Romans 4:19-24 [Abraham Was 100 Years Old, and His Wife Sarah Was 90 Years Old]

[Things to Meditate On]

1. Not only in the passage above, but also in Romans 4:3, it is written, "Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness" (Genesis 15:6). Through words like these, we can know that being counted righteous before God is possible "by faith." And we are also told that being counted righteous before God was not only possible for Abraham, but is also possible for any of us, if we have faith (verses 23-24).

2. Although the passage above does not specifically mention Sarah’s age, Genesis 17:17 says that when God told Abraham and Sarah that they would have a child, Abraham was 100 years old and Sarah was 90 years old. Therefore, Abraham knew very well that because of their old age they could not have a child. Nevertheless, the Bible says that he was not weak in faith (verse 19). Through this, we can know that there is a clear difference between "worldly reason and knowledge" and "faith."

3. When we look at the examples shown by many forefathers of faith recorded in the Bible, we see that even when they knew something was realistically impossible, and even in moments when they could lose their own lives, they did not lose faith. Rather, they became stronger in faith and overcame visible reality by faith. To give a few examples:

Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear and prepared an ark, so that when the whole world was covered with water, though no one at that time believed it, he and his family were saved (Hebrews 11:7). Abraham, not knowing where he was going, nevertheless believed the word of God and left his country, his kindred, and his father’s house (Hebrews 11:8). Moses, who was a prince of Egypt, forsook the position of being called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter and chose to suffer affliction with the people of God (Hebrews 11:24-26). Joshua and Caleb, unlike the children of Israel who gave an evil report according to what they saw and died in the wilderness, kept believing God’s promise to the end and possessed the land of Canaan (Numbers 14). Young David stood before Goliath, whom the whole army of Israel was too afraid to fight, trusting in the name of God, without armor, spear, or sword (1 Samuel 17)... Daniel also kept his faith toward God to the end, even though he knew that violating the decree established by the king of Babylon would mean death. And the apostle Paul also said that he was ready not only to be bound, but also to die for the name of the Lord Jesus.

Daniel 6:1-10 "... 7All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions... 10Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime."

Acts 21:8-14 "... 12And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem. 13Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus..."

Thus, because such a great cloud of witnesses already surrounds us and has shown us how they did not yield to visible reality, but overcame it by faith, we who have now become descendants of faith must also make the same "decision of faith" between reality and faith.

[Decision and Application]

Abraham knew that his own body and Sarah’s body were as good as dead, yet he did not become weak in faith because of what he knew. Rather, he became even stronger and was fully persuaded of God’s promise (verse 21). And we are told that if we are to become the descendants of Abraham, we too must have such faith (Romans 4:16-18). Therefore, we must now not hesitate to fight the good fight of faith every day between reality and faith.

1 Timothy 6:7-12 "7For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 9But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 11But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. 12Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses."

As this passage says, the good fight of faith is not a fight against someone else, but a fight against ourselves. Whenever we ourselves are inclined toward visible reality rather than faith, for example, whenever we are not content but try to follow greed, we must fight all the more with the word in order to keep the faith. And when not only our own faith, but also the faith of those around us, begins to grow weak, we must join our strength together and fight the good fight of faith together. Jesus said that He prays for us so that our faith may not fail.

Luke 22:31-32 "31And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: 32But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren."

Therefore, we must strive all the more boldly to keep the faith between reality and faith. As we have seen above, this good fight of faith is not something only we are fighting. Many forefathers of faith have already fought this fight, and people of faith are still fighting it today. And this fight is not an endless fight, but according to the word of Jesus, who said that He would come quickly (Revelation 22:20), it will not be a long fight. Therefore, we need to comfort one another with these words and strengthen one another in faith.

Now, to everyone who keeps "the faith of Jesus" (Revelation 14:12) to the end, the God who counted Abraham righteous will likewise count them righteous as well (verses 23-24), and the crown of righteousness prepared for the apostle Paul will also be given to them.

2 Timothy 4:7-8 "7I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing."

Amen.