Devotional: Contstants & Variables

Constants and Variables

For though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I have no doubt You've already gone ahead...
My fire by night... My cloud by day...
And though ten thousands fall to my right and my left, under the shadow of the Most High I find rest...
My fire by night... My cloud by day...

Those are the words of one of my favorite songs {Picture of Love by Luke Wood}. Besides the melody, what gets me is the powerful truths found in the lyrics. People say life is like a deck of cards: you never know what hand you'll be dealt. I suppose this is true in one sense. I wake up with a plan for the day, but it doesn't always end up the way I intended - the cards changed. But one thing remains constant, regardless of what changes, and that is God and His faithfulness. In every scenario of life, God is always present and available. He remains the same and does not vary with the change of others. He is faithful and loyal, steady and stable, unvarying and devoted.
What about me?

Am I more like the variable in the equation? Do I change constantly? Is my faith up one moment, down the next? If yes, then no wonder the results vary as well. God can remain constant, but the results will continue to fluctuate depending on the variable... me!

"These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God" (1 John 5:13). What things did John write beforehand to assure believers of their faith in God? Or shall I say their "constancy"? If you and I can change and adapt to God, becoming a constant instead of a variable, would that not then guarantee the results His Word promises us? John said, "Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has become a child of God. And everyone who loves the Father loves his children, too. We know we love God’s children if we love God and obey his commandments. Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome. For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God" (1 John 5:1-5, New Living Translation). The "variable" that needs to be made a "constant" is simple: believe that Jesus is the Son of God.

You might be thinking, "Well, I do believe that." I do too, but my actions don't always support what I say I believe -- thus, the "variable." The Amplified Translation makes a good point: "Who is it that is victorious over [that conquers] the world but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God [who adheres to, trusts in, and relies on that fact]?" It's one thing to read the scripture, but another thing to live it. I have to be honest and admit that my actions (and reactions) don't always indicate my trust and adherance to God. I'd like to think that they do eventually, but I'm talking about first, out-of-the-shoot, response to the things that come my way on a daily basis. But this is my goal.

"For whatever is born of God overcomes the world..." That's you and I as believers. WE are born of God. Therefore, WE overcome the world and all its systems and attitudes. WE have been given an ingredient to help us overcome and win every time: it's our faith. But before you think I'm talking about super-charged, mountain-moving, withered-fig-tree faith, think again. God didn't make this hard for us. He said, "And this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith {The person who wins out... is simply the person who believes Jesus is the Son of God" (I John 5:4, NKJV and Message Translations).

That's it - that's the constant we need. The simple faith that brought us salvation and redemption from sin is what causes us to overcome and win every hand life deals us. Simple belief that Jesus is the Son of God is all we need. I told someone this morning who is facing a major crisis in their life that when things look impossible to man, that's when we must believe that ALL things are possible with God. That's the trust and adherence John was talking about. I can say I rely on that fact, but when I'm dealt a bad hand, do I remain constant or do I become a variable once again?

This isn't easy - I know. But the truth is that God, who is constant and never changes, is the One who said we overcome every time. I personally have not won or come out on top every time, but that doesn't change the fact that it was possible. God didn't change. I did. Thus the outcome was the result of me, not God. When two blind men sought Jesus for healing He said to them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" They told Him they did believe. I believe you and I would answer similarly. "Then He touched their eyes, saying, 'According to your faith and trust and reliance [on the power invested in Me] be it done to you.' And their eyes were opened" (Matthew 9:28-30, Amplified). The variable here is not if we believe Jesus is the Son of God, but do we believe in the power invested in Him?

Can you see all the variables that play into the equation?

That's why I like the song I mentioned. It reminds me that God is constant and faithful and that I should be also. Maybe in and of myself I'm not always constant because I have emotions and other factors that have to be kept in check, but my faith can be constant regardless of other variables. MY FAITH, in the victory God has promised me because I believe Jesus is His Son, is sufficient. I don't have to depend on my pastor or the prayer team leader. I have "...the victory that thas overcome the world..." Do you?