Sept 10 2023

1. As a Christian, we exist in a space between our faith and the reality of everyday life. Through faith, we come to know Jesus Christ and His deeds for us, striving to align our daily actions with God's plan. Simultaneously, we face the practical aspects of life where we must sustain ourselves by eating, working, and maintaining our health through exercise. This is why I refer to Christians as individuals navigating the intersection of faith and reality. Being in this state implies the need to comprehend both faith and reality. Through faith, we can tangibly experience God's love in our daily lives. Our reality becomes God's domain when we have faith in Jesus. Therefore, grasping God's love begins with understanding faith and then living our lives in accordance with His love in the real world.

Nevertheless, living a life of faith on Earth is undeniably challenging. We encounter numerous trials and temptations along our journey as Christians, often struggling to fully grasp what it means to follow Jesus. Thus, we require examples to guide us in living as Christians and experiencing God's love. Last week, during my prayers, I felt God leading me to explore the Bible for examples of faith journeys. I believe that these biblical stories will illuminate how we can maintain faith in Jesus and live out our faith in practical ways. The first example I've chosen to study is the life of Abraham, as depicted in the book of Genesis.

Genesis 12:1–3 (NKJV)

Now the Lord had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, From your family And from your father’s house, To a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

2. When we read this part, it appears that God's initial call to Abram is recounted in the Bible. This is indeed the literal truth. God reached out to Abram before Abram actively sought a connection with God. At the time of God's call, Abram did not have prior knowledge of God. However, God approached Abram and made a promise to him. In biblical terms, this promise is referred to as a "covenant," signifying a powerful and unbreakable commitment between God and people. To put it simply, if Abram follows God's call and path, God will bless him and lead him to become a great nation in the world. At this juncture, a question may arise: why did God call Abram when Abram hadn't initially sought God? A Korean pastor addressed this in his book titled "Enthusiasm of God." According to him, God's motivation for calling Abram and establishing a covenant to save the world was rooted in God's enthusiasm, not because of anything specific about Abram. This assertion holds true, for God's desire to save the world and be with His people led Him to select Abram and form a covenant with him. Therefore, the covenant of God wasn't the result of human efforts but stemmed from God's fervor.

3. This pattern helps us understand why God sent His only Son to us. It wasn't because humans asked for it or prayed for it. God didn't make the decision to send His only Son based on human requests or efforts. Instead, it happened because of God's timing and love. At the right moment, God sent His Son to save us.

John 3:16 AMP

For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.

Galatians 4:4–5 NLT

But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children.

4. Just as God called Abram out of His enthusiasm, He sent His Son out of His love and at His appointed time. This shows us that God's covenant cannot be fulfilled through human efforts. Some pastors discuss the end of times, emphasizing the need for preparedness. They advise having strong faith and readiness to face the end of days. However, we can't predict exactly when Jesus will return, even though we may recognize the signs of the last days. That's because only God knows, and He will execute His plan in His own timing. One thing is certain: we can prepare for the end times through faith in Jesus Christ. Here, faith isn't merely intellectual agreement with knowledge. It involves having a deep understanding of Jesus Christ, accepting Him as our Lord and Savior, and faithfully following His teachings with the knowledge and acceptance we possess. This is the sole way to ready ourselves for the last days.

Matthew 7:21–23 NIV

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

Luke 11:28 NKJV

But He said, “More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”

When Jesus removed a demon from a man, some religious leaders, including the Pharisees, talked about it. They didn't want to believe that Jesus was their Messiah. They had no faith in Jesus, so they discussed this. Jesus told them that those who hear God's word and follow it are even more blessed.

5. When God called Abram, he didn't have a specific destination in mind. God didn't instruct him to go to the Promised Land. Instead, God simply said that if he followed Him, he would become a source of blessings. God's words didn't provide a clear path or direction for achieving these blessings. This was because God Himself is the path to blessings; God is His own way. Since God would be both Abram's path and the source of his blessings, Abram didn't need to worry about the details. That's why he could wholeheartedly follow God's call and subsequently experienced God's way and blessings in his life.

Hebrews 11:8–10 NLT

It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going. And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith—for he was like a foreigner, living in tents. And so did Isaac and Jacob, who inherited the same promise. Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God.

6. When I decided to move to Canada, something unusual happened back in Korea. I had a desire to join my friend's church because they were looking for a youth pastor, and my friend wanted me to be a part of their team. I made the decision and was accepted for the role. However, the day before my first Sunday at the church, the senior pastor called me and explained that due to financial constraints, they couldn't hire me. It was an unexpected turn of events, and it wasn't a decision made by the entire church but rather the pastor's personal choice. This upset the elders and church members. Despite the sudden job loss, I remained calm. I went back home and shared the news with my wife. Together, we prayed and decided to go to a morning movie because the tickets were cheaper at that time. After a few days, my wife suggested that we consider moving to a foreign country to study English to prepare our missionary journey. We began praying about it and started researching different countries. We didn't have a clear direction, and God hadn't revealed where we should go.

7. I discovered that Calgary would be a suitable choice for us due to its benefits for international students. Additionally, I read several books about Canadian missionaries who worked in Korea between 1890 and 1945. Some of these missionaries established hospitals and universities, which played a significant role in helping my country overcome its challenges. This inspired me to learn more about the Canadian perspective and mindset, leading to our decision to move to Canada. In 2009, when our child Choah was born, my wife's parents visited Calgary in 2010. During their visit, my father-in-law showed us his old diary. Surprisingly, he had visited Calgary in the late 1980s and had attended Calgary Korean Baptist Church. In his diary, he wrote about Canada and Calgary being wonderful places to live, expressing his hope that one of his children would eventually reside here.

The church my father-in-law had visited back then was the same church where I served as a youth pastor in 2010. It was a remarkable coincidence that he had returned to the same place he had written about in his journal, after 30 years. When I read Genesis 12:1-3, which details Abram's journey of faith, it reminded me of my own spiritual journey. I could relate to Abram because it seemed like he went through a similar experience as I did. He didn't have a clear destination, much like I didn't at certain points in my life. It's possible that Abram, like me, drew inspiration from his father's journey and desired to continue what his father had started.

Genesis 11:31–32 NKJV

And Terah took his son Abram and his grandson Lot, the son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, his son Abram’s wife, and they went out with them from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to the land of Canaan; and they came to Haran and dwelt there. So the days of Terah were two hundred and five years, and Terah died in Haran.

8. Abram's father, Terah, had already embarked on a journey from their homeland to the land of Canaan before Abram set out. However, for some reasons, Terah halted his journey in Haran and decided to settle there. The exact duration of their stay in Haran is unknown. However, when God called Abram, he felt a strong urge to resume the journey, and it's likely that he drew inspiration from his father's earlier attempt to reach Canaan, considering the absence of tools like Google in Abram's time. From this moment onward, Abram began to encounter God in his life. Prior to knowing and experiencing God, he was a pagan who had no knowledge of God and no inclination to seek Him because God was not his god. However, Abram went on to become the father of nations and a shining example of faith. When he embarked on his journey, Abram didn't demand detailed information, conduct extensive research, or set a specific direction. Instead, he held steadfast faith in God because he believed that God was both his guiding path and destination. He embraced God as the source of his blessings and the sustainer of his life.

Psalm 23 (M:BCL)

God, my shepherd! I don’t need a thing. You have bedded me down in lush meadows, you find me quiet pools to drink from. True to your word, you let me catch my breath and send me in the right direction. Even when the way goes through Death Valley, I’m not afraid when you walk at my side.

Your trusty shepherd’s crook makes me feel secure. You serve me a six-course dinner right in front of my enemies. You revive my drooping head; my cup brims with blessing. Your beauty and love chase after me every day of my life. I’m back home in the house of God for the rest of my life.

9. Experiencing God isn't about witnessing His actions; it's about connecting with God Himself. It's not just about knowing facts about God; it's about developing a deep friendship with Him. We can't become God's friends through our own efforts or wishes. It's when God reaches out to us and grants us faith that we can truly be His friends and follow His path, much like Abram did. We're grateful that God has chosen to be with us – Immanuel, God is with us! We give thanks to the Lord because God loved us first and called us with the same passion He used to call Abram. Let's walk in His footsteps and continue to listen to His guidance. He is our benevolent God, and we belong to Him.