FAITH - 2

...whosoever shall say unto this mountain..”

The “whosoever” is that set of persons who have been able to possess their faith in God. It is those who have fulfilled the first command -“have faith in God”- that can “say unto this mountain…”

The second critical issue is the need to identify and acknowledge the particular mountain. My simple definition for a “mountain” is any situation, circumstance or person that tries to divert or displace your faith in God. Mountains are the ways through which God tests or tries our claims of having faith in Him. Not as though He needs the proof for himself, but to show us where our claims truly lie. Mountains, on a positive note, are equally God’s teaching tools to help us learn how to have faith or put our trust in Him. Whatever may be a mountain in your life,  you must first acknowledge that there is indeed a problem/challenge. It is sheer foolishness to see black and say it is white. Wishing away a problem or pretending our challenges do not exist is one of the craziest things one can do. There is power in acknowledgement. Faith does not deny a fact. I have seen many being diagnosed of terrible illnesses only for them to linger or even die in a state of denial. In this state, they simply do not want to accept the fact that they have this ailment. They fast and pray all manner of prayers, rejecting and refusing a fact. Little do they know that fear had trailed all the activities they ascribed to a work of faith. They resort to men of God or prayer houses, wishing for a miracle which remains in the realm of mere wishes.

Brethren, let us know that there must be “this mountain” for the beauty of faith to be seen. Faith thrives better in the midst of problems and challenges; thus, the exhortation to you is to “count it all joy when ye fall into diverse trials, knowing that the proving of your faith worketh patience…”  (James 1:2)

Without a storm to still, five thousand to feed or a Cross to be borne for an unworthy creature as men, faith will be meaningless. Faith will only remain a “mustard seed” without the dirt and darkness which must engulf or surround it to become a “tree of life” 

So much for the negative views we already have on our minds about mountains being trials, challenges and problems only. We may never think that having wealth or being blessed could become a mountain. Wealth and blessing are mountains because they can readily displace our faith in God. Indeed, “The blessings of the Lord, it maketh rich and he addeth no sorrow with it” but only as we “do not forget the Lord thy God..” else  “...when thou eaten and art full… and thy silver and gold is multiplied… Then thy heart be lifted up,.. and say thou in thine heart, My power and the might of my hand had gotten me  this wealth… ye shall surely perish.” (Deut 8: 11-19)

Let us not be stereotyped here again. Wealth may not only be in monetary or material terms.

“The rich man’s wealth is his fortress…” says  Prov 10:15. People can be rich in connections. Being connected is their wealth, and they run to it as a fortress in times of trouble. You are a rich man in whatever or whoever you can run to in times of trouble! You only need to define the “what” or the “who” to discover your wealth. As for me, “I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress” (Ps 91:2)

Remember the rich young ruler “who went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.”  He could not overcome the mountain of “wealth and blessing” and missed out on eternal life - the true wealth in God.

Whatever your mountain may be: marital, financial, health, family, academic, economic, social or wealth, you will overcome in Jesus’ name. Have faith in God.