ultimate

 There comes a time in the life of every believer—as well as in the church—

  when God puts us to the ultimate test of faith. It’s the same test Israel

  faced on the wilderness side of the Jordan. What is this test?

  It is to look at all the dangers ahead—the giant issues facing us, the

  high walls of affliction, the principalities and powers that seek to

  destroy us—and to cast ourselves totally on God’s promises. The test is to

  commit ourselves to a lifetime of trust and confidence in his Word. It’s a

  commitment to believe that God is bigger than all our problems and

  enemies.

  Our heavenly Father isn’t looking for a faith that deals with one problem

  at a time. He’s looking for a lifetime faith, a lifelong commitment to

  believe him for the impossible. This kind of faith brings a calm and rest

  to our soul, no matter what our situation. And we have this calm because

  we’ve settled once and for all, “My God is bigger. He is able to bring me

  out of any and all afflictions.”

  Our Lord is loving and longsuffering, but he won’t allow his people to

  dwell in unbelief. You may have been tested time after time and now the

  time has come for you to make a decision. God wants faith that endures the

  ultimate test, a faith that won’t allow anything to shake you from trust

  and confidence in his faithfulness.

  There is so much theology surrounding the topic of faith. Simply put, we

  can’t conjure it up. We can’t create it by repeating, “I believe, I really

  believe….” No, faith is a commitment we make to obey God. Obedience

  reflects belief.

  As Israel faced Jericho, the people were told not to say a word, but

  simply to march. These faithful believers didn’t whisper to themselves,

  “Help me to believe, Lord. I so want to believe.” No, they were focused on

  the one thing God asked of them: to obey his Word and go forward.

  That is faith. It means setting your heart to obey all that is written in

  God’s Word, without questioning it or taking it lightly. And we know that

  if our hearts are determined to obey, God will make sure his Word to us is

  clear, without confusion. Moreover, if he commands us to do something,

  he’ll supply us with the power and strength to obey: “Let the weak say, I

  am strong” (Joel 3:10). “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and

  in the power of his might” (Ephesians 6:10).