Rugged faith

“Pastor, I just don’t feel Jesus in my heart. I don’t know if can go on believing.” Comments like that reveal a basic misunderstanding about the nature of faith. Somehow the idea that faith is a feeling, that Jesus creates ‘good vibes,’ has replaced the faith of Scripture which inspires greatness, holiness, and steady commitment. Truth - the bedrock of faith is not found in emotionalism, sentimentalism, or even inspiring stories from Guideposts! Rugged faith is founded on God’s revealed truth, the holy Word. It is strengthened by daily decisions that are made in alignment with that Truth.

Many years ago I responded to the Spirit, trusted Christ with my life both present and eternal. I do not mean to imply I have found perfection! (Ask my family.) However, the overall course of my adult life has been the pursuit of the will of the Lord. Sure, there are moments and days when I ignore Him or miss His purpose because of stubbornness. But, when I feel conviction, when the Word and Spirit make me know that there is a gap between my profession and my choices, I repent. Grace is extended and faith is strengthened. So, today I stand in this time of trial, with a heart that is pained by sorrow, yet secure. I can say "I know Whom I have believed and that He is able to guard that which I have entrusted to Him." (2 Timothy 1.12)

Paul urged a young pastor named Timothy to let a rugged faith develop. "My son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus." (2 Timothy 2:1, NKJV) "You … must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ." (2 Timothy 2:3, NKJV) A disciple who does all he can do to avoid hard choices and steep pathways actually has an under-developed faith. Taking a pass on service that demands sacrifice, running away from conflict that requires forgiveness, never facing up to the hard facts about our real needs and/or flaws, makes faith superfluous.

The wide detours in life that keep us on smooth and wide paths where we can perpetually sing happy songs makes our spiritual muscle tone non-existent. I’m not suggesting we live like martyrs, looking for pain, asking for misery! But, we need to obey today and that obedience will certainly lead us through deep valleys as well as onto high mountains. The Holy Spirit will lead us to disciplined development of character. He will take us through seasons that cause us to hunger deeply for more of God. This means we will live outside of our comfort zone on regular basis.

This is what Jesus was talking about when He said “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it." (Matthew 7:13-14, NLT)

If that seems to involve rigor to you, you're right. It does! Why work so hard to own what we cannot see or hold in our hands? We do so in order that we can own a faith that is rugged, up to the task of sustaining us in ‘the valley of the shadow of death.’ Disciple, do not be seduced by the preachers who promises perpetual youth, unending happiness, and untroubled days. Such “Christianity” is nothing but an expressions of sentiment. It is characterized by 'Bible study' that is nothing more than a superficial search for the daily promise, or a short reading of 60 words from "God's Moment for the Busy 21st Century Saint!" It lets the “Christian” leave real service to the lost and needy as a job for 'somebody with more time.' Pleasure and games replace worship. 'Faith' becomes a feeling rather than a conviction.

Here’s a bold prayer from the Proverbs. "Give me just enough to satisfy my needs. For if I grow rich, I may deny you and say, "Who is the Lord?" (Proverbs 30:8-9, NLT)  Reflection will prove the wisdom of that prayer, though most of pray for more rather than for enough! We do not want grace for the trials. We want exemptions from tough times and a magic carpet ride to heaven.

If your life is blessed today, praise God and begin to 'lay up treasure' in Heaven, by building a rugged faith that will stand when the world around you crumbles. The steady practice of spiritual disciplines produces a harvest of righteousness from which we can be sustained in the lean times.

Worship faithfully, not the ‘god’ of your imagination, but Awesome Lord of Glory found in Isaiah’s visions, at the Cross of Calvary, and in the dungeon with Paul.

Learn the Word and really eat the Truth, meditating on it, so it is driven down deep to the core of your soul.

Don't let religious jargon that sounds like the real thing replace the Truth that will keep you in times of trials.

Here’s a word from the Word. Note especially the outcome of a rugged faith. “It will bring you much praise and glory on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed.”

"All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay.


And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see. So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while.


These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls." (1 Peter 1:3-9, NLT)

_____________________________

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus' blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus' name.

When darkness seems to hide His face,
I rest on His unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.

When He shall come with trumpet sound,
O may I then in Him be found!
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne!

On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand.
All other ground is sinking sand.

The Solid Rock
Mote, Edward / Bradbury, William B.

© Public Domain