VALLEY TREK
How about we take a trek through a life expanding valley as another Summer has finally arrived? I've been told this trip is quite difficult, and it has to be on foot. Preparations must be carefully made, and since some of the trip may be dangerous, we will need a rock-solid guide. Others who have traveled this route tell me I'll learn a great deal about myself by the journey's end. So...come along with me.
I have in hand the traveler's guide, a complete volume of directions, including pitfalls to expect along the way. As you probably have easily guessed, a pastor/preacher's guidebook is the bible. That means our guide is non other than Jesus
Christ. He has outlined the minimum requirements to be able to complete the journey. Very carefully consider the three major steps needed to conquer this walk.
The first step is belief. Almost every person in the physical world has some kind of belief. Every religion has a god, idol, or something on which they believe. Satan is also a believer, and can quote scripture. As a Christian, belief gets you nothing that other believers don't have, except you have accepted Christ's gift of salvation with a commitment by heart and mouth. This is the introduction to the "real thing." You can pray and expect answers and miracles. However, unless you are fine tuned to the next step, you may not get the result you desire. The path of belief narrows to the direction Christ sends us.
Belief in Christ is on the path that passes right by a pit that will claim those who have chosen to follow some other supreme being or object. Christ sacrificed Himself to cover our sins, and opened the door to eternal life. No one or nothing else has done that. He rose from the dead and will return to preside over the world.
Now the path gets more narrow, as be approach a very complex intersection. This is the crossroad of faiths. Nearly everyone who believes is quick to tell us they have "faith."
This seems to be a favorite claim by people who desire to easily convince you they are part of a special group. Faith is a term that is much overused. People say they have faith they will win a game, or complete a puzzle or problem. They also say they have faith to go with belief. Christian faith requires more than words. Let's examine how Christ explains faith and the manner to "weigh" it.
Matt. 17:20 gives us a measuring standard, "if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be
impossible for you." A mustard seed is very tiny. That means a small amount of faith must be pretty powerful, right? There is a "trick" here, because it is extremely difficult to concentrate and focus on something of consequence. Any doubt in your mind cancels out your faith. Prayers may not be answered because you have some degree of doubt in your mind. Faith is not just a word; it is a spiritual condition.
We've come this far on our walk through the valley, and now we need to listen to how we are prepared by our guide for the remainder of our walk. "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake." (Psalm 23, verses 1-3)
After this encouragement, Christ prepares us and guides us on our walk. (Palm 23: 4 through 6) "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare
a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever."
Friends, if you follow these steps in sincerity, you can expect not only safety, but prayers to be answered and miracles to occur. Belief and faith are validated through a full commitment to Christ through heart and soul. The spiritual world does not operate on
words alone, because that is for the physical world. The condition of your heart when you say the words determines your spiritual commitment.
Faith Walk Ministry is nondescript in size, but scripture has delivered miracles. Size of a congregation or individual oratory do not necessarily bring success. Your mouth may not always tell the truth, but you can't misrepresent your heart. When the Holy Spirit gives you a message or "nudges" you, God is telling you something. What you do about His message is His measure of your faith. James 2:20 warns us, "But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?"
There are many people, including church leaders and preachers, who profess they have seen or been part of miracles. Many people actually don't believe in miracles. There is good reason, because so many miracle claims are false. Claims of healing are sometimes
difficult to prove. If you practice Christianity as Christ teaches in the Four Gospels, you have probably discovered that generosity and compassion are frequently missing in the recipient of your good intentions.
This has happened many times to Faith Walk, but you should know that your generosity and help to others is recorded by God. You may feel betrayed and hurt when this happens. Take heart, friends, because if you are really committed to Christ, you have a blessing reserved in heaven for your effort. Some of these blessings may even come to you on earth. Herein we again see belief and faith right before our eyes. Matt. 10:16 says, in part,
"Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves."
Rev. Walbear
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