Articles
The Test of Faith
by Gordon Enger
A popular song in churches today is “ I Will Give You
All My Worship.” The implication is that I will sing
loud, I will sing long, I will raise my hands, and I will clap
my hands, just don’t ask me to obey. That was for those
folks back there long ago. Things are different now.
Some years ago, the nuptial pledge given by the wife was to “honor,
love, and obey.” Obedience has become such a stumbling
block over the years that now young people write their own
commitment to each other, leaving out the “obey” part.
I will scintillate you, I will titillate you, and I will prepare
romantic candle light dinners, just don’t ask me to obey.
That was for those folks back there. Things are different now.
I wrote the above two paragraphs in the morning, and as luck
would have it, I went to a wedding in the afternoon. Sure enough,
when the vows were pronounced, the pastor quoted from Ephesians
5, but skipped over the wives obeying their husband part. That
word “obey” is a four-letter word to most of us.
Our vocal chords, tongue, and lips simply cannot be forced
into compliance to utter the word “obey.” It is
as difficult to say, “Obey” as it is to whistle
with a mouth full of dry soda crackers. We are like Fonzie
who could never say, “I was wrr..wrrr…wrrrrr.” It
was simply not within him to admit to being wrong.
It is said of Abraham, by God, that he was a man of faith
and that his faith was counted as righteousness. God called
Abraham to leave his father and mother to go to a land which
would be shown to him after he started on the journey. Abraham
was asked to pick up stakes, leave the confines of his family
and friends, to go to a yet to be disclosed place. I doubt
that any of us would start out on such an adventure into the
unknown. Abraham was different from most of us however, he
obeyed God and proceeded to follow God’s leading. It
is said of Abraham in Hebrews 11:8,9, “By faith Abraham,
when called to go to a place he would later receive as his
inheritance, obeyed and went, even though
he did not know where he was going. By faith he
made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign
country, he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were
heirs with him of the same promise.” The test of
faith for Abraham was; would he obey? He did, and he was credited
with righteousness as a result of his faith which led to obedience.
Or was it his obedience that led to faith?
David was “a man after God’s own heart.” There
was something in David’s life which allowed him to perform
great exploits. David was a man of like passions as the rest
of us. He had an eye for beautiful women. More than once, he
noticed the alluring beauty of certain women. In fact, during
a time when he should have been at war with his soldiers, he
looked across the rooftops to see an extremely comely woman
who was sunbathing. He asked for her to be brought to him,
which led to his having sexual relations with her. This was
bad enough, but it got worse. To cover up for his misdeeds,
he conspired to have her husband killed after he refused to
go in to his wife. David had arrangements made for her husband
to come home from the battle in hopes he would go in to lay
with his wife, which would cover up David’s illicit relationship
with Bathsheba. When that did not work, David ordered his general
to place Bathsheba’s husband in a dangerous place so
that he would die in battle.
When confronted with the whole sordid affair by the prophet
Nathan, David repented, and worked to make things right again
between himself and God. David’s strength was his desire
to serve God with his whole heart. David knew how to humble
himself before God, but above all else, David obeyed God with
his whole being. The thing that made it possible for David
to do great exploits was the fact that he obediently followed
God in every detail of his life
I once heard a pastor admonishing the men of his church to
do great exploits for God like David did. The problem with
this becoming a reality is a matter of the heart. David obeyed
God with his heart and delighted in God’s rules for living.
Without obedience, it is impossible to please God and any exploits
done will be done in the flesh.
Of the 163 verses that explicitly reference obedience, many
were written by David. By reading these verses, we can get
a sense of his heart for God.
“The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the
soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the
simple; the statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the
heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening
the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;
the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine
gold; sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover,
by them your servant is warmed, and in keeping them there
is great reward. All the paths of the Lord are mercy and
truth, to such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.”
“Oh, that my ways were directed to keep your statutes!
Then I would not be ashamed, when I look into all your commandments.”
“Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes,
and I shall keep it to the end.”
“Give me understanding, and I shall keep
your law; indeed, I shall observe it with my whole heart.”
“Make me walk in the path of your commandments,
for I delight in it.”
“So shall I keep your law continually,
forever and ever. And I will walk at liberty,
for I seek your precepts.” There is a novel idea.
The law gives liberty. I’ve heard it said so many times
that the law is bondage.
“Oh, how I love your law! It is my meditation all
the day.”
“I have more understanding than all my
teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation. I understand
more than the ancients, because I keep your precepts. I have
restrained my feet from every evil way, that I may keep your
word. I have not departed from your judgments, for you yourself
have taught me.”
“Rivers of water run down from my eyes, because
men do not keep your law. I cry out with my whole heart;
hear me, O Lord! I will keep your statutes.
“Lord, I hope for your salvation, and I do your
commandments. My soul keeps your testimonies, and I love
them exceedingly. I keep your precepts and your testimonies,
for all my ways are before you.”
It is easy to see David’s love for God and His life-rules.
Even though he sinned, he quickly repented and sought God more
than before. God said it, and it is abundantly clear in his
writing, David was a man after God’s own heart. When
we have a heart like David’s, we too can do great exploits
for God. Both David and Abraham had a heart to follow God’s
commandments, and to follow them in faith, resulting in their
obedience to God in every area of their lives. This was their
reasonable worship.
We, on the other hand, want to worship God with words and
songs. We feel no compunction to obey God’s commandments
even though it is restated in the New Covenant Scriptures that
obedience reflects our love for the Master.
There are 54 verses having the word “worship” in
them. Only two of which even speaks of singing. All the verses
fall into several categories. Many say the following: “Ascribe
to the Lord the glory due His name; Bring an offering, and
come before Him; Worship the Lord in holy array.”
The theme of reverence and trembling is oft repeated. “Worship
the Lord with reverence and rejoice with trembling.”
Worship involves bowing down in awe and submission. “Come,
let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the Lord
our Maker.”
Worship also has to do with listening to God’s commands. “Stand
in the gate of the Lord’s house and proclaim there
this word (Law) and say, ‘Hear the word (Law) of the
Lord, all you of Judah, who enter by these gates to worship
the Lord!’”
Talking about a still future time, Ezekiel states that worship
will be on the Sabbath. “The people of the land shall
also worship at the doorway of that gate before the Lord on
the Sabbaths and on the new moons.”
Christ, speaking to Satan said that “You shall
worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.” Worship
implies service. We are told in Romans to present our bodies
as living sacrifices which is our expected service.
Worship can be done in vain. “But in vain do they
worship me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.” When
we follow man’s traditions, not checking them out with
the word of God, we worship in vain. Much of what is done
in churches can be categorized as “man’s traditions” since
many of their practices and teachings do not check out with
a thorough study of Scriptures. “True worshippers
will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people
the Father seeks to be His worshippers.
God knows the secrets of our hearts, which should cause us
to fear. He knows whether or not we come to him as truth seekers
or simply as people following traditions. “The secrets
of his heart are disclosed; and so he will fall on his face
and worship God, declaring that God is certainly among you.”
In the end, all the nations will worship God. “Who
will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone
are holy; for all the nations will come and worship before
you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.”
True worship is following God and obeying his commands. You
can sing all you want, but if you are not obedient, you are
singing in vain. “Obey My voice, and I will be your
God, and you will be my people; and you will walk in all the
way which I command you, that it may be will with you.” “For
I delight in loyalty, rather than sacrifice (singing, working,
and other visible ways we try to please God), and in the knowledge
of God rather than burnt offerings.” How
do you get knowledge of God? Through worship and praise or
through studying to show yourself approved?
The end of the matter is this. “Take away from
Me the noise of your songs; I will not even listen to the
sound of your harps. But let justice roll down like waters
and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.” “My
son, do not forget my law, but let your heart keep my commands;
for length of days and long life and peace they will add
to you.” “Let this be the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole
duty of men.” “For this is love of God, that
we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.” “This
calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints who
obey God’s commandments and remain faithful to Jesus.”
The true test of faith is whether or not we obey God. All
through the Bible, you can see the stories of those who truly
had faith. They stand out. They are the ones who obeyed God.
Do you stand out from the crowd of “praise and worshippers” as
a “true worshipper,” an obedient son or daughter?
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