Abraham's Faith and Yours
Michelle Molina

The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith. The beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety."
George Mueller 1805-1898     

I love reading about Abraham!  The part of Abraham's life that I love to read and hear about is in Genesis 12. He is called to leave Haran and go to the land that God promised to show him. So he went. Think about this! Abraham heard the voice of God, not knowing Him as God, but believed Him and left everything he knew behind him just to obey this voice. Add to this that Abraham had no idea where he was going. He didn't keep praying to this God until he was told where the destination was BEFORE he would leave Haran . He just left, trusting that the God who spoke to him would lead him.

At this time, there is no Jewish nation of Israel . The only history at this time would be Adam and Eve, Noah, the flood, and the tower of Babel . There aren't any synagogues, priests, prophets, holy men or scribes. There is only the One who said, "Let there be…" and He is calling a man who may have never heard the stories of creation to follow and obey Him. Haran was infamous for the vast numbers of idols, and tradition tells us that Abraham and his family were idol makers.

Zoom ahead to the 21st century and you and I are reading this story and think how wonderful it was that Abraham is now called the "Father of Faith". I say this to you today because this can, and should be the legacy you leave behind: a man or woman of faith; one who AGAINST ALL ODDS AND CIRCUMSTANCES trusted in an unseen God to fulfill the promises that He made.

Hebrews 11:8 says, "It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went WITHOUT KNOWING where he was going. And EVEN WHEN HE REACHED THE LAND GOD PROMISED HIM, HE LIVED THERE BY FAITH – for he was a foreigner, living in a tent.

And so did Isaac and Jacob, TO WHOM GOD GAVE THE SAME PROMISE. Abraham did this because he was confidently LOOKING FORWARD to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God. It was by faith that Sarah together with Abraham was able to have a child, even though they were too old and Sarah was barren. Abraham BELIEVED God would keep his promises. And so a whole nation came out from this one man, Abraham, who was too old to have any children – a nation with so many people that, like the stars of the sky and th e sand on the seashore, there is no way to count them." (Heb 11:8)

When you face an unknown circumstanced or a trial that is screaming in your face that you will never get out of this, there are things in Abrahams' life that can help you today as you walk ahead to possess your promised land.

First, what is it that God has promised you? What is He telling you? Whatever that thing is, regardless of how impossible it looks, physically, financially, or economically - do it. Don't let the devil steal your promise. God is faithful!!  he will do all He says He will do.

But don't take other people's promises. For example, one of the times that I was walking through an extremely rough battle, I kept telling the Lord that I needed to hear from Him. I wanted something specific for this particular need. I could quote, "…many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivers them from them all" and did many times. But that scripture was not rhema, or alive, in my heart. It was a fact, but I was praying for something for that day personally from God. And God is so faithful. He spoke a scripture reference to my heart and I went to the Old Testament to see what it said and it fit my circumstances exactly! It came alive in my heart and I stood on that scripture for another year until it came to pass.

If you are facing a battle or a need in your life today, get alone with God and pray for Him to speak to you regarding this. Once He speaks it, hold fast to it. Don't let it fall away or be stolen from you.

Another thing Abraham teaches us is that he went on that word without further direction. He left Haran and started in to the wilderness, a vast desert, not knowing how he would care for the people and flocks that were with him. God was faithful and provided for them continually. But it says that God provided for him as long as Abraham followed Him. In obedience, Abraham found provision for each day.

Notice also that he had no home; only a tent. Granted his tent was probably a luxury model, but he still moved from place to place constantly. At times, I know of believers who love God with all their heart but think that God owes them a better style of living than what they have now. He should have them driving a better car, living in a better home, dressing in better clothes. Some even say that they should have these things since they are "King's Kids".

But the truth is that if you have a 1978 Celica with 335,999 miles on it with bald tires and no horn, you are better off and much richer than over 90% of the world's population. If you dressed this morning in clothing that you didn't wear yesterday, you are wealthier than 93% of the world's population. If you have a job that pays you more than $7000 a year, then you have more wealth than 96% of the world's population. This said, how can we have so much and still be ungrateful? Because we look and lust. We see other people driving newer cars, living in bigger homes and making more money and we covet it. God has blessed you incredibly! You have as much wealth as Abraham had compared to over 90% of the world. That says a lot about God.

One final word Abraham has for you is a warning. Never try to make your promise come to pass faster by taking matters into your own hands. There's a word for this: Ishmael. Abraham had a promise from God. He would be a father. When it didn't happen fast enough, he took matters into his own hands and help God. He slept with Hagar, his wife's handmaiden; she became pregnant and bore him a son. But this child was not the child of God's promise. He was the child of the flesh.

Keep your focus on God. Don't keep them focused on the things here on this earth but look to the city that He is building for you in Heaven. When I am in the hottest part of a trial or when the promises God made me are lingering, I have to keep my eyes on Jesus. Only then can I keep my heart at rest and wait patiently. After all, when I get to Heaven, those things that kept my heart earthbound probably won't be remembered much to me. At that time, only one thing from my life on earth will be remembered: my faith.

That is your legacy. Today, all that you will be remembered for is yet to be completely known. How will people remember you and your faith? If the answer that comes to your mind is not what you want, you still have time to change it.

Many men and women of God have a legacy, like Abraham, of faith.

Go in faith. Find your God. Know your God. Love your God. Allow Him to bring forth all the promises specific to your life. He will do all He has promised to do.

Paul said, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course and I have kept the faith." Most of you can relate to the fight. Some of those people can relate the fight to the need to stay on course. But how many of you can, like Paul, endure anything and still say "I have kept the faith"? Would heaven's testimony of you be that of faith in trial or grumbling about your circumstances?

Whatever your testimony is, that is your legacy that will remain here and tell of you long after you have gone home. Is your legacy what you want it to be or is it time for a change?

Living for the Call,
Michelle Molina