Faithfulness
Jeb Stuart was a highly valued asset in the Confederate Army during the Civil War. He had an uncanny ability to infiltrate Union Army lines without being detected, and, on several occasions, outflanked General McClellan’s lines, destroying munitions, and gathering vital intelligence. He was unquestionably one of General Robert E. Lee’s most trusted soldiers.
With each mission, Stuart would submit his report to General Lee, signed, “Yours to count on, Jeb Stuart.”
Dependability is a wonderful thing. It draws us to the same restaurant again and again. It sells cars, appliances and computers. It brings security to relationships and builds lasting friendships . . . and it adds weight to our Christian testimony.
But genuine faithfulness is indeed a rare thing.
In Proverbs 20:6 we read, “Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man, who can find?” and Psalm 12:1 says, “Help, Lord; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.”
It is one thing to tout one’s own virtues, but quite another to be virtuous. People who profess their faithfulness are a dime a dozen, but the man who actually delivers on his promises is a rare exception.
This is one of the things that make our Lord Jesus Christ such a treasure to us. One of his most appealing qualities is His constancy. “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and forever.” Hebrews 13:8
What a joy it is to know that He is always there, and that we can count on Him! “Thy mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.” Psalms 36:5 “. . . Great is thy faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:23
King David declared in Psalm 89:1, “I will sing of the mercies of the Lord for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.” God had promised him an everlasting throne, saying, “His seed also will I make to endure for ever, and his throne as the days of heaven. If his children forsake my law, and walk not in my judgments; If they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments; Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes. Nevertheless my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail. My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips. Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David. His seed shall endure forever, and his throne as the sun before me. It shall be established for ever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven. Selah.” Psalms 89:29-37
That throne remains to this day, with one of David’s descendants still upon it — as promised! Just think of that!
In light of the great faithfulness of our God, every Christian should know without a shadow of doubt that He can be trusted, and that He deserves our unceasing praise. Let us so live. “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)” Hebrews 10:23
Our Lord Jesus Christ is more dependable than the air that we breathe. We can trust Him with our lives, our families and our homes. We can trust him with our finances, as well as all of our other physical needs. We can depend upon His every Word, for He will always keep His promises to His people. He has proven it over and over.
But can He depend upon us? Are we faithful?
Faithfulness is often difficult for us. We are framed in frailty and most of us tend to gravitate toward that which is least difficult. But when faithfulness is most difficult, it is then that it is most necessary. May we show ourselves faithful in all things!
“A little thing is a little thing; but faithfulness in the little things is a very great thing.” May our Lord find us faithful when He returns!
