The recent threads on the financial crisis got me thinking. Like many, my salary depends on the liquidity of the school where I teach, thus on the government of the town where I live and work. Governments all might be as sound as the state of California, in other words, not the best investments. My retirement is handled by the wise, who got us into this wreck.



What does that leave me with? A lot of uncertainty?



Certainly not! The moment I begin to think that my income depends on my salary, I've stepped away from the promises of God. He's the One who called me. He's the One who placed me here. He's the One to whom I look when I'm surrounded by darkness and iniquity abounds. He is all my inheritance and my joy. The Bible gives me specific instruction as to how to respond in a time of crisis:

James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

This seems perfectly clear to me. However, on these forums, it seems that there is confusion as to what "your faith" means, hence there is absolute confusion as to what is being tried! Some say your faith is merely you trusting God. Well every man of faith would agree with that, but the wise might ask, "Trust God to do what?" There lies the telltale difference between believers and the religious. A believer will say, "Trust God that everything He says is true, and is unto the righteous, made clean in His blood."



It is our faith in the word that is being tried. When sickness attacks us, the Word says, "...He heals all our diseases." So we're confronted with the Joseph's dilemma, as it's described in psalm 105:19 "Until that time that His Word came to pass, the Word of the Lord tested [Joseph]." Time is always the test, because time, the deferral of hope, brings discouragement to the weak, and reveals unbelief both in our words and our actions: "Maybe I missed God." "Maybe it was just a bad dream, and they're not gonna bow down to me."



No...We know what He promised: "The blessings of God maketh rich, and He addeth not grief to it."



So, while I'm waiting, the questions arise. How long should I wait? As long as the Scripture says, "Wait on the Lord. Trust also in Him." What if I misinterpreted the Word? How hard is it to understand, "...He heals all my diseases..."? What if I never see the fulfillment of the promise?



Ahhhh...That's the real question isn't it? What if I'm wrong?



That's not a question faith ever asks, is it? Does God watch over His Word to perform it (Jer 1:11)? Does He honor His Word even above all His name? Then I'd rather die believing than waver in His my faith in His promises. Personally I don't see any recourse. But I do see some other folks who took this stand:

Hebrews 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them,[c] embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. 15 And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.

These all received the promise, and took a lifelong stand! They did not walk by circumstances, or derive their faith from their diseases. No. They believed God, and walked where He led them, into persecution, trial, want, riches and victory.



Be encouraged, oh my faithful brothers. We have a God who honors His Word! That's why He can be honored here.