THE CERTAINTY OF GOD

We can safely say that the signs of the times are upon us. Things will get worse and sufferings will intensify. Now, more than ever, we are in need of a beacon of hope and we all know who that should be for no man on earth could offer what He can.

In chapter 11 of Hebrews, Paul speaks extensively on faith of the ancients who did many marvelous things. He also speaks of many who had suffered insufferable things looking beyond this life to the eternal promise because 'God had provided better things for them through their sufferings' and for one reason: because without sufferings we cannot be made perfect (Hebrews 11:40a JST). I pondered why this would be so and came to understand that sufferings enhance our faith in God and who He is.

Abraham is the greatest example of coming to know God through faith, who 'against hope believed in hope' (Romans 4:18). We often say that Abraham's faith was counted by God as righteousness. And we often believe that it was his faith in the promise of a baby that makes it so. Inspecting Paul's take on the matter closely, however, clarifies this point to perfect understanding. It was not Abraham's faith in the promise that pleased God to such heights, but Abraham's faith in God's ability to fulfill the promise and integrity of His character which would bring the promise into fruition (Romans 4:21,22).  Likewise, Paul points out that it was Abraham's utter belief in God's ability to raise Isaac from the dead the instant he was sacrificed, so that He could fulfill the promise of a righteous posterity for his father, that enabled Abraham to commit to Isaac's sacrifice (Hebrews 11:17-19). 

What can we learn from all this? Mostly, that now more than ever we need to know and trust the God we worship or we will not be able to withstand the turmoil that is yet to come upon us prior to His coming. How will we contain the discouragement and fear at bay?  Where should our focus be so that we can have hope against hope?

Some years ago it was given to me to know that I was in the Saviour's inner circle in pre-existence and that I admired Him greatly. I could see this inner circle in my mind when I was given this understanding and I could see that He had a perfect balance of godly attributes. He was powerful yet meek; strong yet merciful; intelligent yet humble; strict yet compassionate; vengeful yet protective.

Elder Tad Callister in his book The Infinite Atonement says that we voted for Christ in pre-existence because we not only knew that He could save us but that He would.....that He would not fail us. We knew first hand the integrity of His character. I imagine many of us were in that inner circle and we knew Him intimately. But how well do we know Him now? Have we proved Him in our lives to the point where we can trust Him that He will see us through the calamities ahead and beyond? Do we see Him on the pages of the scriptures that we read? Do we feel Him in our hearts? So I say to you: Who is Christ?

- Cathryne Allen