Faithfulness or Faithlessness

“Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to Jehovah.” (Lamentations 3:40)

The book of Lamentations is attributed to the Prophet Jeremiah. It consists of five books and laments the spiritual state of the people, God’s judgement and encouragement to return to the Lord. This chapter of Lamentations holds all three points. Our Scripture of study is an encouragement to return to the Lord.

Jeremiah encourages the people to search their ways and to try their ways. The Hebrew word that was translated search means to search out or to be let sought. Jeremiah gave good counsel for returning to the Lord. In searching our ways, we can determine if our way is in line with God’s ways. In the New Testament Paul commanded the Corinthians to examine themselves. “... examine yourselves, whether you are in the faith, prove your own selves. Do you not know your own selves, that Jesus Christ is in you, unless you are reprobates?” (2Corinthians 13:5) The object of the examination is to determine if you are in the faith.

Are you in the faith? This examination is to be set against the Scriptures to not only determine if we’re obedient and faithful, but if our habits are revealing faithlessness. Many times, we agree with the Word of God, but when in the proving trials, we see the reality of our faith, that it’s head agreement, but lacking heart faithfulness. Peter wrote how our trials and temptations serve to prove our faith. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has regenerated us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and unfading, reserved in Heaven for you by the power of God, having been kept through faith to a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time; in which you greatly rejoice, yet a little while, if need be, grieving in manifold temptations; so that the trial of your faith (being much more precious than that of gold that perishes, but being proven through fire) might be found to praise and honor and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen, you love; in whom not yet seeing, but believing in Him you exult with unspeakable joy, and having been glorified, obtaining the end of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” (1Peter 1:3-9) Trials, tribulations and temptations prove our faith. They don’t come from God. “Let no one being tempted say, I am tempted from God. For God is not tempted by evils, and He tempts no one.” (James 1:13) The word “tempts” means to test. He doesn’t send the trials and tribulations to test us, but He uses them to prove our faithfulness or to reveal our need of repentance or lack of faith.

Another aspect of searching our hearts is to submit to the Lord and have Him search our hearts. When we have the Holy Spirit search our hearts, we are surprised at the revelation. But God is merciful to us and will just reveal one area of faithlessness. An area where we are faithless because we didn’t realize it was faithlessness or sin. It’s easy to fall in the ways of the world. It permeates every area of our lives, at work, at the grocers, at the doctors, at the schools. The world view is what we hear and see. But God’s kingdom is not of this world. It doesn’t operate with the rules of this world. It’s not seen. It’s not heard. It’s a belief in our God Who doesn’t lie. It’s belief in His Word, which hasn’t ever failed. Allowing the Holy Spirit to examine our hearts, our words, thoughts and actions is a scary thing. He will reveal what you least expect.

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1John 1:9) For a very long time I had a problem with this verse because it seemed contrary to what the Gospel teaches, that Jesus died once and for all our sins, past, present and future. So, in my reasoning, why were we confessing sin that was already forgiven and forgotten? But as I meditated on this verse, I realized that it was for those sins and failings that the Holy Spirit reveals to us that we didn’t realize were sin. These are usually habits that we didn’t realize offend the Lord. And yes, that sin has already been forgiven, but it is for our sakes that we are granted forgiveness when we repent of it and confess it as sin. And the reason is that in our consciousness, we have that sin before us.  We didn’t realize it was sin. But that realization needs to be purged from our consciousness because it builds a barrier to our fellowship with the Lord. When we repent (make a decision to abandon that sin) and confess it, knowing that the Lord has forgiven it, the Holy Spirit supernaturally gives us what we need to abhor it and abandon it forever. I cannot impress on you enough to do this because of the freedom and divine joy it brings. Something we thought was our character, is a flaw that is actually sin. And supernaturally through the Holy Spirit, it no longer is a part of us. It is a supernatural work of the Holy Spirit.

Concluding, we can search (self-examine) ourselves or ask the Holy Spirit to examine our hearts, our words, thoughts and actions. Repentance of revealed sin and confession are essential to the Holy Spirit’s work to remove it from us. We should remember in the trials and tribulations of this world that our faith in God and in His Word are being tested and “proved.” Do we really believe God? Do we really believe His Word?  What do our words and actions show?

Let us pray:

Father God, I am so thankful that You know me. You know exactly what I need to be free from hidden sins. I examine myself, but those hidden sins I called them habits, part of my character and just my way. But my way is not Your way. Reveal to me the things that offend You my Lord in thought, word or deed.  Reveal the dark and hidden things of my heart that are of this world and not of Your kingdom. I give the Holy Spirit full access to every part of the hidden intentions, desires, dreams and visions that are in my heart. Father, I ask for help abhorring anything that offends You. My desire is to please You and to love You like You want to be loved, with submission, obedience, honor and reverence. In the Name of Jesus I pray, amen.