The biggest problem we face all is not the government’s failed policies, or the prices of food at the supermarket, or the worsening behavior of society at large. No, our problem lies deeper than that. It is the unbelief of the human heart.

We hear things like, that God is only good, and that His intentions for us are also only good, but we somehow tend to doubt, or even worse, fear, that it is not true. What we have been listening to are the subtle lies of the Deceiver, and we have agreed with him. Maybe it is not a conscious decision where we blurt out, “Yeah, Satan, you know what, you are right! God is lying to me!” Agreement more often comes after a blow to your heart; a disappointment, a rejection, or we get reminded of a past failure or hurt, then we sigh, and whisper to ourselves that what we are experiencing must be true. But it is not. There is a greater reality.

Romans 10:17

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Faith comes…notice how the word cometh is in italics. This is telling us that this word is not in the text. In English we don’t say, “Water by faucet.” No, we say, “Water comes out of a faucet.” Yet in Greek, they can say it this way, “Faith out of hearing.” What we are to provide is the hearing, or listening, and God provides the faith.

Hearing is not merely being exposed to a great teaching. It means more like listening attentively, and thoughtfully considering, and then allowing the message to sink in. So, is God good…always? What does He say about Himself?

1 John 4:16

…God is love...

Love is not just something God has. It is what He is. This is a message that we need to play to our hearts like a waterfall over a granite cliff. We are in desperate need of this, especially in a world that says that God doesn’t even exist. Or, perhaps even worse, in a Christian world that says something evil in our lives comes from Him.

Luke 4:3

And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God…

The enemy makes the same type of sly statements to us, maybe not directly, like this, but he is ever challenging us about things like who God is, what are we to God. And the bottom line of all the subtle, and not-so-subtle accusations and lies is this: Is God’s Word true? When the Lord Jesus was faced with this attack, what did he say?

Luke 4:4

And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.

He didn’t say, “Maybe I’m not the son of God,” or “You are right, it sounds too cocky to say I am the son of God.” Nope. He said, “It is written…” Or, how the Greek is literally translated, “It stands written.” Yes, it stands written that you are a child of the most High God and that He loves you so much He was willing to spend everything to win you back. And now that you are His, and He is yours, He desires to nothing more than your fellowship and love. And we can walk with Him and talk with Him in the here and now. And what will overcome our worst human failing—government intervention? No, what will overcome all is one thing—faith that comes by hearing the most wonderful message in this world—the Word of God.

1 John 5:4

For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.