06/27/2022
Today let’s think about a question that many have considered in the past, and is raised Biblically for us in the book of Romans. Our question today is this… Does God cease to be faithful just because we do? When we waver in our faith, or lose hope in a prayer, does this nullify God’s promises, or make His truth any less true? Does our lack of faithfulness change Him in any way?
“What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God?”
Romans 3:3 ESV
The Apostle Paul tells us in his letter to the Hebrews that Jesus does not change as the circumstances do, and just as this is true for Jesus, it is the same for God. A lie remains an abomination to Him regardless of the situation we find ourselves in when we tell it, and just as He loved us before He sent His Son to redeem us, He still loves the sinner today. People are just as faithless in this day and age as they were yesterday, and our Heavenly Father is just as loving, and desires to forgive us with the same determined sacrifice.
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
Hebrews 13:8 ESV
Yesterday my Pastor gave a wonderful example of a parent’s love when he told of a recent incident when he wouldn’t let his son do something that all of his son’s friends were being allowed to do. In his son’s moment of frustration and disappointment, he struck out by saying “You are the worst dad ever!” My children are grown, and are now raising kids of their own, but I can still hear those words coming from their mouths, and I am confident that they are hearing them from their own children today. But, my pastor didn’t stop loving his son at that moment; I didn’t stop living my children; and my kids will not stop loving theirs either. If this is true of our love’s strength, doesn’t it stand to reason that the strength of our Heavenly Father’s love eclipses this? And it does…
““For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
John 3:16 ESV
When Adam and Eve disobeyed God, and ate the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil He did something remarkable. Satan would have us believe that He stopped loving them, and turned against them. Satan would tell us that He drove them from the Garden of Eden out of anger, or disgust, but that isn’t what happened. Yes, He did pronounce a punishment, but then He made them clothing, and drove them from the Garden so that they wouldn’t eat from the tree of life, and live forever in their sin.
“And the Lord God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them.”
Genesis 3:21 ESV
“He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life.”
Genesis 3:24 ESV
We are never abandoned by God, but quite often people listen to the lies of the dark one, and fall into his trap by believing this is true. In reality, God loves us still, and waits for us, just as the father waited for his prodigal son to return home. Our actions, no matter how vile, do not change the character and faithfulness of God. He might punish us in some way, and grow weary, or disappointed, but His love remains, His promises remain intact, and He will not take back the calling or gifts He has given us.
“For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.”
Romans 11:29 ESV
Our lack of faithfulness has no impact on God’s. What we choose to do, might change us, but God’s character, and who He is, remains intact. In this way He is able to lovingly punish us, and pass perfect judgement on us.
“By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written, “That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged.””
Romans 3:4 ESV
This is the answer to the question we are contemplating today… our faithfulness, or lack thereof, has no ability to alter God’s faithfulness. He told Moses this, and tells us the same.
“The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.” And Moses quickly bowed his head toward the earth and worshiped.”
Exodus 34:6-8 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for being steadfast in your love, character, all things promised, and in everything you are. Thank you for loving us when we are unrepentant, and unworthy of your love. Thank you for calling us to come home when we have strayed, by calling us to Jesus. Help us father to be repentant of our sins, and to fall contrite before you. Teach us what it means to be true to your Word, and steadfast in our faith. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who is with us always. Praised be your name for every promise, every call, and each gift you bless us with, for they are true, and irrevocable. Merciful are you who makes a way for us to be forgiven our sins, and sufficient is your grace that flows from Jesus. Wash us clean in the blood of Christ, and seat us before you forevermore.
Rich Forbes