The classic passage regarding trust is Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”” These verses sum up the Bible’s teaching on trust. First, it is the LORD in whom we are to trust, not ourselves or our plans, and certainly not the world’s wisdom and devices. It is important for us to notice that the word LORD is in all capitals. The first mention of the “LORD God” in scripture is found in Genesis 2:4 that says: “the LORD God made the earth and the heavens.” Up to this point the general term “God” has been used and here LORD is added to “God”. In Hebrew the name “LORD” is Yahweh and in English Jehovah who is the self-existent One, He that is who He is, therefore, the eternal I AM. This clearly foreshadows Jesus—Jehovah the redemption name of Deity—our Redeemer. Salvation both in the Old Testament and New Testament is by trusting in the Lord! The LORD of the Old Testament and the Lord of the New Testament speak of the second member of the Godhead—God’s revelation of Himself to man in His Son—Jesus.
Trust and faith are at the core of the life of believers throughout the Bible. In the Old Testament, the covenantal bond was the believer’s expression of faith. God initiated the covenant, and believers responded in faith, actively obeying His Word and trusting in the LORD to fulfill His promises. Habakkuk 2:4 connects the word “trust” in the Old Testament to the word “faith” in the New Testament. “…The righteous will live by his trust.” Paul repeats this truth in Romans 1: 17 “The righteousness of God is revealed, from trust to trust. As it is written, ‘But the righteous shall live by faith.” Then the writer of Hebrews says in 10: 37-39 says: “For yet in a little while, the Coming One will come, and He will not delay.’ But My righteous one shall live by faith; and if he shrinks back, My soul takes no pleasure in him.”
The question that we must ask our self today as a nation, as a church, and as a Christian is: “Where is our trust?” Since 1956 “In God We Trust” has been the official motto of the United States and its use on U.S. currency dates to the Civil War where Union supporters wanted to emphasize their attachment to God and to boost morale. The 84th Congress in 1956 passed legislation signed by President Eisenhower declaring the phrase to be the national motto. Some groups and people in the United States, however, have objected to its use, contending that it is a religious reference and violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. This issue has been the subject of courts over the years and in 2006 a federal district court in North Carolina rendered this decision: “The national motto is excluded from First Amendment significance because the motto “has no theological or ritualistic impact; and is of a purely secular, ‘patriotic’ and ‘ceremonial character.” Some states have disallowed its use in their state public buildings. (In 2018 Alabama passed a law that allows display of the motto in schools, libraries, government buildings, and on law enforcement vehicles.)
According to these findings it is apparent that the motto “IN GOD WE TRUST” has become a mere secular or patriotic statement with no religious affiliation! America has abandoned our trust in God as a nation and instead put our trust in money and the things of this world. God has not turned His back on America, we have turned our back on God! God has allowed the darkness to overtake us because men loved darkness rather than light! The hour is late, God is sounding a warning to “wake up” and draw near to Him as the prerequisite of His drawing near to us and saving this nation! “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” (James 4:8)
We have to run from the ways of the world and strengthen our dependency and connection to God. Jonathan Cahn in his latest book, the Josiah Manifesto, says: “To live unplugged from the world, we must live all the more plugged in to God.” The stronger we are connected to God, the greater our independence from the world. The more dependent we are on our culture, the less able we are to be salt and light to it. A nation that has fallen from God will always seek to justify its actions. We as a nation have been systematically conditioned to accept the existing culture as normal and targeted for thinking otherwise. Like the frog swimming in a pan of water—not realizing that the water was increasing in temperature until it is cooked! America has reached the boiling point and we as a nation is about to be toast if we don’t wake up, repent and turn to God! Read 2 Corinthians 6: 14-18—an appeal to separation.
The enemy wants us to blame God for the chaos, but he is the father of lies and according to John 10: 10 Satan comes to steal and destroy. The devil wants us to give in to the fears and pressures of the world but no matter what we must trust God! We must stop looking for the justice of man and instead look for and pray for God’s justice to prevail. We must stop complaining and believing the negative report from the fake news. According to Psalm 75, God is the Judge: “When I appoint a set time, I Myself will judge uprightly…For God is the Judge; He lowers one and lifts up another…I will cut off all the horns of the wicked, but the horns of the righteous will be lifted up.” May this be our prayer: “LORD, there is no one besides You to help in the battle between the powerful and those who have no strength; so help us, O LORD our God, for we trust in You.” (2 Chronicles 14:11) God is real, God has a plan, God is in control! “Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it, surely I will do it.” (Isaiah 46:11)
A biblical concept of faith includes believing that God exists and that He is wholly trustworthy, so much so that we base our lives on Him and His Word, doing what it says, no matter what our physical eyes tell us. Through faith in Jesus Christ, we obtain “the victory that has overcome the world.” (1 John 5: 4-5) Dr. Stanley gives these words of wisdom to us: “It is crucial that you embrace the truth about God and become firmly committed to knowing Him with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. Because when you do, it will birth within you a deeper trust in Him that will enable Him to lead you to His blessings.” Only when God’s people—those called by His name humble ourselves, turn from our wicked ways, and seek His face will He hear our prayers and heal our land. (2 Chron. 7:14) When we as a people and as a nation wholeheartedly declare with all our body, soul and spirit IN GOD WE TRUST will God bless this nation! God will not bless what does not honor Him!
Changes in our nation begin with a change in us! Are we growing in our faith and trust in Christ? Are we committed to being a mature disciple of Jesus no matter what comes our way in 2024? God did not create us just to go to church on Sundays or say a prayer every once in a while. He called us to live in Christ. He created us to bring glory to His name. He breathed life into our lungs so that we would flourish, be fruitful and multiply. Are we honoring the time He has given us on this Earth? How are we cultivating faith and trust in the Lord? As Pastor Adrian Rogers said, “How can we develop faith? Be saturated in the Word, be separated from sin, be dedicated to the Son, and be activated by the Spirit.” Faith and trust are what enable us to live the Christian life. It isn’t simply believing God “can.” Faith and trust is knowing God will! Christianity is not a set of religious practices to follow—it’s a relationship. God is allowing many opportunities for us to cry out to Him. If our faith is to be trusted, it is to be tested! Peter assures us that the testing of our faith through trials proves the genuineness or authenticity of our faith: “So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world” (1 Peter 1:6–7, NLT). “In a day when I am afraid, I will put my trust in You. In God—I keep praising His Word—in God I trust, I will not fear. What can mere flesh do to me?” (Psalm 56: 4-5)