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The Genuineness Of Your Faith

We are now living in the midst of a global pandemic. Sometimes, it is very easy to become depressed and hopeless as the coronavirus continues to spread wider around the world, and last longer for possibly a few years.

I believe now is a good time for us to look back into recent history, and learn some lessons of faith from the people of God.

Before the Second World War, there were many Jews in Europe. They had lived there for many generations and centuries. But during the invasion of the Nazis, the Jewish people were forcefully removed from their lovely homes by the German soldiers and their collaborators.

All their worldly goods, possessions, properties, treasures and valuables were confiscated from them. They were then deported to ghettos and concentration camps. Arriving there, they were helpless and unarmed, being confined into very poor living spaces and conditions that were miserable, enclosed, clamped, dirty, unhealthy and unsanitary. Their families were brutally separated and persecuted. And most of them were eventually massacred.

In those terrible years, the people of God endeavored to preserve their humanity and dignity despite the insurmountable and overwhelming circumstances. Every single day, they had to fight a good fight to keep their sanity, and maintain a livelihood in order to survive. They would wash up and clean themselves daily even though water was rationed and scarce. If fallen sick or ill, they would seek to get well. They could not just give up hope and die!

They made every effort to preserve their identities, not just as human beings but also as the chosen people of God. They made every attempt to maintain their family life, faith, cultures and traditions. By not losing their trust and hope in God, they retained their self-respect and sense of worth, distinctively unique for their own existence. A hope that would overcome even death. Even if they perish, they perish in hope! They never let go of God!

During that period of great trials and tribulations, the Jews adopted a new concept of living called the "sanctification of life." It was created to "outlive" in the ghettos and concentration camps. What it sought to achieve was to do everything possible to foil the Nazis’ attempts to destroy the Jewish people as a community and as individuals.

During the Holocaust, there were various kinds of resistance. Some were armed, using weapons and planning attacks against the Nazis. But most of them were unarmed by drawing their inner strengths to survive. They had a spiritual resistance. They continued to pray to God. They continued to praise and worship the Lord. They even set up underground schools in the ghettos and concentration camps. They meditated in the Word of God day and night. They taught their children in the ways of the Lord! They wrote songs in secret, and had musical activities. They continued to draw and paint. They continued to write and record the daily events in their journals and diaries.

Though the Jews were forbidden to own any cameras throughout Eastern Europe, some Jewish photographers had kept theirs secretly. They were hired by the Jewish Council to photograph official documents, and to take photos of the ghetto activities. Some of them were able to record in secret the terrible conditions and happenings that took place in the ghettos. Those photos were not about beautiful flowers, wonderful landscapes, breathtaking natures or majestic still pictures. They depicted the horrors, brutalities, persecutions, tragedies and deaths. Later they became a testimony and witness for all generations to come. They also served as a message and warning for themselves that the same catastrophic events would not happen and be repeated again in the future!

By maintaining their faith and hope in God, the Jewish people suffered great pains and agonies, but they overcame their own fears and terrors as they did their utmost to continue living day by day. Their strength came not by physical might but by spiritual power from above!

The Jews refused to do what the Nazis compelled them to do, which was simply to give up hope and die. Their instinct for physical survival as a community was strong. Even though food was very scarce, they set up mutual-aid societies and house committees to procure and share whatever little food they had.

Most of them resisted the inclination to think only of and for themselves. Every small and little deed done for others was important. In helping others, most Jews in the ghettos and concentration camps maintained their moral dignity until the very end. They smuggled food and other necessities such as medications for others in need. They shared their meagre rations with those who were more needy. They covered up for sick persons at roll calls by doing works or duties on their behalf. The kinship and closeness of the Jewish communities played an important part in helping them to endure throughout the Holocaust! Those who helped others managed to survive and live longer!

Jeremiah 29:4-14
4 Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all who were carried away captive, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem to Babylon:
5 Build houses and dwell in them; plant gardens and eat their fruit.
6 Take wives and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, so that they may bear sons and daughters—that you may be increased there, and not diminished.
7 And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the LORD for it; for in its peace you will have peace.
8 For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not let your prophets and your diviners who are in your midst deceive you, nor listen to your dreams which you cause to be dreamed.
9 For they prophesy falsely to you in My name; I have not sent them, says the LORD.
10 For thus says the LORD: After seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you and perform My good word toward you, and cause you to return to this place.
11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
12 Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.
13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.
14 I will be found by you, says the LORD, and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, says the LORD, and I will bring you to the place from which I cause you to be carried away captive.

When the Jews were exiled to Babylon for 70 years, they faced severe persecutions, trials and tribulations. In the midst of very abnormal circumstances, they had to learn how to live and adjust to a new normal life in a very pagan nation! The LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, sent this message to all the captives He has exiled to Babylon from Jerusalem:

  • Build homes and plan to stay.
  • Plant vineyards, for you will be there many years.
  • Marry and have children, and then find mates for them and have many grandchildren.
  • Multiply! Don’t dwindle away!
  • And work for the peace and prosperity of Babylon. Pray for her, for if Babylon has peace, so will you.
  • Don’t let the false prophets and mediums who are there among you fool you.
  • Don’t listen to the dreams that they invent, or they prophesy lies in My name. I have not sent them.
  • The truth is this: You will be in Babylon for seventy years.
  • But then I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised and bring you home again.
  • For I know the plans I have for you. They are plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
  • In those days when you pray, I will listen.
  • You will find Me when you seek Me, if you truly and earnestly look for Me.
  • Yes, I will be found by you, and I will end your slavery and restore you again.
  • I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and bring you back home again to your own land.

Today, many Christians believe that they are exempted from trials and tribulations. Most of the sermons preached are about prosperity, health, wealth, power and easy living! Just blessings and more blessings! Supernatural interventions, miracles, signs and wonders! No sufferings and no pains! As a result, many Christians today are self-seeking, self-centred and very materialistic!

However, those teachings are far from the truth! The truth is that as we get closer to Christ, we will experience more trials and tribulations.

2 Timothy 3:12
Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

God allows trials and tribulations into our life to test the genuineness of our faith. Not to destroy our faith but to prove whether our faith is genuine.

1 Peter 1:3-12
A Heavenly Inheritance
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials,
7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,
8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
9 receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.
10 Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you,
11 searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.
12 To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into.

At all times, both good and bad, we will give honor and glory to our Father in heaven. We will never cease to praise, worship and love the Lord with all our heart, with all our soul, and with all our strength. We will always remember His boundless love and mercy that He has given us by sending His Son Jesus Christ. Because of His death and resurrection, our sins are forgiven. And we are given the privilege and blessing to be born again. Now we are members of God’s own family.

Because Christ rose again from the dead, we can now live in a living hope that will last throughout eternity. God has reserved this priceless gift of eternal life for all His children. It is kept in heaven for us, pure and undefiled, beyond the influence of change, contamination and decay. By His mighty power, our Father in heaven will ensure that we get there safely to receive it because we trust and hope in Him. It will be revealed in the last days for all to see.

Therefore, we can rejoice and be truly glad! There is an unspeakable joy ahead of us, even though the going is rough and tough for a while here on earth.

These trials are the tests of our faith, seeing whether or not it is strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests gold and purifies it. All the dross is thoroughly purged away, and all the impurities are removed. Over and over again, God will refine our hearts till we are pure and holy in Christ! Our faith is far more precious to God than physical gold. If our faith remains strong after being tried in the fiery furnaces, it will bring praise and glory and honor to our Lord on the day of His return.

We love the Lord even though we have never seen Him. We believe and trust in the Lord even though at times things go beyond our understanding and comprehension. Now even in the midst of trials and tribulations, we are blessed with this inexpressible joy that comes from heaven itself. And our reward for trusting Him will be the salvation of our souls.

This salvation was something the prophets did not fully understand. Though they wrote about it, they had many questions as to what it was really all about. They wondered about what the Holy Spirit within them was saying, for He told them to write down the events which, since then, have happened to Christ: His sufferings, and then His great glories afterwards. And they wondered when and to whom all this would happen. They were finally told that these things would not occur during their lifetimes, but many years later, during ours.

And now at last, this Good News has been plainly proclaimed to all of us. It was preached to us in the power of the same Spirit who spoke to them. It is so wonderful that even the angels in heaven would desire to know more about it.

1 Peter 3:13-17
13 And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good?
14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.”
15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;
16 having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.
17 For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

There are some sufferings and persecutions that are for the right reasons, but there are also those for the wrong reasons. Some people are persecuted because they do evil deeds by joining a riot, a rebellion, a cult group, a false prophecy club, a fake news community or a notorious gang! But if we suffer for righteousness' sake, we are blessed, and we should not be afraid or troubled. It is better to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

Romans 5:1-5
Faith Triumphs in Trouble
1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance;
4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope.
5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Now, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we can have true peace with Him because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. For because of our faith in Christ, He has brought us into this grace where we now stand, and we can confidently and joyfully look forward to actually becoming all that God has desired us to be.

We can rejoice too even when we run into trials and tribulations, for we know that they are good for us. They will help and teach us how to be patient. And patience develops strength of character in us until our hope and faith are finally strong and steady in Christ. It helps us to trust God more each day. As we do so daily, we are able to hold our heads high no matter what happens to us. God has given us a living hope that will not disappoint.

God has given us His Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His love. And we are able to share His agape love with others by helping them through rough and tough times. We will sing, with or without music, alone or with a few others. We will praise and worship God. We will pray. We will give thanks. We will read our Bibles. We will write. We will call and exhort others. We will proclaim the Good News. We will encourage one another. We will care and share by communicating genuinely the love of God with others! For we are also the people of God!

Do we have genuine faith in God? Will our faith pass the fiery tests of the furnaces? Will our faith hope even in trials and tribulations? Will our faith survive and live even in delays, distresses, disappointments, disasters and diseases? Will our faith in God grow stronger day by day? Will our faith overcome and triumph till the very end?

If interested, please view this song: How Long Has It Been


Written on: 4 August 2020