“By faith even Sarah herself received the ability to conceive [a child], even [when she was long] past the normal age for it, because she considered Him who had given her the promise to be reliable and true [to His word]. So from one man, though he was [physically] as good as dead, were born as many descendants as the stars of heaven in number, and innumerable as the sand on the seashore.” (Hebrews 11:11-12 AMP)
Yesterday I told you about the wooden block on the cabinet; the one that I amended the message written on it simply by inserting some words and crossing out other words with a permanent marker. It was similar to editing a hand-written or typed on a typewriter sermon manuscript prior to the introduction of computers. When I told my wife what I had done, she let me know that she already noticed it. It seems like wives notice everything; blessed with keen eyes that have great peripheral vision. So while she commended me on the changes I made to the one block, she made it perfectly clear that the other wooden block was hers and the instructions, spoken kindly, were, “Don’t write on that one!” Like a lawyer in the courtroom I presented my case, showing how a few changes may make sure readers understand that block’s message as well. Wives are not only blessed with great vision, but they are usually skilled in the art of litigation. As a matter of fact they are like Perry Mason on the old TV shows; they never seem to lose. More of you reading this should have been attorneys.
Nevertheless, our “courtroom scene” was done in a matter of minutes. I presented my evidence by starting with what the sign actually said. “She believed, she could, so she did.” I thought I had a slam dunk case when I indicated that people would understand it better if we changed it to “She believed…in God. She could…trust in the Lord.” “So she did…right with the strength of His might.” After my words were spoken, my opponent in the courtroom objected and won the case with only five words, “I know what it means.” And then she repeated her initial position in her closing remarks, “Don’t write on that one!” After her victory, she pointed out that these blocks were gifts from the church. The one I changed yesterday was mine. The other one was hers and again she let me know that she understood the block and I just was not reading it right. It was not three sentences, but only one: “She believed she could, so she did.” My eyes were opened and I was in agreement. She passed her test by staying with her conviction. I stood corrected.
You know, each one of us faces tests, specifically faith tests, to see if we will change from our convictions or abandon our faith. We must pass those faith tests by believing we can and acting on that faith. We must be like Sarah and exercise our faith. Sure, the first thing we remember about Sarah is her laughing about giving birth and saying “After I have grown old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?” What we usually miss is that Sarah, as we saw in the opening passage, was one of those “by faith” persons in the Scriptures listed in Hebrews 11.
Listen! Whatever you face today or if you sense that you are about to have a failing in regards to faith, go out with a changed attitude. Get the message on the other block and don’t mess with it at all! Make the saying your own. Put your name where the word “she” is on the small piece of décor on our cabinet. Fill in the blanks: “(Your Name) believed (Your Name) could and so (Your Name) did.” Keep this in mind all day and go out firm in your position and say to yourself when someone tries to change your understanding, “Don’t write on that one!” Have a great day! Be blessed!
“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6 KJV)
Still committed to the climb,
Mark L. King