Belief and Obedience
(Exhortation - September 2003)
One of the blessings of living in North America is the universality of the education system whereby everyone has the opportunity to learn. To become wise in the things accounted important by the society of today is to be revered. But humankind has always clambered for knowledge. Eve was beguiled by the serpent’s reasoning that by eating of the forbidden fruit, she would have wisdom like the angels. Socrates, the reputed founder of philosophy, who lived three and a half centuries before Christ, believed that knowledge and understanding brought virtue, and his ideas still have a profound influence upon the modern world. Plato, the devoted follower of Socrates, developed his mentor’s theories and laws of reasoning by insisting that truth could only be found collectively through the stimulation of debate, argument and opposing ideas.
Worldly wisdom
Philosophers at the time of Paul, who spent
all their time discussing and searching for new ideas, were putting this
theory into action: “For all the Athenians and strangers which were there
spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new
thing” (Acts 17:21). The cult of learning brought nothing but death,
however, because the adherents denied the true wisdom of God:
Where is the wise…where is the disputer of this world? Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe...but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty (I Cor. 1:20-21, 27).
Paul put the convoluted thinking and oratory of the philosophers aside, and he proclaimed the simple truth of Christ crucified: “I came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified” (I Cor. 2:2).
God demands obedience
‘The wise’ usually find the method of
salvation too simple, failing to grasp the wonder and significance of the
requirements decreed by God. These are deceptively simple, “belief and
obedience.” The 11th chapter of Hebrews abounds with examples of the
principle of belief (that develops into faith) and obedience: Abel believed
and so faith in the promised savior was reflected in his obedient offering
of the animal sacrifice. Abraham believed and his faith was demonstrated by
his obedience to leave his home to venture into the unknown, and later by
the willingness to sacrifice his son of promise.
In contrast, King Saul was reprimanded for his presumptive act of usurping the priest’s authority and offering a sacrifice. The incident reveals not only lack of faith and disobedience, but also an imbalance in his understanding. The nation was in a crisis and it was needful to approach God for help. Sacrifice was an integral part of that approach, so in the absence of Samuel, Saul reasoned that it would be acceptable for the king to perform the rite. From a purely human viewpoint the reasoning was logical, but Saul was soon enlightened: “Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the Lord thy God, which he commanded thee…” (I Sam.13:13). It is not the prerogative of man to bend God’s rules. First he must strive to know and understand them, then in belief comply.
Seeking for God
Perhaps the ultimate example is the Lord
Jesus whose intimate knowledge and understanding produced an unshakable
belief in his Father and the determination to do His will. In faith he gave
up opportunities of a career and family life, he resisted temptation,
performed miracles, preached and demonstrated total obedience even to the
dreadful death on the cross. Thus he sealed his destiny and our hope for
salvation.
Frailty of our human condition necessitates that our belief needs constant support. The author of the powerful thoughts found in Psalm 119 understood this perfectly. From the early verses the dominant theme is searching for God and His ways: “Blessed are they …that seek him with the whole heart…With my whole heart have I sought thee…Thy word have I hid in mine heart…I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways…”
As we review the next group of verses in the psalm, we will pay particular attention to the positive responses, engendered in the psalmist, as he studied and meditated upon the written laws of God:
Let thy mercies come also unto me, O Lord, even thy salvation, according to thy word. So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me: for I trust in thy word. And take not thy word of truth utterly out of my mouth; for I have hoped in thy judgments. So shall I keep thy law continually forever and ever. And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts. I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed. And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved. My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes (Ps. 119:41-48).
Herein are the attributes which we should be striving for as we contemplate the word of the Lord: trust, hope, obedience, delight, love and a keen desire to obediently follow the Lord’s principles and precepts.
When our hearts and minds are satiated with the things of God, faith is nurtured and we are thankful for all his guidance and instruction. “At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments. I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts” (vs. 62-63). The Psalmist makes the point clearly -- association with those of like precious faith can enhance spiritual growth.
In this lovely and enlightening Psalm, we find evidence of strong commitment, reading, prayers, meditation, appropriate actions, and seeking out God-fearing friends; all are necessary components in the support of belief and obedience.
The same pattern of behavior is observed in the life of Jesus. Throughout his life prayer and meditation were a priority and although his carefully chosen friends failed at times, they did provide companionship and succor. If we plan to be consistent, we must do our best to follow these Bible principles.
Good times are a challenge
Those in the world only turn to God in
moments of great distress or emergency, but our challenge is to remain
faithful and obedient during times of ease and success. When everything
seems to be going well in our lives, do we continue to follow the daily
readings and spend time in prayer and meditation fervently looking for the
Lord’s return?
It is all too easy to become complacent and self centered in our comfortable situation, forgetting the maxim: “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). In reaching and helping others we also render service to our heavenly Father and his Son. The vivid account of the judgement seat shows that this is an essential component of our walk of faith and obedience:
Then the righteous will answer him, saying Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee, or thirsty, and give thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in, or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say to you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me (Matt. 25:35-40).
Simple yet profound
Scholars and philosophers steeped in the
search for something new to enhance their reputation usually look upon these
principles and precepts with disdain. God uses the simple things of the
world to confound the wise.
What we believe is simple: The Lord made promises to Adam, Abraham and David, promises that pointed to a savior through whom salvation and eternal life in a future kingdom could be obtained. Among other things, the fulfillment of these promises involves belief and obedience to two ordinances: baptism, and remembering the Son of God in the appointed way:
And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, this is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you (Lk. 22:19-20).
Jesus: “Though he were a Son yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered” (Heb. 5:8). In the profound wisdom of the Lord, the suffering of his son unto death is memorialized in the simple material items of bread and wine that we see on the table before us. As we partake of these symbols of the body and blood of the Savior, thinking of his death and resurrection, let us give thanks for his belief and obedience.
Stephen Curry