God Is Faithful
When the trials and distresses that attend the pilgrim pathway tend to cast us down, how cheering it is to dwell upon the precious truth, “God is faithful,” (1 Cor. 10:13). In this scene where material things are so unstable, and change and fickleness are so prevalent, a knowledge of the faithfulness of God is an anchor to the soul. Because God is, and ever will be faithful, we can afford to leave the control of our lives to Him. The Psalmist constantly affirms his belief m the faithfulness of the Lord. He praises and magnifies the name of the Lord for His lovingkindness and mercy.
Read Psalm 89 and you will receive a blessing as you discover the qualities of God’s faithfulness. In verse 2, it is established in the heavens, and, therefore, is as stable as His eternal throne. In verse 8, His faithfulness is incomparable. There is no one in all creation as faithful as He. In verses 5 and 8, His supremacy in power and might over all His creatures is celebrated. All His creatures may fail because of limited power, but Jehovah, because of His unrivalled might, is equal to all emergencies in life, and will surely keep His promises. This is confirmed to us in verse 33, “Nevertheless My lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer My faithfulness to fail.” This would suggest His Unfailing Faithfulness. In Lamentations 3:23, we read, “Great is Thy faithfulness.” The constancy with which His compassions are vouchsafed to us, magnifies His mercy in preserving us from His consuming anger. The faithfulness of God is manifested in many ways:
In Calling Us:
“God is faithful, by whom ye were called into the fellowship of His Son,” (1 Cor. 1:9).
The “fellowship of His Son” is the heritage of all saints. This glorious position into which we are brought, the moment we receive Christ by virtue of the atoning work, belongs to “All that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours,” (1 Cor. 1:2). To narrow this fellowship down to the privilege of a few is a reflection on the faithfulness of God. The New Covenant of which Christ is the Mediator is established by His own blood, and secures the everlasting blessedness of all who believe. That such unworthy objects as sinful men are brought into heavenly relationship with our blessed Lord, because of the faithfulness of God, is in keeping with His covenant confirmed by Christ, (Gal. 3:17).
In Delivering From Temptation:
“God is faithful, Who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able to bear, but will with the temptation also make a way of escape,” (1 Cor. 10:13). In the context of this passage, the Apostle cites the failures of the children of Israel. In spite of all their privileges they fell into grievous sin. They proved unfaithful, so it is written, “With many of them God was not well pleased,” (1 Cor. 10:5). Their failures are recorded as “examples” to us, lest we take their course and go their way. After warning us to “take heed lest we fall,” (vs. 12) the Apostle closes the paragraph with his message of encouragement and cheer.
Temptations continually assail us, but we need not fall. “God will either keep His saints from temptation by His preserving mercy, or in temptation by His supporting mercy, or find a way for their escape by His delivering mercy,” (Mason). Every trial is an opportunity to trust the faithfulness of God.
In Forgiveness:
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness,” (1 John 1:9).
It is well for Christians to remember that while the penalty of their sins was borne at Calvary, they will never pass beyond the need of cleansing in this life. To say that we are absolutely sinless, and need not the constant application of the cleansing blood of Christ, is only self-deception. Sinning should not be habitual with the believer, but if he does sin, the joy of fellowship with the Father is lost. In order to have that joy restored, we need “to confess our sins.” God will be faithful to His Word, and just to His Son who died to take away sin. He will forgive the believer freely and fully because of the efficacy of the blood of His Son, and restore to the believer full fellowship to Himself.
In Answering Prayer:
“In Thy faithfulness answer me,” (Psa. 143:1). Here the Psalmist pleads the faithfulness of God as he claims an answer to his cries. The language of this Psalm pictures the trying experience of the writer. He speaks of persecution by the enemy, dwelling in darkness; his spirit being overwhelmed, and his heart being desolate, (vs. 3-4). In the midst of all this distress he can say, “In Thee do I trust,” and can call upon the Lord to hear him speedily.
“Call upon Me in the day of trouble,” is an exhortation to pray. “I will deliver thee,” is a definite promise that God will answer. Christ is the “Yea” and “Amen” to all the promises of God. Let us not forget, “He is faithful that promised,” (Heb. 10:23). May we rest in His faithfulness that hears and answers our prayers. Lord Shaftesbury one time promised a poor child financial help. He was very busy, and thought he would send someone else, but he suppressed the notion; to him, his word was as good as his bond, even to a poor beggar child. God is absolutely faithful to keep every single promise that He has made to His saints.
He Is Faithful In Perfecting His Saints:
“Faithful is He that calleth you, Who also will do it,” (1 Thess. 5:24).
God desires for His people their full sanctification, (Vs. 23). He looks upon them as His inheritance, and His desire is, although they are not faultless, they be blameless. The love-letter of a little boy to his father is anything but faultless; however, the father does not count it deserving of blame; he carries it near his heart. We are not faultless, as judged by God’s perfect standards, but He, Who has called us, will effectually accomplish our perfection when we are presented before the presence of His glory. “The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me,” (Psalm 138:8). The Psalmist rested on the faithfulness of God to fulfil His purpose. It is the Lord who has begun the good work in us; it is He Who has carried it on; and if He does not finish it, it will never be completed, but such is our confidence, we know that He Who began the work will perfect it. In Eternity, we shall rejoice, not in “works of righteousness which we have done,” but entirely in what the Lord has done. We will praise Him for His unfailing faithfulness.