Just live by faith

““Behold the proud, His soul is not upright in him; But the just shall live by his faith.”
‭‭Habakkuk‬ ‭2:4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls— Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet, And He will make me walk on my high hills. To the Chief Musician. With my stringed instruments.”
‭‭Habakkuk‬ ‭3:17-19‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Just live by faith

I am thankful that my walk with the Lord is not based on the things that happen in my life. If I were so oriented, I doubt that I would c continue to be a Christian. My faith is based on what I know about my God: that He is faithful, that He is sovereign, and knows the end from the beginning. I also know that He loves me, and has my best in mind, even when it doesn’t seem so.

In the day to day struggle, I relinquish all to the Lord Jesus, the One in whom I am justified. In Him and only Him, I am made just. As such, I live by faith.

I read Habakkuk this morning, being reminded of that prophet who looked at all that was going on around him and wondering if the Lord was going to doing anything about. His world, full of injustice, outright sin, and persecution of the innocent was much like the world we are living in today.

“O Lord, how long shall I cry, And You will not hear? Even cry out to You, “Violence!” And You will not save. Why do You show me iniquity, And cause me to see trouble? For plundering and violence are before me; There is strife, and contention arises. Therefore the law is powerless, And justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous; Therefore perverse judgment proceeds.”
Habakkuk 1:2-4 NKJV

Just like Habakkuk , we look at the injustice of these times and wonder why God allows all of this to occur. In our desperation we seek to address the problems of this world using the methods of the world. We look to political leaders, who allegedly represent us, hoping to bring about outcomes that reflect the desires of God. In reality, we are seeking to bring about our own desires.

I was once one who frequently questioned God about such things, then I began to seek His answers in His word. I soon learned that God is aware, and is working His plan to address all the issues. Like Habakkuk, I stand amazed and horrified at what is coming to the world. Even now, God is assembling all the pieces and sorting out all the moving parts.

““Look among the nations and watch— Be utterly astounded! For I will work a work in your days Which you would not believe, though it were told you. For indeed I am raising up the Chaldeans, A bitter and hasty nation Which marches through the breadth of the earth, To possess dwelling places that are not theirs. They are terrible and dreadful; Their judgment and their dignity proceed from themselves.”
Habakkuk 1:5-7 NKJV

God raised up the Chaldeans to address the sin of the nation Israel. Rest assured He is raising up one who come and address the sins of the harlot,

In my further reading to day, I spent some time in Revelation chapter nine, and was able to catch a glimpse of some of what the Lord will do. During that time, affliction will fill the world, causing great pain for those who are not seasoned by the Holy Spirit. The affliction will not be affliction unto death, as Jesus holds the keys to death and Hades.

“Then out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth. And to them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. They were commanded not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree, but only those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. And they were not given authority to kill them, but to torment them for five months. Their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it strikes a man. In those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will desire to die, and death will flee from them.”
Revelation 9:3-6 NKJV

I suspect that during this time there will be an outpouring of the Gospel and salvation will spread like wildfire. It will be reminiscent of the time in the book of numbers when the children of Israel were afflicted by snakes because of their grumbling, and Moses was instructed to erect a golden snake on a pole. Those who looked at it, lived. In this case, the pain of the affliction would cease for those who believed.

Brothers and sisters, do not be trouble in the present times. Let us be humbled, seeking the Lord with all diligence, knowing that He is the One who can deliver us. When the struggle is at its greatest, the just live by faith, for we know that we do not have the power to deal with all that is happening.

This of us who have been saved by Jesus, live justly by His grace. Having been made just, let us live by faith.

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