“Even he [the judge in the parable] rendered a just decision in the end. So don’t you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?””
Luke 18:7-8 NLT
In the beginning, GOD provided clear instructions to Adam. When Adam decided to go against that instruction, GOD’s response was, “where are you?”
Have you ever considered for a moment that this is the display of what happens with our faith. As long as Adam followed the instruction of the LORD, he displayed faith. When Adam did not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, this behavior was the by product of his faith in GOD. His behavior aligned with what was said because what GOD says is fact! When he heeded to the suggestions of the adversary, faith was diminished and his behavior was then in misalignment with GOD’s truth. The result was disastrous and had impact for generations.
There are 3 things that the LORD brought to my attention from this story:
1. Faith is my connector to GOD. The Bible tells us that without faith, it is impossible to please GOD. We can see in the story of Adam that the maintaining of faith is what allowed Adam to have dominion. Adam could move in his dominion to operate daily on the earth because faith in GOD’s word kept him connected. We see this when Adam is able to move in that connection by naming all of the animals. Following an act that displayed unbelief, GOD asks where are you? Isn’t it interesting that when we feel the pressures of life or are waiting on an answer to prayer, we ask GOD where HE is. Could it be that GOD is asking where are we? When JESUS was on the earth, HE was able in real time to name when people were operating in unbelief. We see it when Peter walks on the water, he moved his faith from GOD’s word and placed it on circumstances. This is why we have the good fight of faith. Because our flesh is at war with our spirit about which report we are going to believe. Hold fast to faith so GOD doesn’t wonder where you are
2. My faith impacts others: My actions according to faith don’t only matter for me but for those connected to me. This is not to suggest you are carrying the burden for others (because we are to give that to GOD) but rather that your faith walk has impact because it is how they build their faith, see GOD’s power, and come to believe in GOD.
3. Faith is built: Even in the life of Adam, we can see how faith is built in everyday dominion. Adam named the animals, he experienced woman being taken out of his ribs, and HE communed with GOD regularly. Often times, we see faith as the operation of believing for a “big” thing, a miracle, or an intervention when we are in a crisis. Does it take faith for these things? Yes. However, the daily acts of faith to walk with GOD cannot be neglected. In connecting, pursuing, and believing GOD for our daily bread, we begin to see HIM as our provider all the time which allows for “bigger” and “emergency” situations to be entered with more ease because we see the result of faith everyday.