Trust!

Trust!

Trust [confidently] in the Lord forever [He is your fortress, your shield, your banner], For the Lord God is an everlasting Rock [the Rock of Ages]. Isaiah 26:4 AMP

The Context and Focus:

Just as we read yesterday, the best example to teach other people is your personal encounter. It is also fine to learn from other people's encounters, but I believe the strongest impact and impression are made from those you go through yourself. For as many as would run into God, they find him a refuge that can be trusted in all seasons to provide all that they need. Today's verse goes on in the same vein too: there is a need to take steps in the right direction to get the full benefits of all that God is.  I can read as much as I want, or learn as much as I want about God; the benefits are only made evident when I apply all I have read and learnt. Men like the seven sons of Sceva knew about the God that Paul knew and served, but they knew nothing of this God. It is not a wonder that one man, full of demons, was able to overpower and beat up these seven men. The other extreme too is to also know Him, be close to Him, but not to totally surrender to Him. Judas Iscariot followed Jesus for three and a half years, even saw the miracles and mighty things Jesus did whilst on earth, yet for the love of money, he betrayed Jesus and was lost forever. 

The Message:

Accounts like the above underscore the importance of knowing God for myself. Trust is defined as the 'firm belief in the reliability, truth, or ability of someone or something'. It means that trust is not something that is earned lightly or carelessly, and there is an investment of time and resources in proving that this person or thing can be relied on. It is also vital to mention that whatever you trust a person or thing to do will be dependent on the nature and characteristics of the person or thing. No matter how long you cook a car on fire, you cannot eat it, and no matter how much fuel you pump into a tuber of yam, you cannot drive it. When I am charged to trust in the Lord, it is a charge that is based on avaliable information and how much of it I have personally appropriated and applied to myself. I also note that the charge is to trust God forever; again, the characteristics and nature of God make it easy to trust Him forever, as one part of His nature is His immutability and eternal nature. Long before the trials and tough times were even named, or before any of them would even come my way, God has existed, and He remains the same through all generations. 

The Conclusion:

God is called my fortress, shield, and banner. None of these attributes are known by accident, but by experience. God is also called the everlasting Rock - the Rock of Ages. He is ageless, timeless, limitless and eternal. Men like Isaiah, who lived more than 2,000 years ago found him to be trustworthy. Even before him, Abraham found God to be trustworthy. In our own age today, we also have testimonies of men who have proven and found God to be trustworthy. Isn't it amazing that the changing of the seasons and the expiration of different regimes and dynasties have done nothing to reduce or negatively impact God's dependable nature? My own experience has to be a source of encouragement and help to other people. I have to share my experience with the world, in the hope that others too will hear, see and know this God, and then also experience him for themselves. I trust God with my life; what other options are there? Even when things go wrong, I trust Him. Who else can make them right? No matter what comes, my mind and heart are fixed on the eternal God. He is all I need. God's time of favour is here.