“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1 NIV) “…This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.” (1 John 5:4 NIV) What does it mean? Volumes have been written telling in exhaustive detail what faith is all about. Those writings are invaluable for a thorough understanding of the principle. But a simple description is often quite useful in getting our thoughts around an important truth. Such is the case in an example given by Wayne Barber. He said, “Faith means ‘Forsaking All, I Trust Him’.” That is both simple enough to be easily grasped and deep enough to be profound.
Forsaking sin and self is required if faith is to be exercised. God said, “Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him, and to our God, for He will freely pardon.” (Isaiah 55:7 NIV)
All is to be forsaken if faith is to prevail. All what? When the rich young man asked how to get eternal life, Jesus said to him, “…Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.” (Luke 18:22 NIV) If we apply the light of the body of Scripture, we can be sure that Jesus was not telling the man that salvation is obtained by giving to the poor. Rather He was emphasizing the principle that a person must be willing to trust/follow Jesus and forsake all other means by which many think salvation is obtained.
I must be willing to forsake all and trust Christ. Faith is a personal act by which you and I individually turn in repentance from sin and self to God through His Son. Family or church heritage won’t do; every person must be accountable for his or her own actions and exercise personal faith. And I don’t trust Him for salvation alone. I trust Him – not my employer, not the government, not the church – to sustain me day by day. I trust Him to provide for my needs and the needs of my family. I trust Him for grace, not only to survive, but also to overcome whatever trouble develops in this life. I trust Him for everything.
Trust is the message of Scripture: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV) Trust is the message of song: Simply trusting every day, Trusting through a stormy way, Even when my faith is small, Trusting Jesus, that is all. Trusting as the moments fly, Trusting as the days go by; Trusting Him whate’er befall, Trusting Jesus, that is all.”
Him is not the easiest word with which to begin a sentence. But what should be easy is to trust in Him, referring of course to our Lord and Savior Jesus. I mean, who else is there in whom we can trust completely? All other men and women have ‘feet of clay’ just as you and I do. That condition renders them imperfect and susceptible to failure. There’s only One Who became God in the flesh, impervious to the curse of sin, and worthy of our complete trust.
“Forsaking All, I Trust Him.”