The Mysterious Box of Faith

Each time we make a decision, we exercise our faith. "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Heb 11:1). The result of the decision we choose will turn out either as we expected or it turns out completely to the reverse of our liking. Is faith then something likened to those ever-popular games that are played on television? Here the participant would be asked a difficult question — to take the money and go home, or to open the mysterious box. This box may contain far more than the prize available on hand for the gamer or it contains only a bar of chocolate. This is exciting as the spectators would be prompting, shouting out the decision that the gamer should take. Is this also an exercise of faith? Many people think that having faith in God is just like the game show. We are asked to stake everything on a massive leap in the dark and hoping against hope that there is God out there who will catch us.

Abraham's faith was not like that. His faith was not a blind faith. If it had been, he would have despaired or even greatly depressed when he saw the enormity of the difficulties that he stood between the things promised by God. Abraham continued to trust God knowing that his future was controlled by God and not by chance as in the case of the game show. God reveals to us, and we respond to Him trusting, taking Him at His word. "Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away" (Luke 21:33).

When God called Abraham out of the Ur of Chaldees, he did not know where he would be going but Abraham knew that God would direct his ways and lead him to a far better place. He went to Egypt (which was not where God wanted him to go). Upon realizing his mistake, he turned back to square one. He went back to Negev (Gen 13:1) where he was when he made the wrong decision to go down to Egypt. From there, he pitched his tent. This was where he originally built an altar (Gen 12:8). There he called on the name of the Lord, just as he had on an earlier occasion (Gen 13:4, 12:8).

What kind of faith do you have? Does failure drive you away from God or does it drive you back to square one where your faith was, as it were "unshakable"? Would you go back where you started — back to the altar and place of sacrifice, so that you can call on the name of the Lord? The builders of the Tower of Babel depended on human strength and wanted to reach heaven on their own. When the building fell apart the faith of the builders collapsed too. They did not repent or called upon the name of the Lord. This is a big contrast between the faith of Abraham and that of these builders. "The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand (Ps 37:23–24). Just like anyone else, we fail at times. The difference is that when we fail, we should not fall. We ought to return to the Lord in repentance, calling on His name and seeking forgiveness, just as Abraham did.

When Abraham's servants quarrelled with those of his nephew, Lot's (during the time of great prosperity), they decided to split. Abraham's faith in God led him to an act of almost incredible generosity. He allowed Lot to have the first choice. The ability to sacrifice is a good measure of one's faith in God. Lot started out by pitching his tent toward Sodom (Gen 13:12). Soon he lived in Sodom (Gen 14:12). Not long after, "Lot sat in the gate of Sodom" (Gen 19:1). He was an influential person in this wicked city and his daughters married the inhabitants there (Gen 19:14). It is so dangerous to dance around the border and think that we would never be sucked into the world of sin. Unless we walk with God in faith, our joyful fellowship with Him would end sooner than we think. The scriptures record to show us how easily it was for Lot to be sucked by the whirlpool of sin. Remember that Lot was a witness to his uncle's sacrifice and walk with God before he departed to Sodom.

In contrast, Abraham was rewarded with a renewed promise. The one who refused to live by sight was now told to lift up his eyes and look in all directions. All that Abraham could see would be his and his offspring's who would be as plenty as the dust of the earth (Gen 13:14–17). Our hope is on higher ground beyond, in heaven. We have no choice but to leave this earth. When you grow older, you realize that your youth was very short that took place "not very long ago". By faith, Abraham looked beyond. "For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God" ( Heb 11:10). We are reminded again in 1 Corinthians 15:19 "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable."

In a way, Lot "took the money" because he decided with his eyes focused on the things that he could see. Abraham, on the other hand, "opened the box." He decided with faith focused on things that God promised. He knew who controlled the contents of the box. Lot's decision led to a life of regret whereas Abraham's decision led to a life of rejoicing and blessings beyond his own expectations.

Adapted from Calvary Jurong BPC Encouragement Page 10 Jun 2007.
Written by Elder Foong Kon Yu.