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Trusting God is quickly becoming a thing of the distant past. The United States and other English speaking nations were founded on hard work, blood, sweat, tears, faith and belief in a higher power—God. These things that used to be a part of our national character are now scoffed at by many. God, and trust in Him, are being relegated as fiction to the dusty pages of ancient history. In this modern twenty–first century, it is not popular to believe and trust in God.
Mankind increasingly believes that he has accomplished all the great advancements of this age. He thinks he has given to himself all the riches and wealth this earth provides. But he forgets that he is responsible for the horrible wrongs of this society—including the polluting of the air we breathe, water we drink and food we consume. He thinks he has built this society and world to be a good place.
Mankind's backward advancement
Man has ceased to trust in God and has chosen to go his own way, believing he has a better solution to the problems facing mankind. But what does God say? Why do we live in a world of fantastic technological advancements that cannot solve the world’s horrible problems, such as poverty, disease and hatred between races and nations?
In Jeremiah 17:9 God says, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” Man believes that within himself lies all good things and all he has to do is somehow get these good things out. Then, given enough time of course, he can solve all humanity’s problems. But God says that unless He intervenes man will destroy himself off the face of the earth (Matt. 24:22).
There is no substitute for trust in God!
Notice how God instructs us: “Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come” (1 Cor. 10:11). “These things” were the things that had happened to ancient Israel (vv 1-10). Notice the last half of verse 11: “and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.” That means us—now!
Since that passage means the nations and individuals of this twenty–first century, it behooves us to look at what God has to say. Zephaniah gave stern warning to us today regarding the reason why Judah and Israel failed and were driven out of their lands. Zephaniah 3:2 reads: “She has not obeyed His voice, she has not received correction; she has not trusted in the Lord, she has not drawn near to her God.” While all four of these reasons are very important we will look at one—trust.
The word “trusted” here is Strong’s Concordance #982, batach. It means to be confident, to be sure, to be bold and to hope. Does this describe your trust in God and His Word—the Bible?
A solid foundation
Why is trust so important to God that He would name it as one of the reasons why Judah and Israel failed? Trust is the foundation of relationships. An enduring and lasting relationship with God or anyone else must be built on trust. If trust is lacking or has been breached in a marriage, friendship, business, or church, especially by the leadership, the basis for a relationship has taken a severe blow. It may take years to rectify or may never be rectified. Let it be said that it can be rectified if God is brought into the picture and we trust Him. Trust is essential!
Satan struck at the foundation of Adam and Eve’s relationship with God, and they bought into it: “‘But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, “You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.”’ Then the serpent said to the woman, ‘You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.’ So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate” (Gen. 3:3-6). Satan, in effect, said “You cannot trust God. He lied to you.”
An enduring and lasting relationship with God or anyone else must be built on trust.
I am reasonably sure this sort of deception by Satan was used in the first–century church regarding the apostles, and is being used now regarding God’s end–time apostle, the late Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong. Satan uses the same tactics over and over again, and he is certainly active today. That is why it is so important that we trust and believe the Word of God and “contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered” (Jude 1:3). It is something we are exhorted to hold fast and not to let go.
Jude, a servant of God and brother of Jesus, said we need to contend for the faith, and further, to be aware of mockers in the last time (vv 17-18). The road ahead of us in this end time is going to grow harder and harder, and deception upon deception is going to be employed by Satan. As President Reagan said, “The future is not for the faint–hearted but for those of courage.” If we are to endure the hardships ahead, we must put our complete trust in God. There is no substitute for trust in God!
God tells us not to “fret because of evildoers, nor be envious of the workers of iniquity,” and that “their sword shall enter their own heart, and their bows shall be broken” (Psa. 37:1, 15). But He also tells us we have to do our part: “Trust in the Lord and do good…Commit your way to the Lord; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass” (vv 3, 5).
Love and protection
God‘s lovingkindness is linked directly to our trust in Him: “How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings” (Psa. 36:7). Jesus mentions in Matthew 23:37 how He desired to gather His people “as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings.” Why? To hide them, to protect them, to guide and instruct them in His Word and His Way—the Way that brings the desires of their hearts without any negative side–effects.
Psalm 36:8–10 describes the end result of this way of life: “They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house, and You give them drink from the river of Your pleasures. For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light. Oh, continue Your lovingkindness to those who know You, and Your righteousness to the upright in heart.” What an awesome, loving and kind Creator we have!
Notice also Zephaniah 3:12-15: “‘I will leave in your midst a meek and humble people, and they shall trust in the name of the LORD. The remnant of Israel shall do no unrighteousness and speak no lies, nor shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth; for they shall feed their flocks and lie down, and no one shall make them afraid.’ Sing, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! The LORD has taken away your judgments, He has cast out your enemy. The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst; you shall see disaster no more.” As Mr. Armstrong used to say, “In the end we win.”
What an awesome future for the people of God, who put their trust in Him!