Page 71 - The Gate and the Way

Hebrews 11:17
By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac...

It requires confidence in the faithfulness of Yahweh for a man to obey God when He
directs him to some painful course that involves sacrifice and sorrow. A man must believe
that Yahweh has his best interests at heart and will cause all things to work together for
good. Though Yahweh should lead the man down an afflicted path, the man must trust the
One who is guiding him, believing that God has all wisdom and power, and is motivated by
a perfect love.
There is no more profound act of worship than for a man to demonstrate great
confidence in the goodness and faithfulness of Yahweh. Yahweh is pleased by man’s trust
in Him.

Hebrews 11:6
Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe
that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

The apostle Peter came to understand the value Yahweh places upon the faith of His
saints. He wrote:

I Peter 1:6-7
In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have
been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious
than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in
praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Yahshua Christ...

Peter speaks here of “the proof of your faith.” In the churches there are many songs
sung where people declare their faith and trust in Yahweh. There are also many sermons
given and confessions uttered whereby men and women declare their trust in God. Words,
however, are not proof. A man can speak forth things which are not reality in his life. Let
the man be tested to an extreme degree; let his own life, or the life of those he loves be put
on the line, then it will be proven whether he truly has faith in Yahweh.
Peter states that the proof of our faith is “more precious than gold which is
perishable.” To whom is man’s faith precious? Is it not Yahweh that Peter has in mind?
Yahweh finds faith to be an exceedingly valuable thing. As Paul said, “without faith it is
impossible to please God.” Faith, an active and practical trust in the goodness and
trustworthiness of God, is an exceedingly precious thing in the eyes of Yahweh.
Peter compares faith to gold. Gold is valuable for many reasons. Perhaps the greatest
driver of the value of gold is its scarceness. If gold were as common as coal that is mined by
the train loads its value would not be much. Faith is similar to gold in this aspect. Faith is
uncommon. How many men in Abraham’s day would have manifested the faith of that
man? How many men today have this kind of faith?
Peter also mentions that gold must be refined by fire. Our faith is proven and made
pure through fiery trials as we set our hope and trust in God. The outcome of proven faith
is “praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Yahshua Christ.” Will not Yahweh prove
the character of every son’s faith? Will He not subject all to trials as He did Abraham that
His sons might have an opportunity to worship Him and obtain praise and glory and honor?