Untested Faith is Untrusted Faith

By James Washington
Special to the NNPA from the Houston Forward Times

The old saying is when the going gets tough, the tough get going. The operative word here is tough. My question for you is what happens when you insert the dynamics of faith into any given situation? The reason for the question is that I must have been taking notes in church one Sunday and I came across them in my bible recently. I wrote ‘faith that is not tested is faith that cannot be trusted.’ It’s written in Deuteronomy 8 and I don’t remember what point the minister was trying to make at that time, but my notes froze me and wouldn’t let me continue. I have since been moved to think this is not only a spiritual lesson but also one of life’s more poignant ones. I remember going to the doctor after receiving one of many treatments for prostate cancer and the attending physician was somewhat surprised that not only was my wife still with me, but we were and continue to be fabulously happy. So from my point of view, I guess you could say at many levels that test has given me a testimony about my relationship with my wife. Perhaps God has provided you with a test or two to see if you understand that testimony is a consequence of faith fortification and not a collapse of your belief that God has it handled.

In Deuteronomy, Moses is trying to tell otherwise ignorant Israel that even though this group was not around for his miracles and wonders, God is insistent that you still trust Him. Your faith will determine your actions and your actions will tell God if you really believe He has your back. Moses cautions not to be seduced into thinking that what you have and what you achieve is because of your own efforts. Not true! “You may say to yourself ‘My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.’ But remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms His covenant, which He swore to your forefathers, as it is today.” Deuteronomy 8: 17-18.

Maybe we should all review that covenant thing. That’s what I’m talking about here. God expects when the going gets tough, our expectancy should be that God will provide. He will. And even if He doesn’t, He can. That test, whatever you’re going through, becomes a testimony to God’s glory. He demands it of us just as He demanded it of the Israelites. Plus, we got a new covenant. Jesus sealed the breech and the war is won. All we got to do is fight the good fight, endure the battles of life from the perspective Moses wanted Israel to take with it into the Promised Land. “If you ever forget the Lord your God and follow other gods and worship and bow down to them, I testify against you today that you will surely be destroyed.” Deuteronomy 8:19.

Faith that is not tested cannot be trusted. Yeah. I said it. Can God trust you? That’s a question for you and God. So when the going gets tough for you, please do not rely on your belief that you can figure it all out. If the truth be told, you probably got yourself into that mess. At least allow God to get you out of it. But first you have to know and believe He can. Then you can ask Him for anything and expect He will provide it for you.

May God bless and keep you always,

James,  jaws@dallasweekly.com