Not All Faith Pleases God

“Listen to me, all who hope for deliverance—all who seek the LORD! Consider the rock from which you were cut, the quarry from which you were mined. Yes, think about Abraham, your ancestor, and Sarah, who gave birth to your nation. Abraham was only one man when I called him. But when I blessed him, he became a great nation.” [Isaiah 51.1-2] 

Abraham is the father of faith. If whatever we do as seekers of God is not of Abraham-like faith, we can be certain it is not pleasing to God.

And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him. [Hebrews 11.6]

Not all faith pleases God! Faith in Jesus Christ is God-pleasing faith because it is distinct faith that believes God exists and that He rewards those who sincerely seek Him. Even though faith in an idol is indeed faith, it is not God-pleasing faith - there must be a distinction!

As the ultimate object of faith, Jesus Christ is the deliverance sought through the ages and He demonstrated what deliverance looks like in human form and function. Genuine Abrahamic faith is the only way to enjoy the human existence of deliverance - that is Jesus.

Can a person have Abrahamic faith and not trust in Jesus? In a word, no. While people indeed "believe" a lot of things, faith in anything or anyone other than Jesus the Deliverer is not the God-pleasing faith of Abraham, but is instead, idolatry. 

When God's people insist that God uses things of man's design and manufacture, they place themselves on a very slippery slope blurring the lines between Abrahamic faith and worldly faith (idolatry). We must remind ourselves here that Abraham's remarkable demonstration of faith occurred when he obediently trusted that God would provide against all human reasoning. Abraham did not take along an animal "just in case" in the event involving his willingness to offer Isaac (Genesis 22). Talk about hope for deliverance!

I want to be seen as one who distinctly hopes for deliverance in Jesus Christ alone. I want there to be distinction regarding the object of my faith - Christ alone. Like Abraham told Isaac, I want to look at every situation and say, "God will provide..." even when it appears completely foolish because a man-made solution could otherwise easily take care of it.

So Abraham placed the wood for the burnt offering on Isaac’s shoulders, while he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them walked on together, Isaac turned to Abraham and said, “Father?” “Yes, my son?” Abraham replied. “We have the fire and the wood,” the boy said, “but where is the sheep for the burnt offering?” “God will provide a sheep for the burnt offering, my son,” Abraham answered. And they both walked on together. [Genesis 22.6-8]

As the provision was not yet seen for Abraham and Isaac, so the provision is no longer seen for believers today. But it is distinct Abrahamic God-pleasing faith that looks to God for the provision, the Deliverer, Jesus whether looking forward in time or looking backward in time! Abraham distinguished his faith as hope in deliverance yet to come (without human/idolatrous intervention) and we distinguish our faith as hope in deliverance already come (without human/idolatrous intervention)!

To understand this is to comprehend more clearly the life and ministry of Jesus Christ - and particularly Jesus' teachings and repeated demands for faith. As Abraham was determined to be distinguished in faithful obedience to God and His Word alone when he answered Isaac, so we should be determined to be distinguished in faithful obedience to God and His Word alone when we answer the world (no matter how foolish it may look).

Father, after all the recent days' articles about idols, it seems natural today to be clear today about the topic of distinct Abrahamic God-pleasing faith. May I remember the rock from which I was cut and the ridiculousness of Abraham's faith to encourage  me as I encounter faith opportunities in this world myself. So be it.