what's going to happen what's going to take place how should I find myself at this point and at that point now there's all due to the fact you see that the basis of their life is the things that happen to us life itself as it were but our statement is that it isn't life that matter it's the courage that you bring to it it's what you are yourself it is the way in which you face it so the moment you put emphasis upon life itself the things that happen the things you possess the things that happen to you and that come to meet you you're already in the wrong position and there you'll be feverishly looking forward anxious to know perhaps over anxious and trying to anticipate Abram did nothing of the sort he went out not knowing whether he went and another thing that they're dead if you leads to of course is a kind of impatience that in everything it's impatience at a certain age in life and extraordinary thing when we are young with all impatient to get to the future it seems to be so slow so lethargic takes such a long time to come certain things we want to we've got our eye on those things that are over there we're not thinking about ourselves and living at this moment but that's what's going to happen future happiness everything depends upon that which may or may not come to me and the whole time we are stretching forward with over anxiety and an eagerness then of course we begin to get to a stage in which we get tired of all this and feel that we've been just chasing illusions then we begin to sink into a kind of cynicism and then we reach a stage in which we find time galloping and everything comes and goes so quickly that we're just trying to hold on to the present because the future will so soon be here isn't that like well now it's all you see the result of not understanding life it's all because we attach such significance to where I'm going who am I'm going to meet what's gonna happen what am I going to possess what am I gonna have what am I going to hold it's all wrong Abram went out not knowing whether he went not caring about it it was always his secret wherever he wasn't whatever was happening to him he wasn't concerned about these things he was concerned about something else and as I say it is because the world has never discovered this principle of Abram and of his way of living that it's so much the beacon of false hopes false anxiety disappointment the moon we fail to grasp this negative principle we're already candidates for anxiety the disease of the present time of course above all others the increasing medical problem today is not so much actual physical diseases organic diseases attention stress strain / anxiety what's gonna happen not surprising of course the world has become such an uncertain place there are these dread possibilities yes but there should be no anxiety there should be no stress there should be no strain and why is there well for the reason I'm giving you all along we want to know where we are going what's going to happen we see where the reversal Abram he went out not knowing whether he went wasn't a bit concerned but we want to know exactly what's going to happen and how can I prepare and immediately or tense your strained and your preparing and your fearing and your wondering and your filled with forebodings and your whole life is in a sense of video but the Bible from beginning to end ages us this other principle it says that is the great fallacy the important thing in life is not enough what's going to happen not the speculative to what's going to happen but to learn how to live in such a way that whatever happens it doesn't matter now I say that is the great business of the Bible end of preaching and I know nothing this morning that is such an utter contradiction of the biblical teaching as the way in which so many in the Christian Church seem to think that it is their business peculiarly as Christians try to forecast the future or to prepare people for it by trying to prevent certain things from happening and so on there's another business of the Bible at all the Bible is not concerned about the future in that sense the Bible is concerned to teach us I say how to live how to understand life in such a manner that we are ready for anything it's not my business to speak of it as to the future the Webster happened in 1961 it's not my business to give advice to statesmen as to what they ought to do to reduce tensions of this so there that's not Christie anything this is Christianity not knowing whether he will not being concerned about them the biblical messages the profound this message in the world you see it's a message that can put you right whatever may happen thank God for that Abraham went out not knowing whether he went but he went heavily he went quite in a spirit of rage I see what enabled him to do it well must've a kind of philosophical calm that he had developed was he the kind of Stoicism was it a kind of spirit of resignation was he just a very wise man who said to himself well of course I can sit down and anticipate all sorts of possibilities and eventualities and I can make myself really sick with fear and anxiety but what a fool I'd be that doesn't determine anything all my thinking isn't going to affect the future so that's very good reasoning you know that's very sound reasoning that's a very right thing in a sense to do but they're all I'm saying is that isn't Christianity that isn't of Abram Vivid that's all right it's a foolish thing to waste your energy in speculating about mere possibilities now though it's nonsense it's a waste of energy but that isn't the Christian way it isn't merely negative resignation it isn't the kind of philosophic detachment and calm and the spirit which says well it's got a gun whatever it is kind of fatalism you see and all the worrying in the world won't affect you quite true but that's not Christianity Christianity is always positive and what is it well here it is Abram went off not knowing whether he went why well because he went by failure because he had faith in God an old writer I think has put this months and forever in the most wonderful prayer he said he went out not knowing whether he went but he knew with whom he went that's the secret there plus the secret of a ver Abram wasn't concerned to know where he was going he was only concerned about one thing with whom he was going with God it is this great principle of faith in God now here I think we'll all agree we've got a very profound principle you know this is true even isn't it on the human level what fools we are in the last analysis what matters in life apart from people it's people who matter and you know if you're with the right people it doesn't matter very much what's going to happen you owe the Romantics used to pay a great deal of attention to this and all that we had a little more of the romantic element in life instead of this miserable sordid so-called realism that is so popular today in other words I mean this that they're teaching always was of course you know that if you had love it didn't matter whether you were living in a cottage loving a cottage was better than all the affluence of the world in a palace without love absolutely of right if you are with your loved one it doesn't matter very much what's happening to you if it's sunshine or storm what's it matter if it's great affluence if it's penny-liam poverty oh if you've got the right people with you this is true everywhere isn't it I remember hearing a man once paying a compliment to another man in a dinner he said you know this is the sort of men I'd like to have with me said if I were out lion hunting quite right I'm do you often known it when there's been an illness or something in the family and you're all a little bit of an anxious suddenly somebody comes in a doctor or somebody and you know the moment he enters the room you all feel better the circumstances are still the same yes but this man of this woman comes in and the very personality of radiates calm and confidence and quiet and assurance you are facing the same circumstances in an entirely different way no that's the way to look at life it isn't possessions it isn't things this affluent age so-called what a foolish what an unhappy age it is it bound to be he doesn't realize the valuable personality it says happiness and joy depend upon things no no love in a cottage yet a right relationship with a person and you've already learned one of the great secrets of ever master and the conquered life will now multiply all that by infinity which is led Abraham did you see and his one concern was that he was with God he went out not knowing where he went what it matter where you are if God's with you you may be crossing a mountain you may be down in the depths of the valley you may be struggling in a bog you may be walking along a kind of smooth Road it doesn't matter it's God with you that's the thing and Abram went out cheerfully happily not knowing whether he went but he knew with whom he went he knew that God was with him now my dear friends all I'm trying to say this morning is that as you face 1961 with all its possibilities this is the only thing that matters because if this is right it doesn't matter what's going to happen doesn't matter at all why well let me give you just some reasons to think of and to work out for yourself just think for a moment of the character of this fellowship which we have with God which Abraham had with God in which it is possible for all of us to enjoy if we but go to him in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ this is Christianity not just holding on to another the principles of ideas it's walking with God that's what Abram did he was the friend of God we've been reading Aberdeen of Enoch walked with God that's the way to live walk with God well think of the privilege of it all the greatness of God then the glory of God to be enjoying companionship and fellowship with the creator of the universe the Lord God Almighty doesn't matter very much where you are if he's with you does it owe the privilege of having fellowship with God enjoying the Society of God knowing something about the love of God realizing his omnipotence your mightiness of his power is there anything that you can think of that is greater than this that can know that such a God such a being is interested in you and that he's concerned about you but as he went and spoke to Abraham he comes and speaks to you that though he's made everything out of nothing and plays with the constellations of the child with marbles but nevertheless he knows he individually personally and that he's got a great concern for you and for your well-being I ask you does it matter very much what's going to happen as long as you know that such a being is with you he's ever walking with you and not only that that he's got a great plan and a great purpose for you and that his purposes with respect of us are always purposes of good that's what he's told us about himself well now we can't stay with us unfortunately but let me put it like this that I may go on to emphasize the other aspects of these metals it is the companionship of God that matters Abram knew God he believed in he trusted him because he knew him he knew something about the character of God God had revealed it himself unto him and Abram said it's all right you didn't tell me what I'm going I don't give an insult you by asking all I want to know is that are you going to be with me and God said I am I'm going to leave you I'm going to take you one all I'm asking you is leave everything and come with me and Abraham went he didn't want anything else as long as this God was with him and always with him nothing method so he went out not knowing whether he went because well to be with God was enough and the knowledge of God is everything then who knows God is the man of whom we can say having nothing yet hath Oh blessed are the meek for they shall inherit Theia well the second thing is this that the nature of the promise that God makes to us by faith Abraham when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance obeyed and he went out not knowing whether he meant Oh God said to him is this now Abram I've got a place for you and inheritance now come along no details have given us it well as to what's going to happen between the starting point and the arriving at the inheritance they're not necessary I say but it's a good thing to know about the inheritance you know God always gives us this promise and this is absolutely fundamental to the Christian life let me put it like this what matters to me is not what's going to happen to me in 1961 what happened to me you where I'm going to spend eternity it's the destination that matters not the traveling because the world has gone hopelessly astray again hasn't it the foolish late Victorians and the adverbial they used to like to say things like this to travel hopefully is better than to arrive you know there's only one thing to say about that that's stuff and munson to travel hopefully is better than to arrive is it if that were true you know nobody never get married it's a courtship is better than marriage but this is the sort of phrase you see which fascinates people and it sounds so wonderful ah they say we don't want any of your Christian dogmatic evangelical certainties we are seekers after truth we like the great quest for reality there's no such thing as a knowledge of that was the kind of nonsense they thought based upon nothing but sheer ignorance and as I've shown you another contradiction of the principle in which they work in every other relevant department oh no no God doesn't mock us like that you see this is God's method it was his method with Abram there was Abram in order the county's God said Evan come out I want to take you where to an inheritance you're going to get there he tells him nothing what's happening in between and it doesn't matter it's the inheritance that finally matters are you saying so something that this world doesn't count oh no I'm not saying that at all but what I am saying is this that this world is better prepare a tree school this world is better part of the journey this is a pilgrimage strangers and pilgrims in the world this isn't the permanent this isn't the home there's an inheritance coming or as it's already been put by this man in the second chapter of this great Epistle to the Hebrews he says that it became him of whom are all things and by whom are all things in bringing many sons unto glory to make the captain of their salvation perfect through suffering but here's the thing in bringing many sons unto glory that's the inheritance point in 61 many things may happen many things may not happen but you know this is the thing by which I live the glory that is coming he's told me is going to bring me there and that's the thing that matters 1961 will come and go and many another year after it perhaps for many in this congregation this morning oh my dear friend when you and I will stand on that land on that Shore that lies beyond him in the glory everlasting it all seemed comparatively trivial to us all the comings and the goings and all the interviews and the conferences and all the things that as its put strike the headlines and worthy of even a momentary consideration and small and how petty then all appear to be it is the glory that met as the inheritance the inheritance the autumn at the end the glory the being with God and the sharing of all that he has prepared for us that's the thing that matters very well then Abram have been told that and therefore he got up not knowing whether he went he went that well what does how does it work well it works like this you see we've got the certainty that God is with us we've got the certainty of the glory to which he is bringing us and what happens in the meantime well we can draw certain deduction and this is how to meet 1961 in the light of these two fundamental propositions this is what I deduce and I am absolutely certain of these things I don't know what's gonna happen but on this I'm certain that God will never change whatever may happen in 1961 God will still be God is the father of lights with whom is no variableness neither shadow of turning oh there will be many changes in circumstances many things will come and go and we'll wonder what's got if God is the Father of lights with whom is no variableness neither shadow of turning we are all very changeable we can't rely on one another we can't trust one another oh thank God for one of whom we can be certain that he'll never change time rights nor wrinkle on the brow were the eternal he is the everlasting God from everlasting to everlasting he and his blessed son of the same yesterday today and forever as this man goes on to say the everlasting God was a wonderful deduction so I face 19 he won by saying this his love in time past forbids me to think he'll leave me at last in trouble to sink because he won't God that would not only won't change God cannot change he is the immutable eternal everlasting God he says I am and he's eternally I am mother wonderful thought and then of course we know that his promises are sure because of his character because of his holiness his justice his righteousness is unchangeable missus eternity we know that every promise God has ever made will never be changed it's always sure and what does he said well no this is what he said you start off in the journey with him and he tells you at the beginning I will never leave thee nor forsake thee never and when God says that you shall be you can be sure in the sunshine I shall be with thee in the storm I shall be within radiant health sickness accident death doesn't matter I will never leave thee nor forsake thee so wherever you are whatever's happening to you he'll be with you the same God of love the God whose number the very hairs of your head the god who's got a great glorious purpose for you he will never leave you nor forsake you I ask you what's it matter what's going to meet us while he is with us I fear no foe with the attend to bless life has no ills not tears no bitterness no no it is his presence that matter my name from the palms of his hands eternity shall not ear air impressed on his heart it remain in marks of in Delhi race things future nor things that are now not all things below nor about shall make him his purpose for go sever my soul from his love he's unchanging and his promises are forever short and another very comforting thought is this it doesn't matter what comes to meet us nothing that can possibly meet us can ever be greater than the power of God we don't make enough of the power of God you know oh we are thinking so much in terms of the power of bombs and men it's the power of God that matters and I say that because God is the omnipotent God that nothing that can ever come to meet any one of us who really is walking with Him can never be too great for him well the Apostle has said this once and forever I am persuaded I am sir but neither death nor life nor Angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord also somebody yes I believe in the love of God but you know a crisis may come I may have an illness I may lose my health my demons may done well what happens then I say it doesn't matter what comes death life angels principalities powers things present things to come height depth any other tricks nothing literally she'll be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord you want something to say to yourself as you go through this world will say this a sovereign protector I have unseen yet forever a tendon changeably faithful to save almighty to rule and command he smiles and my comforts abound is Grace as the dew shall descend and walls of salvation surround the soul he delights to defend you can be absolutely certain of it whatever comes to meet you it will never be greater than the power of God and it will never separate you from that power and then finally think of this who knows it may be a year of terrible adversity for some of us we don't know everything may go against us there are times like that out there we don't know now what I'm saying is that it doesn't matter if God is with you why well all things work together for good to them that love God to them who are the called according to his purpose now don't take away from that literally all things underline it all things everything every conceivable thing all things work together for good to them that love God what you say surely not troubles not Kyle's not tribulation yes you know cessful being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ and have access into this grace wherein we stand and rejoice in hope of the glory of God and not only self but we rejoice also in tribulation rejoicing in tribulation how does it happen well tribulation worketh patience and patience experience and experience her whatever happens to the Christian if he really maintains this relationship to God it doesn't matter what it is even if it be trials and tribulations he can rejoice they'll drive him nearer to the Father they'll send him into the arms of the beloved and he'll know him as he's never known him before you know my friends you have to experience at the city sometimes before you really get to know God you have to experience some terrible need before you'll know his father Hoppe you look back across your life and you say it was quite through all things work together for good I thank him for everything it has brought me nearer to him indeed says this same author in it says the Apostle Paul in that same eighth chapter of Romans if God be for us who can be against or listen to the way this man puts it in chapter 13 in verse 6 he says so that we may boldly say the Lord is my helper and he will not fear what men shall do unto me we may boldly say it we may arrive at this conclusion having looked at the character of God and looked at anything that may happen we can come to this conclusion we may boldly confidently say the Lord my elbow and therefore I shall not fear what men may do unto me there twas Abram secretly went out not knowing whether he went but he knew with whom he went but you see this is the condition we must be obedient as Abraham was my fate Abram when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance obeyed he got up he left his home he left his ancestors he left the tradition he left everything he got up went out with his wife and was out he went he obeyed and if we want to know this kind of life this life of faith there's life of triumph there's life of joy this life that's not concerned to know what the future holds because we are with God well then we must observe the conditions we must obey you know and this is what it means we must believe his word the Abraham have got nothing but that you must believe that Christ is the son of God and that he died for you that it doesn't matter how much you've sinned how black your life has been believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you're safe faith justification by faith only believe it accept the offer of free pardon absolution and forgiveness in Christ Jesus and him crucified believe the word of God believe it all along the line separate yourself from the sinful world in which you never leave the pagan society or of the Kelvin give your life to God live to please him submit to his leading and his guidance submit to be led by the Holy Spirit they that are led by the Spirit of God they are the sons of God leave yourself and your everything your every concern entirely in the hands of God say to him I do not ask to see the distant scene one step enough for me as long as you were with me one step enough for me turn to him and say my times are in the end my god I wish them there my life my friends my soul I leave entirely to thy care that's what abramson that is what Abraham did he believed God he acted upon his belly he put himself in his every concern unreservedly in the hands of God do that and it won't matter as to what's going to meet you doesn't matter what comes to meet us if God before who or what can be against us let us walk with God and be concerned about nothing but about knowing him and walking step by step with him." [00:13:36]