In our desire to learn what faith is, we will begin our study with the Bible itself, and we will open to the book of Habakkuk. In chapter 2 and verse 4, the Bible says:
“Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.” Hab. 2:4.
Let us open to the Book of Romans for a second witness. In Romans chapter 1, the Word of God declares:
“For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.” Rom. 1:17.
We can find a third witness in the book of Galatians, chapter 3:
“But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.” Gal. 3:11.
The just shall live by faith. What does that mean? We will let the Bible tell us. This has a special application for us today, as we are told that the Parable of the Ten Virgins has been and will be fulfilled to the very letter. And now we are in the so-called tarrying time. We are to remember those virgins who were waiting, and they fell asleep while they were waiting for the bridegroom to come. In Hebrews chapter 10 we read:
“For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.” Heb. 10:37-39.
The righteous shall live by faith and we should not stand back. What does all this mean? How is this faith going to save us?
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. 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. 11:1-3.
Though we have not been there at Creation, we believe that God created the heaven and the earth. We do not know how he made them, but we know that he has truly done so, and we trust his Word. We believe in something that has taken place, while we have not been there to see it. We rely on the Word. Let us continue reading. We advise you to read the whole chapter (Hebrews 11), while we will here give only the main highlights:
“By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous… By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him… By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house… 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 whither he went.” Heb. 11:4-8.
There is something significant in regard to this: we are not to stay in one place, in stagnation. What would have happened if Noah had just said: “Well, the Lord is going to deliver me; I do not need to build an ark”? Would God save him? What about Abraham? What would have happened if he had just thought, “The Lord will save me, as I live here, in Mesopotamia”? The Lord told him to get out. But he did not know where he was going. Let us now look at Jacob chapter 2:
„And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God… Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.“ Jacob 2:23-26.
Let us think about Rahab for a moment. She must have really believed that God would destroy Jericho, though according to all human wisdom, this city was impregnable. However, she heard the declarations of how God made a dry path for his people in the midst of the Red Sea, and many other miracles He had done. So even though she had never seen the Hebrew people, she believed that the city was going to be overtaken.
There is another record in the Bible that gives us important lessons on true faith that is evidenced by works. There was one man in the city of Sodom who feared God and who was spared in the destruction of the city, along with his family.
“And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)…” 2 Peter 2:7-8.
There is so much wickedness in the cities of today that the only thing that keeps them still standing, is because there are a few Lots who are faithful. Let God get them out of these places, and the judgments are going to fall, one after another. And all those who do not listen to the call to separate from those wicked places will be destroyed together with them.
Likewise, we know that more than a million people died in the destruction of Jerusalem. But all the Christians were saved, because they had escaped, to the city of Pella.
“And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto.” Luke 21:20-28.
They had seen the ominous signs of the coming destruction, the Roman soldiers gathering about the doomed city who had crucified the Prince of life, and they had followed the injunction of their Master: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me…” John 10:27.
In Matthew 24 and Luke 21, we are told of all kinds of natural disasters, and we know that when these things begin to come to pass, the end is near. Some may ask: Have not been any earthquakes in the past? There have been. Have not been there any fires? Certainly, but at no other time in the history of this world have they happened in such a rapid succession.
“And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring… And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” Luke 21:25, 28.
The time of Christ’s Coming is at hand. This world as we know it will be put to an end. But we are asleep. We need to wake up. And not only that, but we need to go to people and warn them, and wake them up, in our turn. Here is what the warning is to be:
“And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.” Rev. 14:8.
“And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.” Rev. 18:1-4.
We live in solemn times yet we are not aware of them. May God help us wake up before the destruction comes, and be prepared – spiritually, physically, and morally – for the events that will soon come upon us with blazing might. A storm is coming, relentless in its fury. Are we prepared? May the heaven be at our help. May God help us live through faith in God’s Word listen to this message, and – like Noah – take action for the salvation of our families.
“By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.” Heb. 11:7.