Genesis 15:6 Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.

As I preached just over a week ago, this is one of the foundational verses of the whole Bible. However, we tend to read much more into it than it actually says. We need to remember that Abram did not have any sort of “developed” theology; all he knew was that a supernatural Being had spoken to him. That makes it all the more remarkable that he had done so much in obedience to God already at this point. I think this is further evidence that we are born with an innate desire to seek God. Descartes called it a “God-shaped hole,” which we all try to fill with one thing or another. I’m sure that many of Abram’s associates said he was just superstitious, and many people today would probably say the same about him. However, he had the immense blessing of being spoken to, not by some lying demon, but by the Creator. We can’t know all the reasons Abram was chosen, but certainly one was that God knew he would believe, and that made all the difference. We are back to the fact that this was a very simplistic belief. I doubt that most of the things discussed by theologians ever crossed Abram’s mind. Jesus was fairly extreme when He said that we must “change and become like little children” to enter heaven. Children are naturally very trusting (unless they’ve been abused) and this is the model Jesus sets up for us. Abram’s faith was very much of that sort. We need to remember that, and emulate it.

When my family was as intellectual as it was, it was an enormous mercy that it was also a family of faith. Human beings are capable of thinking themselves into all sorts of dead ends, forgetting that we are by definition finite, so we can’t know everything. Intellectual curiosity and inquiry are very good things, but they must have humility as a foundation, or they lead to deadly conceit. Several years ago the Guinness Book listed the Japanese as the people-group with the highest average IQ, and I can believe it. However, I know from experience that high IQ can couple with amazing stupidity when people refuse to accept, or even look at, things outside their experience. For myself, I need to maintain an open heart and open mind, without letting go of the God whom I have come to know and love. As I do that, I need to share what I have learned of Him with those around me, not speaking down to them in any way but rejoicing in God’s amazing grace toward us all. I am to make faithful use of the mind God has given me, and encourage those around me to do the same, without falling into the trap of thinking we don’t need God’s guidance and revelation. I know very well that my own righteousness is as filthy rags, (Isaiah 64:6) and choose to trust God with the faith of Abram.

Father, the whole issue of faith can seem very complicated. Help me stay in the childlike faith that trusts You enough to be totally obedient. I am as prone to wander from that as anyone. Help me be faithful so that I will be available to You in leading others into that saving faith, so that together we may walk in all that You intend, for our blessing and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!