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The Faithfulness of
God
by
Faith Noles
American Heritage
Dictionary defines
‘faithful’ as
Adhering firmly and
devotedly, as to a
person, cause or
idea; loyal.
Year’s ago, loyalty
and truthfulness was
the measuring stick
of the depth of a
man’s character.
Reputation wasn’t
built on a person’s
charisma and ability
to weave fantastic
tales of deceit, but
reputation was built
on the faithfulness
of a man.
It used to be that a
man’s handshake
sealed a deal or
promise and his
handshake was as
strong and binding
as any lawyer
inspired contract of
today. My parents’
and grandparents’
generation believed
with all their might
that ‘A good name is
rather to be chosen
than great riches’.
(Pro. 22:1).
Promises were not
made lightly back
then. That’s one
reason for the low
number of divorce
rates at that time.
Your word was
binding.
Our world has
definitely changed.
Corporations
scurried about in
the 90’s, demanding
employees to attend
seminars that
advanced the new
attitude of
employers...they
said “it’s changing
and you’ve got to
adapt”; and, “ we
don’t value loyalty
anymore...it’s all
about production”.
Knowledge in
information
technology and
science has exploded
in the past
generation. With
this explosion of
knowledge, we’ve
been expected to go
with the flow, adapt
and change with the
times in not only
our acceptance of
new technologies;
but we’re also
expected to change
our beliefs.
Look
around---people have
embraced change. Our
president was even
elected based on his
campaign message of
a promised change.
A lie isn’t made any
prettier just
because the liar
smiles charmingly
while they’re
telling you a
whopper. It’s still
an ugly lie that
will prevent you
from trusting them
in the future. But
somebody out there
wanted change.
What or who has our
nation been trusting
in? Has it been our
corrupt government
or maybe it was your
401K that magically
disappeared? It’s
not a good feeling
to build your hopes
on sinking sand.
It’s like being in
the ocean and the
water is waist high
and all of the
sudden you feel an
under current, the
sand shifts under
your feet and then
you’re paddling to
keep your head above
water. This message
is for those who
feel like the sand
is shifting under
your feet.
I’ve been reading
blogs commenting
about various
articles on the
Internet. Some good
‘ole boy said that
he was packing his
shotgun and he would
be okay. In fact,
gun and ammunition
sales have soared
since Obama has been
elected. So, there
must be a bunch of
people out there who
are trusting in
their guns. I read
one blog where the
person commented
that they lived in a
rural area and would
be okay because they
could grow their own
food. It sounds
logical to put a
certain amount of
trust in your
weapons or your
ability to live off
the land. But all of
these things are
temporal. There
might come a day
when your guns are
confiscated. There
might come a day
when you can’t grow
your own food
because the soil may
be contaminated with
radiation.
There is absolutely
nothing in this
world that you can
put your trust in.
It will all change
before your eyes and
your hopes will be
nothing but dust in
the wind. What is
the answer then? Is
there anything or
anyone that you can
trust? When I see my
world falling apart,
is there any hope?
Friend, I’m here to
tell you some good
news!
Deuteronomy 7:9 says
“Know therefore that
the Lord thy God, he
is God, the faithful
God, which keepeth
covenant and mercy
with them that love
him and keep his
commandments to a
thousand
generations;”
Strong’s Hebrew and
Greek Dictionary
defines faithful as
‘permanent’. In
Matthew, chapter
seven, Jesus tells a
parable concerning
two men, one who
builds his house
upon the sand and
one who builds his
house upon a rock.
Jesus is that rock!
Hebrews 13:8 states
that Jesus Christ is
“the same yesterday,
and today, and
forever.” Almighty
God is the only one
in whom you can
completely trust. He
is faithful; loyal;
permanent; the same
yesterday, today and
forever. Put your
trust in Him because
He is trustworthy.
This old gospel hymn
emphasizes the need
to build your hopes
on the eternal:
Hold to God’s
Unchanging Hand
Time is filled with
swift transition,
Naught of earth
unmoved can stand,
Build your hopes on
things eternal,
Hold to God’s
unchanging hand!
Hold to God’s
unchanging hand!
Hold to God’s
unchanging hand!
Build your hopes on
things eternal,
Hold to God’s
unchanging hand!
Father, strengthen
the hands of Your
children. Give them
grace so that they
may be a light in
this dark and dying
world. Let Your love
flow through our
lives so that we may
love others as You
have loved us. Give
us Your peace that
surpasses all
understanding. Help
us to not be
astonished because
of the wickedness
around us. But let
us be witnesses of
Your glory.
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