2 Corinthians 1:24
Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.
In the Christian life, everything ultimately comes down to faith. This is why Paul said, by faith we stand. Salvation is the foundation of our faith. We stand on the fact that the only way to get saved is by placing our faith in Christ’s sacrificial death. What we believe eventually comes down to faith. Let me illustrate. I believe the King James Bible is the inspired, inerrant, word-for-word, Word of God. I can certainly talk about how it comes from the Textus Receptus to defend my position. I can defend this position because of all the words taken out of the false perversions. I can talk about how God promised to preserve every word for every generation. But at the end of the day, it takes faith to believe this doctrine and truth.
The Christian life ultimately comes down to faith; faith that what God says is true. However, I would much rather place my faith in God who has never failed on one promise than place it in man who doesn't know what the next minute holds in our lives. Paul’s statement that by faith ye stand must be the anchor you hold onto in life, because if you don’t, you will eventually crumble under life’s pressures. Let me point out four areas where you must stand by faith.
First, by faith we stand through trials. When you look at the first two chapters of Second Corinthians, you see Paul talk much about the trials he faced and that you will face. You will fold under the pressures of life’s trials if, by faith, you don't trust that God’s promises are true. There are days when the only thing you have to keep you going in trials is your faith. You must stand by faith in trials because that is the only rope to hold onto when there seems to be no hope out of those trials you face.
Second, by faith we stand through death. How does one make it as they stand at the casket of a loved one? They stand by faith that one day they will see their loved one in Heaven. Let’s face it, we trust God’s Word that there is a real Heaven. By faith, we believe our loved ones who have passed away are in Heaven as God says they are. By faith we believe that Jesus went to prepare a place for us, a place called Heaven. Oh, we long for a place called Heaven, but we know by faith that this place of Heaven is a real place.
Third, by faith we stand through battles. When battles come, the only thing we can do to keep going is to stand by faith. There will be days in the battles of life when you only have your faith to keep you going. These battles come in different forms, but on some days, you must stand by faith.
Fourth, by faith we stand for truth. Not everyone will stand for truth, and when you are standing alone, it is only your faith that these truths are true that will keep you standing. My friend, standing for truth is not always easy, but by faith you must stand and defend truth even if no one stands with you.
Now, what does it mean by faith we stand? It means that our faith keeps us from quitting. If you give up on your faith, you will quit when trials and battles come. It is your faith that tells you not to quit when death has touched your life. It is your faith that tells you not to quit standing for truth when others around you compromise. If the only reason you don't quit in the hard times is because of your faith in God’s Word, that is a good reason not to quit.
Comments