The prophet Habakkuk spoke directly to God and God responded to his concerns. Babylon had invaded Israel and they treated the people with brutality and violence. As Habakkuk began to speak his heart, God responded to his concerns. As he complains about the Babylonians, God's first response must have set the tone for the rest of Habakkuk's life.
Habakkuk 1:5, "Look at the nations and watch and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told."
When the man of God was unable to see any good, when life was overwhelming, God said, "I am going to do something you can't even imagine." This is the same response God speaks to people today when they are overwhelmed by what life throws their way.
When life is heavy and problems are big, Jesus said in Matthew 11:28, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."
Instead of worrying about provision and the problems, "seek first God's kingdom and righteousness," and God will provide. People of faith can trust that God will do something we can not even imagine. Provision will come, blessings will arrive as we seek Him first in priority.
When there is a dryness in your soul, God's word has a promise for you.
James 4:8 and 4:10, "Come near to God and he will come near to you... Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will lift you up."
When you draw near to God he will respond in like manner. When you turn from any sin that has become a wedge between you God, He will forgive. When you humble ourselves before God, he will gently restore.
The law of God, the Ten Commandments, are judging us afar from God. God's word reminds us that long ago he did something for anyone who is far from Him.
Romans 8:1-3, "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death." For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man.
There's no guilt before God for those who are in Jesus Christ. There are two laws at work in the spirit world. The law of sin and death, that all have sinned and fall short of God's requirements. The other is the law of the spirit of life. This law says that when we were powerless to keep God's commands, God sent Jesus Christ to fulfill their requirements.
Now that is something I could not imagine. That God would take upon Jesus all my guilt, all the things that I am ashamed of, and all that separated me from Him. That's unbelievable. God declares righteous to everyone who has faith in Jesus Christ.
Habakkuk saw the Babylonians as an unbeatable force that would rule God's people forever. But God said, you can't even imagine what I am going to do. So today, when addictions, sadness, emptiness and sin are an insurmountable foe, God already did something unbelievable - he sent Jesus Christ to release those who are held captive. Have you trusted Him, as Lord?
n Pastor Rich Lammay of High Sierra Fellowship is a member of Carson Valley Ministers' Association.
