He Is Faithful (Are You?)

Posted on March 13, 2015 by
Let’s check something out. Turn over to the the first chapter of the prophet Habakkuk and we can see the divine revelation he saw:

2 How long, O Yahweh, am I to cry for help,
    but you will not listen?
    I cry out to you, “There’s violence!”
    yet you will not come to the rescue.
3 Why do you make me see wrongdoing?
    And why do you watch wickedness?
    Destruction and violence are in front of me.
    Quarrels and disputes arise.
4 That is why your teaching is numbed,
    and justice is never carried out.
        Wicked people surround righteous people
            so that when justice is carried out, it’s perverted (Habakkuk 1:1-4)
Now I want you to look around and what you see happening in your life, or even in the world around us. Do you see any similarity?
“Lord, how many times have I cried out to you? But you don’t seem to listen to me. I see violence all around me, but you don’t stop it. Why do you let me see such misery?
The  prophet goes on to describe all of horrendous things that were going on around him, and then says,
“Your eyes are too pure to look at evil.
    You can’t watch wickedness.
    So why do you keep watching treacherous people?
    Why are you silent when wicked people swallow those
        who are more righteous than they are?
Have you been asking “Why?” Hey, I hear the news reports. I see believers suffering. I see the only free nation on the Earth falling and their Constitution being torn to pieces. Why is our Lord allowing this to happen? I see churches being weakened and falling into compromise — then out right sin; I see pastors being pulled away from the Truth of Scripture and embracing a false Gospel. As Chelsen Vicari wrote:
Peek behind the curtain of some “progressive” or “hip” evangelical churches, past the savvy technology and secular music, and you will find more than just a contemporary worship service. You’ll find faith leaders encouraging young evangelicals to trade in their Christian convictions for a gospel filled with compromise. They’re slowly attempting to give evangelicalism an “update”—and the change is not for the good.
Oh dear Lord, why are you allowing this to happen?
Now before we go too far in this, I will tell you straight out that I believe in miracles because, frankly, I believe my God still works miracles! Now these miracle are slower, less noticeable, less obvious, and certainly less dramatic. These miracles require us to possess spiritual eyes to see, yet they are the most important miracles in our personal lives. I am of course talking about how our Father is able to work in our lives and transform us into the image of His Son.
He turns our weakness’ into our strengths; our pain and sadness is turned to joy; our bitter experiences into sweet lessons of His Love and Compassion. I can’t imagine anything that is more impressive and astonishing.
These are never done quickly or instantaneously, dramatically, nor publicly. But to the heart that has been praying and seeking the Lord and waiting for these miracles they are visible and discernible. We don’t always notice how we have changed, but by golly, when we look in the mirror of God’s Word, we see it!
This is the kind of work He seems to specialize in. He is Sovereign and does have His way once we are willing to submit to His handiwork. He is able to take the evils in the world and turn them in the blessings of His Kingdom. I love how Ed Cole encouraged us:
“Yesterday’s dung can be tomorrow’s fertilizer!”
That’s right! Regardless of the events in your the past: financial failure; a horrible childhood; time in jail;  or any of the many things you did in the past—it doesn’t matter—our God can take that dung and, by his transcendent glory, turn it around and convert it into fertilizer for His honor He will give you the strength to overcome every difficulty. That’s what our God does best!
So how does He work these miracles? To find out, look at what Habakkuk did, while he was waiting for the Lord to act, he declared:
I will stand at my guard post.
    I will station myself on the wall.
    I will watch to see what he will say to me
    and what answer I will get to my complaint.
So finally the Lord does answer Habakkuk:
 “Write the vision.
        Make it clear on tablets
            so that anyone can read it quickly.
3 The vision will still happen at the appointed time.
    It hurries toward its goal.
    It won’t be a lie.
    If it is delayed, wait for it.
    It will certainly happen.
    It won’t be late.
Oh man, even though Habakkuk may have felt frantic and terrified, he said, “I will stand at my post! I will take up my position! I will watch to see what the Lord will have to say.”
That my friends, is what we are called to do. We are expected to watch. To be silent. To take our stand, to wait and to listen to voice of our Father, whatever it is He intends to tell us. As Paul said, “Have done all . . . stand steadfast in your faith.” We are to wait, it will come. It will not fail. If seems to be delaying, wait for it. Because when it does come you won’t have time to linger, to hesitate and ponder if He was really calling you. Just remember that there is an appointed hour and a time that was established.
That is one of the most prominent proofs of the Sovereignty of our Lord! He is in charge of the timing of everything that happens. He sets the appointment and He is never late! We love to ask, “How long, Lord?” And He says, “It will come. It will not fail.”
Look, I have no idea what you are facing, but I don’t have to. I hope what I just shared does comfort you in your hard place, whatever it is.
But when Habakkuk goes on to consider Yahweh’s power. He says, “I quake . . .  I quiver . . . I totter . . .  I tremble . . . I sigh for the day of trouble and distress . . .” but then he turns with a great statement of faith:
Even if the fig tree does not bloom
    and the vines have no grapes,
    even if the olive tree fails to produce
    and the fields yield no food,
    even if the sheep pen is empty
    and the stalls have no cattle— yet I will be happy with Yahweh.
    I will truly find joy in God, who saves me.
19 Yahweh Adonay is my strength.
    He makes my feet like those of a deer.
        He makes me walk on the mountains.
Hey, what is going on in your life today? it might seem that there is no solution, or maybe His promises are too long in coming, and you feel He must have forgotten.
Is there a solution? Is there an appointed time when you will find the answer to your question, “Why“? My friend, take your stand and watch!
Yeah, yeah. What does that mean? Well, I am not telling you to become a hermit and lock yourself into a cabin out in the wilderness to seek the Lord. No, but He does come to folks like you and me. Ordinary people, in our ordinary lives. But here’s the thing. Are you able to testify along with Habakkuk that things may not be going great. Maybe you are experiencing financial problems, a lousy job that does not bring you any joy, your health is troubling and leaving you disabled. And maybe the Lord is not giving you the answer you asked Him for, can you testify with Habakkuk even though the fig tree is not bursting forth with fruit; the harvest is failing; there is no food; no cattle in the stalls and on and on. “Yet, [despite all of the hassles and frustrations] I will exalt in the Lord and rejoice in the God of my deliverance!” It will take faith! It will require you to be patient, yet faithful to your calling.
Aah, then we have the stanza to wonderful old hymn, “God Moves In A Mysterious Way“:
His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flow’r
Oh, brothers and sisters, our Father is able to turn the “bitter” to “sweet.” It may be a slow, hidden process, but He will make your “bitter” experiences and turn them into something “sweet.” You simply need to stand and wait to see what wondrous things He will do.

Nickolas
(I send out messages like this each morning in emails, and if you are interested in receiving them, send me your email address and I will add you to the list: Mail List)
With these Morning Messages, I take you on guided tours to, as Bunyan described, the Celestial City. At times we linger at corners familiar and unseen. And explore the depths of our faith along the way.
The trail is long, but there’s no hurry. Though we do need to stock up on supplies for the way, and that’s where I need your help. If you enjoy these messages, please consider becoming a contributing member of this tour group. It will be very much appreciated.
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