10/05/2022
There is a saying we use when someone gets so focused on the details of a thing that they can’t see the bigger picture; we say “They can’t see the forest for the trees”. Well, something similar can happen to us as we pursue our faith, but in a very different way. Our faith, unlike things in the world, is all about our individual faiths, all about the details, the trees, and very seldom about the forests. One of Satan’s greatest ploys is to distract us from pursuing our own faith by convincing us that the world’s salvation, predicaments, or pleasures, should be our primary focus. Have we fallen victim to him in this way?
“Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.””
Genesis 3:1, 4-5 ESV
We are distracted from the real focus of our faith by many larger immaterial “forests” such as how our government is doing unfaithful things, or the various churches are doing this or that, just as Eve was distracted when she was made to look at a bigger picture of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Satan turned her away from her personal responsibility, and her individual walk of faith, and in so doing, she lost sight of the one thing that would have saved her… her personal obedience to God’s command.
“So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.”
Genesis 3:6 ESV
Throughout history many terrible things have occurred in the name of religion as men and women of faith have lost focus on their own personal salvation, and turned towards saving the “forests”, by becoming more concerned with the faith of governments, the direction that men have taken within the overarching Church, and many other larger pictures. Take “the law” for instance… when obeying “the law” became its purpose, and not obeying God through the law, then all was lost. Suddenly the Jewish faith became “the law”, and God became secondary to it.
“Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God.”
Romans 3:19 ESV
Are we doing the same thing today by losing sight of our faith as we become entangled in the problems and “the laws” of the world? Has Satan distracted us like he did Eve, and by misdirection led us away from the one thing that will save us… the pursuit of our own personal faith, and salvation?
“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”
Philippians 2:12-13 ESV
If we each follow God’s Word, and are obedient to His Commandments, and if every one of us believes in Jesus Christ, and has faith in Him as the Son of God, then we will individually receive God’s eternal promise, but no government, no mighty church, or any of the other “forests” can save us… only our very personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and our Heavenly Father, can do that. Focus then on them. Faith is an individual pursuit, and all else will lead us away from that, but just as certainly, the combined power of our individual faiths will come together at judgement to become a true forest that will please our Father.
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Romans 12:2 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for loving each one of us, and leading us into relationship with you. Thank you for showing us that no “forest” can save us, only our own roots as they become intertwined with those of Jesus Christ, and yours. Help us Lord to see that it is not the church or our government that saves us, but our relationship with you alone. Protect us Father from evil by shielding us from the false importance in the various “forests” that Satan would have us believe in as he diverts us from the way we should be walking. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who saves us one at a time through our individual belief and faith. Praised be your name for our faith that is strengthened by tribulation, even those sufferings that are brought on by governments, churches, and other soulless entities. Merciful are you who awakens us to walk each day with you, and to see the true foundation of our faith, and its cornerstone; Jesus. Your grace is sufficient for us, but most importantly for each of us. Wash us with the blood of Christ, and cleanse each of us of sin. On the day of judgement see the image of your Son Jesus on each of our faces, and call us your children and pronounce us worthy of eternity in your presence. Let Jesus claim us, His Bride, built not of “forests”, but of trees that are gathered together before Him to form the Church… the new forest of the faithful.
“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.”
1 John 2:15-16 ESV
Rich Forbes