We may not be very familiar with the Old Testament book of Habakkuk, but it is totally relevant for our day. Habakkuk cries out to God because of the destruction and violence he sees committed by the wicked. In his day, he saw a “bitter and hasty nation, who march through the breadth of the earth, to seize dwellings not their own” (Hab 1:6). This foreign army was “dreaded and fearsome,” “they all come for violence,” “at kings they scoff and at rulers they laugh,” these are “guilty men, whose own might is their god” (Hab 1:7-11). Sound familiar to what you’re hearing on the news today?
Like many of us now, Habakkuk could not understand how God could allow evil to happen. And Habakkuk wasn’t just observing an international conflict from the other side of the world. He was personally being affected as his own country was under attack. Instead of explaining all His actions to the prophet, the Lord answers him with one of the most memorable statements in the Bible: “the just shall live by faith” (Hab 2:4).
The just are the righteous, those who have been accepted and saved by God. How are they saved? By faith. Translation: we cannot know or understand everything God is doing, but we must trust Him no matter what. The righteous live by faith—not by sight.
You cannot possibly know how everything will work out in the end. But you can now that God is just, He is holy, and He is love. He has his reasons.
Trusting God does not mean doing nothing. He may lead you to oppose evil through many various ways. But when we’ve done all we can do, we believe God’s will ultimately will be done. That’s how we must live. By faith.
Comments or questions for Pastor Jeff? Please email jeffgwilt@gmail.com
