The Key to a Profitable Life

A young lady on a cruise ship kept glancing at a handsome young man.  He couldn’t help but notice.  Finally, he worked up the courage to approach her.  “Pardon me,” he said with a gentle smile.  “It may be my imagination, but I couldn’t help but notice that you keep looking in my direction.  Is there something wrong?”  She blushed for a moment then replied, “Oh no, it’s just that I can’t help noticing how much you resemble my first husband.”  The young man looked puzzled and asked, “How many times have you been married?”  She gave a mysterious smile and replied, “Oh, I haven’t been….yet.”  That’s faith!
The Bible is full of stories of ordinary people who possessed extraordinary faith, like the heroes in this Sunday’s message from the book of Daniel.  Many of them were people so ordinary that there would be nothing else to distinguish them were we to meet them today.  But something inside of them shouted “You can trust God!”  And they did.  And we have been profiting from their accomplishments for over 2,000 years.  Faith is a dynamic, forward looking relationship with God.  It is not a psychological tool.  It is not faith in faith.  Its object is the Lord of the Universe, a Being so willing to respond to us that He promised “Everything is possible for him who believes” (Mark 9:23).  He also said, “According to your faith will it be done unto you” (Matthew 9:29).  That strongly implies that the means to accomplish great things in life is laid squarely upon our shoulders.  We hold the key that unlocks the Treasure House of Heaven. But what amazes me about the Bible’s teaching concerning faith is that this key is not for the few, the fit, and the fortunate.  The promise is universal.  It is a challenge God issues to every son and daughter in every generation. 
No age has needed great men and women of faith more than the one we are presently living in.  William Carey, who labored tirelessly for God in India 200 years ago, said it like this: “Attempt great things for God’; expect great things from God.”  That is the secret of a life of great spiritual achievement--the confidence that God can do anything, the courage to ask Him, and the trust to expect an answer.