Abraham was told the impossible. “Though you and your beautiful wife are very old, Sarah is going to have a baby.” And Abraham believed God. Isaac was born and God proved His faithfulness.
“Though your son, Isaac, is the one through whom you will be the ‘Father of Nations,’ I want you to go up the mountain and sacrifice him to Me.” And Abraham believed God. He “reasoned that God could raise the dead” (Heb 11:9), so he put Isaac on the altar and raised his knife. But an angel stopped the sacrifice and God proved His faithfulness.
“Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” This verse is repeated many times in the New Testament for our benefit, as we “are of the faith of Abraham.” “The words ‘it was credited’ were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness — for us who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.” (Rom 4:16 & 24)
But what are we to believe? I’ve not been told that my beautiful Susan is going to have a baby in our old age. I’ve not been told to believe God will raise our son Taylor from the dead if he dies. But God has told me to believe the impossible.
I am to believe that God has accomplished everything of value through His Son Jesus. He was born of a virgin; He lived a perfect life; He died on the Cross carrying the sins of the world; He was buried in a borrowed tomb and raised back to life on the third day. Now God asks, “Do you know what this means for you? When you hear My Word, do you believe it?”
Do I believe I am forgiven? Do I believe I have been set free from sin? Do I believe I am a new creation? Do I believe the Holy Spirit lives in me? Do I believe death has no hold on me? Do I believe I am in Christ? Do I believe I am more than a conqueror? “But God, these things sound impossible!” And Jesus whispers, “Believe in God and believe in Me. Like Abraham, you will discover that We are faithful.”
“If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” John 7:37-38