The One Who is Faithful
The faithfulness of God is one of my favorite topics. Part of my fascination, I suppose, is the many ways I have seen His faithfulness played out in my own life. So very many times I have been in a difficult situation—sometimes through my own actions, sometimes through the actions of others. Regardless, when I have come to the end of my own resources and cried out to God, He has come to my aid, sometimes rescuing me, other times walking beside me through that hard time. Let’s dive into how God is one who is faithful – always.
I’ve been reading Iain Duguid’s book, The Whole Armor of God, recently, and just this morning I ran across this statement. He says,
“What counts is not the strength of your faith, let alone the strength of your faithfulness. Your security lies in the fact that Jesus has been faithful for you; his strength, as the One in whom our faith rests, is our sure and certain hope.”[1]
Isn’t it good to know that it doesn’t depend on me? Now, of course, that in no way relieves me of the responsibility to live faithfully in response to what God has revealed to me. That is my duty and my joy as a follower of Christ. Just as examples, John tells us.
- John 14:23 – Anyone who loves me [Jesus] will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.
- John 15:14 – You are my friends if you do what I command.
- 1 John 5:2-4 – This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.
Those are some pretty spectacular promises, aren’t they? But you and I both know that if those promises were dependent upon our own faithfulness, we would be in deep trouble. As flawed human beings, we are simply incapable of 24/7 obedience, no matter how much we may try.
So at this point I will, without apology, repeat one of my favorite verses about God’s faithfulness. I’ll quote the Amplified Version here:
“The saying is sure and worthy of confidence: If we have died with Him, we shall also live with Him. If we endure, we shall also reign with Him. If we deny and disown and reject Him, He will also deny and disown and reject us. If we are faithless [do not believe and are untrue to Him], He remains true [faithful to His Word and His righteous character], for He cannot deny Himself” (2 Timothy 2:11-13, emphasis added).Put your faith and trust in the One who is always, always faithful, because, “in God’s faithfulness you have a shield that will certainly keep you safe, weak though your own faith may be, until you pass through the gates of death into life that will last forever”![2]
