The Just shall live by his faith!

Habakkuk was heartbroken over Judah's sin and unfaithfulness to God. He was upset that the Lord had not done anything about it. When God said He was raising the Babylonians, Habakkuk was upset that God would use an even more wicked nation like Babylon to discipline Judah.  Habakkuk asked God how He could even see such a wicked nation since His "eyes are too pure to look on evil" (Habakkuk 1:13). 

In this context, God replies to Habakkuk, saying serious trouble for Judah was indeed to come, "but the just shall live by his faith" (Habakkuk 2:4). Even amid tremendous trials and catastrophic situations like the Babylonian invasion of Judah, God said the just shall live by faith!

This saying is an encouragement for us today and an assurance of a remnant, a people group faithful to God even amidst extreme difficulties! This verse is so vital that it has been quoted in the New Testament in three epistles: Romans, Galatians, and Hebrews!  In Romans, Paul emphasizes the words "the righteous," and this delivered Martin Luther from his legalism and showed him the truth of God's grace through faith. In Galatians, Paul emphasizes the words "shall live." In Hebrews, the emphasis is on the words "by faith." He was not referring to 'faith in faith' or positive thinking! 

When the jailer in Philippi asked, "What must I do to be saved?" Paul pointed the Philippian Jailor to the Lord Jesus and said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved" (Acts 16:31). 

When life becomes rough because of political turmoil, only our faith in the Lord Jesus can save us! When Jezebel was trying to kill Elijah, the Lord encouraged Elijah, saying, "Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal." (1 Kings 19:18). Even in that terrible situation when Jezebel slaughtered the prophets of the living God, there was a remnant who had faith in the living God!  

This gives us hope that we can be found among the remnant with God's help!

My friend, everyday atrocities against minorities are increasing. We do not know what the future holds.  Just as God encouraged Habakkuk to trust Him, today, God is asking us to trust Him because the just shall live only by faith in the Lord Jesus.  May our faith in Lord Jesus keep us as the remnant when the Lord returns!

Prayer: Lord Jesus, help and strengthen me so that I may be found in the remnant that was saved by faith in Jesus. Amen.