The Composure of Faith

The Composure of Faith

Through the apostle Paul, God told us that in the last days people would become as described in the words below.

2 Timothy 3:1-5 "1This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away."

Whenever we meditate on these words, we come to realize that we are truly living in the last days, and that these are perilous times. This is because the people of today are exactly as described in this passage. As prophesied by the apostle Paul, perilous times have come upon us all; and although there may be many reasons for this, perhaps the main cause is the "absence of faith" — unbelief in the words of Jesus. If we had faith to believe the words of Jesus, we would never live in such a "self-centered" way as described above, but would live in a "Jesus-centered" way (Rom. 14:7-8, 1 Cor. 10:31). And because we would live for Jesus, we would act in the exact opposite way from the words above. But because we have failed to believe the word of God, we have come to live in an extremely "self-centered" way as we do now, and as a result, perilous times have come. Therefore, now in these last days, more than ever, the faith of Jesus (Rev. 14:12) is needed; and the composure of faith that believes the words of Jesus is something all of us truly need.

Just as hope that is seen is not hope (Rom. 8:24), faith also is not believing what is seen, but believing what is unseen (Heb. 11:1-3). That is why it is said that faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ (Rom. 10:17). In other words, we can understand that the true faith we must obtain is the faith that comes through the words of the sixty-six books of the Bible, the word of God.

Some people try to believe by seeing and touching. But Jesus taught Thomas that believing because one has seen is not truly blessed faith.

John 20:29 "Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed."

Therefore, now we must receive faith only through the Bible. Above all, in order for us not to live "self-centered" lives, but "Jesus-centered" lives, we must first begin by believing that we are not people who are to live for this world. The Bible describes us who live in this world as "strangers and pilgrims," and also tells us that our citizenship is in heaven.

1 Peter 1:1-4 "1Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ... 4To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you."

Hebrews 11:13-16 "13These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country... 16But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city."

Philippians 3:20-21 "20For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself."

If we live in this world with the heart of strangers and pilgrims who hope for their true homeland, then even when we lack something, or even when things do not happen as we desire, we will not become impatient, angry, or offended. On the other hand, even those who possess and enjoy the things of this world must realize that these things are not everything. They must not become proud or selfish, but must look toward the better and enduring substance, humbly believing in and following Jesus.

Hebrews 10:34-35 "34For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance. 35Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward."

Also, we must not complain or become angry because of evildoers. This is because Jesus already knows all things, and He has said that He Himself will repay.

Psalm 37:1-2, 7-10 "1Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. 2For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. 7Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. 8Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. 9For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth. 10For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be."

▷Conclusion;

Long ago, the Israelites in the wilderness repeatedly tested God and insisted only on what they wanted, rather than believing and obeying the word of God’s promise in the wilderness (Hebrews 3-4). They lived self-centered lives in the wilderness. The result of this was death in the wilderness. Today, we also, like the Israelites who came out of Egypt and passed through the wilderness, are on our way as we look toward the kingdom of heaven that Jesus has prepared for us. The Israelites of that time did not come out of Egypt in order to live in the wilderness. Therefore, in order to live in the land of Canaan flowing with milk and honey, which God had promised, they should have endured patiently in the wilderness by faith. In the same way, while we live in this world, we also must endure by "faith," and continue to follow only the ark of the covenant — the word of God, Jesus Christ — as we journey toward the kingdom of heaven (Heb. 12:1-3).

If this world is everything to us, then we are miserable people (1 Cor. 15:19). But we will certainly not be miserable people, because we have a far better "promise" that cannot even be compared with the things of this world (Gal. 4:28). Therefore, while we live in this world, we must not try to possess everything we desire, nor try to enjoy everything, as the people of this world do. If someone smites us on the right cheek, we can turn to him the other also; if someone wants to take our coat, we can let him have our cloak also; if someone compels us to go one mile, we can go with him two; and instead of hating our enemies, we can love them (Matt. 5:39-44) — all of this comes from faith that believes the words of Jesus. This composure of faith is what all of us need now!