Waiting for Promises by Faith
When God says to humankind, “Believe,” he demands something that’s wholly beyond reason. Faith is totally illogical. Its very definition has to do with something unreasonable. Scripture tells us, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1, NKJV). We’re being told in short, “There is no tangible substance, no visible evidence.” Despite this, we’re asked to believe.
I’m addressing this subject for an important reason. Right now, all over the world, multitudes of believers are bowed low in discouragement. The fact is that we’re all going to continue facing discouragement in this life, yet I believe if we understand the illogical, unreasonable nature of faith, we’ll find the help we need to get through.
Consider the faith that was demanded of Simeon. “Behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ” (Luke 2:25-26, NKJV). The Messiah had been promised to God’s people since the beginning of Genesis, and the last record of God speaking to the prophets before Jesus’ birth was 400 years earlier.
Simeon was an old man by this time, and he must have struggled with whether he had heard God correctly. What God asks of you may sound unreasonable. He asks that we trust him when he gives no evidence of answering our prayer, when the situation seems hopeless and we are sure it is all over.
Simeon held on to faith, and when he held the infant Christ in his arms, God gave him another gift: a supernatural understanding of Jesus’ mission. “Lord, now You are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation which you have prepared before the face of all peoples, a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel” (Luke 2:29-32).
The Lord tells us, “Trust me.” Illogical? Yes, but for centuries the Lord has proven he is always on time. God always comes through in perfect Holy Ghost timing.
