Faith Faces Reality Then Walks in the Opposite Direction

Romans 4:19
Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead —since he was about a hundred years old —and that Sarah’s womb was also dead.

Romans chapter one to three is Apostle Paul’s attempt to convince us that we have all sinned. No human being is righteous. No human being is unaffected by sin. We are all guilty and deserve eternal death.

In part of chapter three, Apostle Paul starts explaining the solution to the sin problem.
Romans 3:24 onwards is the presentation of the solution. Apostle Paul writes that salvation is free because of Christ’s sacrifice. In chapter four he introduces the concept of faith as seen in Abraham.

To demonstrate how faith works, Apostle Paul gives the example of Abraham. Abraham had a good relationship with God not because of what he did but because he believed that God has made him right. Abraham was good by faith. Abraham was righteous by faith. Nothing Abraham did made him good or righteous except faith in God. How does faith work?

This is how faith works. Abraham and his wife Sarah were childless. God promised them a child. God did not provide a child until they were completely beyond the childbearing stage. Abraham and Sarah faced the reality that it was humanly impossible to have a child. When we reach the end of human abilities, faith comes in. It is difficult to explain faith when we still have the power to solve the problem.

Our text today explains that Abraham faced the reality that together with his wife it was impossible to have a child. They were so old that they were actually as good as dead. When you face such a reality without faith you can give up and die. It is safe to face your reality with faith.
Without faith, it is unsafe to face any reality.

The Bible tells us today that Abraham faced his reality with faith. Without weakening in his faith Abraham faced the reality that he was now old and humanly impossible to have a child except by faith. In the same manner, we are hopelessly sinful and lost, our only chance of salvation is by faith!

Faith faces the reality of a bad situation. Reality leads us to walk into despair and hopelessness, but faith walks in the opposite direction of believing that what seems impossible is still possible. Faith faces reality and then walks in the opposite direction!

Faith faces the reality that Abraham and Sarah are too old to have a child, then it walks in the opposite direction of believing that a child will still be born. Faith faces the reality that all I have is failing grades, but walks in the opposite direction that God can still grant me a successful future. Faith faces the reality that I am too old to date and find a life partner, then it walks in the opposite direction of looking forward to a wedding next year. Faith faces reality and then walks in the opposite direction!

Faith faces the reality that I am financially stuck and there is no way out, then faith walks in the opposite direction of believing that God will make a way where there seems to be no way. Faith faces the reality that healing from this disease is no longer possible and I will be dead before next month, then faith walks in the opposite direction of believing that next year I will attend my children’s big days. Faith faces reality and then walks in the opposite direction!

Faith faces the reality that faithfulness to God can cost me this job. Faith faces the reality that keeping the Sabbath may jeopardize my final exam reality of good grades. Faith faces the reality that saying no to sexual advances may cost me dating partners. Faith faces the reality that honesty and integrity may cost me the favor of my bosses. Faith faces the reality and the obvious harm, then faith walks in the opposite direction of that reality believing that God will make the impossible possible. Faith faces the reality and then walks in the opposite direction!

Without faith facing reality can be devastating. Facing a job loss without faith is dangerous. Facing rejection without faith can be a mental health hazard. Facing our consistent sinfulness without faith can be spiritually discouraging. We should only face all realities by faith. Faith sees what an all-able God can do. Faith sees beyond the problem. Faith sees what God can do. Faith faces reality and then walks in the opposite direction!

May God grant us faith in Him with which we will face our realities, in Jesus’s name, Amen!

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