WAIT PATIENTLY

The Bible describes faith as, “…the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1)
Undoubtedly, all that describes faith is evident in the life of Abraham and that made the Word to testify that Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him for righteousness. (Galatians 3:6)
It is written, “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.  By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. (Hebrews 11: 8-10) Due to Abraham’s faith that is demonstrated in this verse, he was able to do three distinct things that made him obtain good testimony and to live life with full understanding of God: he obeyed by going as commanded by God; by faith he dwelt in a strange land; and by faith he waited on God’s promise. 
Abraham’s obedience: Abraham did not question God; he did not procrastinate but rather went out of his place to an unknown place. What Abraham did was to leave behind certainty for uncertainty without any iota of doubt or complain. Often, it is a struggle to get out of a comfort zone, but to Abraham, there was no record of any kind of struggle getting out of his comfort zone and into God’s commitment. The Bible records, “So Abram departed as the Lord had spoken to him…” (Genesis 12:4) Evidently there was no fear but only faith in place at his departure and he had no excuse not to depart as commanded by God. Obeying the Word of God without doubt, without delay, without fear, or without questioning of the outcome of our obedience is doing right before God. Abraham dwelt: Worrying is what breeds fear. Abandoning a dwelling place to dwell in an unknown place will possibly open door for fear which is the opposite of faith. With Abraham, worrying was not evident in his going forward to dwell in the land of promise as in a foreign country. On the journey of life, when worship takes the place of worrying it becomes a reasonable sacrifice. Reasonable sacrifice is the evidence of faith and it all counts for righteousness just as it counts for Abraham. Jesus did not waste word when He stated, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life…” (Matthew 6:25) When worrying about anything in life takes a place in man, doubt will reign, fear will rise and faith will subside and eventual failure becomes one’s portion. Jesus put it right when He stated, “Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?” (Matthew 6:27) Why worry? Abraham marched on in faith and it was accounted for righteousness.
Abraham waited: Waiting on God to attain His promise can be destructive when it is not with patience. Waiting without patience is incomplete and it will never deliver any positive result. David testified in Psalm 40:1, “I waited patiently for the Lord; And He inclined to me, and heard my cry.” It is waiting that goes with patience that gets God’s attention. Waiting without patient is the one that gets man distracted and man becomes terminated. King Saul could not wait patiently for Samuel’s appointed time for sacrificial offering when he was set for war with the Philistines. It is written, “Then he waited seven days, according to the time set by Samuel. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him.  So Saul said, ‘Bring a burnt offering and peace offerings here to me.’ And he offered the burnt offering.  Now it happened, as soon as he had finished presenting the burnt offering that Samuel came…” (I Samuel 13:9-10) The end was not well with Saul for violating God by not being able to wait through. Abraham waited patiently in the face of hopelessness and his hope was filled by God. Waiting patiently can be painful but it is always gainful. Abraham waited patiently for God to deliver His promise and it was accounted for righteousness and by it he was able to obtain good testimony.
Believers claiming Abraham’s promise need to fully understand how Abraham obtained his promise. With understanding, believers should be able to live their life in line with Abraham’s testimony and gain the position to be counted for living upright and obtain good testimony. Living righteous is living upright. Why not live upright?  It is written, “…no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.” (Psalm 84:11) God is true to perform His Word because His Word does not go back to Him void. When walking uprightly becomes one’s way of life, one can be rest assured of God’s good thing answering in one’s way of life. Walking uprightly is not a one, two or three day walk. Walking uprightly is working the works of God daily. Working the works of God is to believe God (John 6:28-29). Wait patiently in all areas of waiting on God.