The strength of faith comes from experiencing difficulties. If life always smiled for us, there would not be strength for us to overcome the trials that come our way. The challenges of life strengthen faith in everyday living, if we do not give up. Victory is certain for those of strong faith. If you will not believe and trust and rely on God and on the words of God’s prophet, surely you will not be established nor will you remain (Isaiah 7:9b). Life’s battle is only won through faith – a shield that protects when it is lifted up, quenching all the flaming missiles of the wicked one (Eph. 6:16). Sometimes, we must stand alone in faith, when the crowd will not accept God’s message; when we are persecuted for our faith. Abraham was told to sacrifice his son, his only son, when God had promised him, He will be the father of many nations through that son he was asked to sacrifice. He did not hesitate to do so, because faith in the promise of God sustained him. He was told to leave his family and move to a place where God had for him; Abraham, again obeyed and was honored by God Himself with blessings of His promises.
“Today, you will be with Me in Paradise,” YAHSHUA told the thief on the cross; he believed and faith carried him to Paradise, where YAHSHUA promised him. The word of God is filled with promises for all, beginning with the gift of salvation available for whosoever will. Our corrupt body will someday be laid low in the ground, in order for us to receive our uncorrupted one. That’s in eternity not too far, for the uncertainty of life has no respect for age. It takes seconds for life to turn its destination and be found in heaven or hell. The thief on the cross didn’t have to be baptized in order to be saved; he didn’t have to do good works; he had to have faith to believe in YAHSHUA, repent of his sins for heaven’s door to be opened to him; his faith saved him.
So, it is for everyone who has faith applied to his salvation. The Bible tells us that there is no longer any sacrifice to atone for sins, where there is absolute remission of them through the blood of YAHSHUA. That thief on the cross was the first one to benefit from the redemptive sacrifice of our Lord; he was the first one before YAHSHUA’S death to confess verbally to believe in Whom He was at that hour when YAHSHUA was atoning for his sins. He took a stand for YAHSHUA, when rebuking the other criminal, who was railing at YAHSHUA saying, Are You not the Christ? Rescue Yourself and us! He reproved him, saying, Do you not even fear God, seeing you yourself are under the same sentence of condemnation and suffering the same penalty? And we indeed suffer it justly, receiving the due reward of our actions; but this Man has done nothing out of the way. Then he said, to YAHSHUA, Lord, remember me when You come in Your kingly glory! And He answered, him, Truly, I tell you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise (Luke 23:39-43).
Yes, indeed, eternal salvation is the reward to people who are of faith in YAHSHUA’S redemptive sacrifice offered to all who will believe. Blessed are those who are people of faith!
Light from the Word 