BUT THE PEOPLE WHO KNOW THEIR GOD...TURN YOUR EYES UPON JESUS -- HABAKKUK Lesson 16

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Hard times. Suffering. Times of judgment on a nation. Evil, corrupt leadership.  What's a Christian to do? What is the answer? Is it found in politics? Is it burying one's head in the sand hoping and praying everything will turn out okay as it has in the past? Is it rallying the patriotism of old? 

We've molded a god into our own image; we've replaced the God of Scripture with this idol of self. What should we expect? In a discussion I was having with someone close to me a couple of decades ago about judgment to come on our nation, this one I love said, "We're America! I fought with the strongest military in the world. It will never happen!" According to Scripture, passages like Romans 1, it has happened. The greatest military in all the world cannot stop or reverse the judgment of God against a nation. Even in the proud rebellion of unbelief and thoughts of invincibility, no one can thwart His hand. 

How is the believer to stand strong when life around them seems to be spinning out of control? Daniel 11 speaks about a time when the Antichrist will appear on the world's stage. No leadership in all of history has been this evil, this corrupt. How will believers in that day survive? Scripture tells us.

By smooth words he will turn to godlessness (pollute) those who act wickedly toward the covenant, but the people who know their God will display strength and take action. Those who have insight among the people will give understanding to the many; yet they will fall by sword and by flame, by captivity and by plunder for many days. (Daniel 11:32-33)

How does one stand in the face of adversity, persecution, and tumult--in days when wickedness seems to prevail over all the earth? There is only one way. By setting our feet upon a firm foundation of convictions based on the truth of God's Word. How do we develop these firm convictions that will hold us in the fiercest storm raging all around us? The way all faithful believers before us have done. Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  (Hebrews 12:1-2)

Like all disciplined athletes, we must have endurance developed in us. In the John MacArthur Study Bible it says: "Endurance is the steady determination to keep going, regardless of the temptation to slow down or give up. The 'race' set before the believer is an athletic metaphor of the faith-filled life as a demanding, grueling effort. The English word "agony" is derived from the Greek word used here." As we work out our salvation with fear and trembling, God promises to work in us for the sake of His glory and one day our own.

What do both of these passages in Daniel and Hebrews have in common? In the wicked days to come, it is the people who know their God who will display strength and take action. The author of Hebrew tells us believers are running a race that has been set before us. The only way we can finish the race is by fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith. He is our greatest example. That great cloud of witnesses--those who went before us who were found faithful--are our examples as well. The other common idea here is that standing firm in the midst of worldly chaos (even unto death) is our calling.  Jesus endured the cross, despising the shame for the joy set before Him. We must, too.

You say, how is that encouraging? American Christianity has not prepared most for this message. But it is the Gospel! As I said in my book, "It is Gospel 101." We are to deny ourselves, pick up our cross and follow Jesus--unto death. Daily we live in this world crucifying our flesh so that we might be more like Him.  'Jesus loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life,' is not the whole Gospel; therefore, it is not the Gospel at all. It's deceptive and damning.

Dear believer, have you asked yourself this question honestly? If martyrdom is in God's perfect plan for me, will I stand strong and faithful until the end? This world is not our home. Our perspective must always be from a view of eternity. 

In my greatest trials in life, some have said to me, "You have strong faith! I could never have gone through what you have gone through." Strong faith comes through trials. That faith does not originate in ourselves. It is the work of God in the believer as she humbly submits to the trials as His perfect plan for her life without ever knowing the reason for those trials. I tell women: God's grace is sufficient. If He calls you to walk through a trial, you can be certain He will be there with you in the fire.

What we need to know is our God! We have been studying Habakkuk. He has questioned God as to why He was not judging the wickedness of His own people. Why was there so much injustice in the land, and God seemed to be doing nothing about it? However, God's prophet was not prepared for the answer to come. God WOULD bring judgment, but not how Habakkuk thought it would come. Sometimes even the strongest believers forget we do not serve a God who is like us. God was going to send the wicked Chaldeans (far more evil than God's own nation) against the Israelites. Habakkuk had a difficult time wrapping his head around this; but how will he respond in the end? As we begin to look at Chapter 3 next time, we will see that the pattern with all believers who don't understand what God is doing in their trials is to submit to His will and look to Him--to ground themselves in what they know--the Truth of His Word and who He is. That is what makes men and women immovable and unshakeable. That is what forges mountain-moving faith. Once we stop demanding answers that belong only to God and get our focus on Him, we will see where the real value in our trials lead. He is the goal of all life!

We must look to Jesus, see Him and get to know Him in the pages of Scripture. This is not to perceive some sort of mental image or picture. It is to gain a knowledge and understanding of the truth about who He is. The lyrics to the first song I learned as a believer are true not only for believers but for unbelievers who are willing to look toward the only One who is able to save:

O soul are you weary and troubled. No light in the darkness you see. There's light for a look at the Savior and life  more abundant and free.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in his wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace. (Chorus)

His Word shall not fail you He promised. Believe Him and all will be well. Then go to a world that is dying, His perfect salvation to tell. 



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