I meet many people that say that they are trusting in God for the eternal salvation of their souls. In fact, many seem to think that the whole of the gospel is to get someone to just trust in Jesus to save their souls from the penalty of their sins. However, the more I read the scriptures, and the more I walk with the LORD, the more I clearly see that God wants us to trust in HIM for everything in our life (both in this world, and in the world to come). It is easy for someone who doesn't fully know what his soul is and is nowhere near the gates of death to calmly say that he trusts in the LORD for the salvation of his soul; but let us not look at such invisible things first and assume that we have such trust in the most High; rather let us look at the simple things in one's life, and see if indeed we trust in the LORD. When Christ was here in the flesh on the earth, he never asked people to pray a prayer to get assurance of their soul, but he did command people to leave their jobs and follow HIM. If Christ asked you to resign from your job and follow HIM today, would you trust in HIM enough to provide for you and actually resign from your job? Do you trust HIM? When Christ was here on the earth he commanded certain people to leave their homes and country and follow him to preach the gospel; if Jesus asked you today to leave your home and land and follow him to go and preach the gospel in an unknown land, would you trust HIM enough to actually do it? Do you trust HIM? When Christ was here in the flesh he led people for days without food and water out into the wilderness, just leaving society and stresses behind to seek the kingdom of God and hear more and more about his Father in heaven; if Jesus led you out away from everything and everyone just to go deeper and deeper into HIM and his word with no immediate guarantee of food, would you trust HIM enough to just go by faith and listen to HIM? Do you trust HIM? When Jesus was here he once told his disciples to go into town and follow some key signs that he gave them until they reached a man with a donkey that they would need and tell the owner that the Master had need of his animal. If the LORD sent you randomly into a town or city and directed you by some key signs to approach someone who you've never met nor know and speak to HIM on behalf of HIM, do you trust HIM enough to go in faith and do it? Do you trust HIM?

Again, it's easy to say that we trust the LORD for invisible things that are afar off (and truly, we must learn to trust HIM indeed for the invisible things that afar off...), but the proof of whether or not we truly trust HIM or not is in what we do with HIS commands and leading of HIS Spirit TODAY in the little things. Jesus said that those who are FAITHFUL (full of faith, trusting) in least, will be FAITHFUL in much. Are we indeed willing to allow the LORD to actually LEAD us day-by-day? Are we close enough to HIM, surrendered enough, spiritually discerning enough to be led by him and sent by him to fulfill his will? Or are we too filled with the cares of this life, the deceitfulness and covetousness of riches and other things, and the lusts and appetites of the flesh to even hear his voice? May we not deceive ourselves into thinking that we are trusting God for some great big thing, but unwilling to obey HIM in the little things. Let Naaman the Syrian be a reminder to all of us....

Remember the rich young ruler. Truly, he was convinced that he did indeed trust in God. He believed he was trusting in the way of God for the salvation of his soul. Clearly his eternal salvation was something of such importance in his mind that when he had the opportunity to meet with and speak to Jesus that was the thing he immediately asked about. This was not an outwardly carnal selfish man consumed with just making money and living for self. He probably attended the synagogues faithfully, he certainly knew the law of God, and he probably sought to be a worshipper of the One true and living God. And yet, after he speaks with Jesus, Jesus does not respond by saying that he just needs to trust in HIM and believe that he is about to be the propitiation for his sins and to just trust in HIM for his eternal salvation. Such words would have had no power in that man's heart. Because even though he outwardly thought he was trusting God and doing God's will; Jesus saw deep into the depths of his heart and saw where his true trust was: in the power of his riches.

Let's be honest, on this earth, riches have power to get things done (in the short-term). And so it is so easy for people who have decent money (which much of the West does have), to claim to trust in Christ, but deep down, there go to gut-instinct is to rely on the money they have and it's power to solve their problems.

But we are commanded by God to TRUST in the LORD with ALL our hearts! We are commanded to not lean to our own understanding or to trust in uncertain riches; but rather we are to TRUST in the LORD and acknowledge HIM in EVERY THING and in every step of our life. And the promise HE makes is that HE WILL DIRECT our paths. When you get hungry, is your immediate move just to grab food and eat, or do you acknowledge the LORD first? When you or your child get sick, is your immediate reaction to just grab medicine and/or call the doctor, or do you acknowledge the LORD first and ask for his guidance and grace? When you go to work in the morning, do you just proceed with your duties and do what you know how to do, or do you first seek the LORD to be with you and fill you to fulfill your duties faithfully as unto HIM and do his will? When someone says something that hurts you or offends you (especially someone close to you), what is your immediate reaction?; to hide, protect yourself, defend yourself, make a joke, etc....? Or do you ask the LORD for his wisdom and grace in how you should handle the pain and/or offence?

Let us not TRUST HIM in word only, but by HIS grace, let us TRUST HIM in deed and in truth! For he is faithful indeed. And the more we trust HIM, the more we find how Wonderful and Faithful and True HE is. Please, learn to bring yourself before HIM, and seek HIM, and commit everything into HIS hands, and then learn to obey HIS commands and allow HIM to lead you and prepare you and use you for HIS glory and HIS honour.

Sometimes we thought we were trusting in the LORD, only to find out later (after the Lord's mercy to expose our unbelief and pride and trust in ourselves and others) that we weren't actually trusting in HIM at all; that we were walking according to men in the flesh. May we be willing to sell all that we have and give it to the poor if that's what it will take to free our hearts to be able to actually HEAR HIS VOICE and TRUST IN HIM with all our hearts. For truly, even the things that seem to be gain to us, we must learn to count loss for the excellency of knowing and believing in HIM.

Do you TRUST HIM? May the LORD have mercy upon us and upon all his people, to be delivered from all pride and ungodly fear and unbelief, so that we might indeed trust in the LORD.

Blessings and love,

Brother Adam

Jer 17:5  Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.

Jer 17:6  For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited.

Jer 17:7  Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.

Jer 17:8  For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.

Isa 26:2  Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in.

Isa 26:3  Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

Isa 26:4  Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength: