"Faithful and True"

Thirty five years ago today, on September 17, 1975, I became a born again believer in the Lord Jesus Christ.


On that day, a dear friend who had shared Christ with me for several years once again proclaimed to me "the old, old story." This time I believed, and I can honestly say that life has never been the same since that day. I can also say that I should be much, much further down the path of righteousness, and that much wasted time and opportunity characterize my three and a half decades of knowing the Lord Jesus. Far too often I have distrusted and disobeyed God, and perhaps even worse, far too often I had simply neglected the wonder of His freely given presence in my life.


Never, however, has the Lord neglected me, and never has He violated His promised purpose and working in my life. "He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6). An author whom I much respect, when retiring from his seminary teaching position, was asked, "Professor, how do you want to be remembered?" Without hesitating, he responded, "That I had an incredibly patient, gracious, and merciful Lord." I love that, and feel the same way today after so many years of knowing our Lord. I look at my frequently faulty response to God's amazing kindness, and at my frequently non-existent response. The consideration would be depressing except for the "incredibly patient, gracious, and merciful Lord" who is so devoted to His problem child that He won't give up on me. "If we believe not, He abideth faithful" (II Timothy 2:13). Oh yes He does, yes He does.


No one has ever trusted in the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and been disappointed for doing so. And no one ever will. There is somebody to trust in this life, and in the next. "I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and He that sat upon him was called Faithful and True" (Revelation 19:11). I have a good friend who occasionally asks, "Glen, how are you doing spiritually?" It's a fair question, but I have never quite known how to answer it, until right now. Indeed, as this day begins and I reflect on thirty five years, I realize that how I am doing spiritually often changes at the drop of a hat. However, how God is doing spiritually never changes. "I am the Lord. I change not" (Malachi 3:6). And that's the issue, isn't it? He is the issue. "He abideth faithful" have characterized these thirty five years, and it has been a beautiful journey of discovering that no one has ever trusted in the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and been disappointed for doing so. And no one ever will.


"Thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds."
(Psalm 36:5)