THE MESSAGE 2

Habakkuk 2:3-4 (NET)
For the message is a witness to what is decreed; it gives reliable testimony about how matters will turn out. Even if the message is not fulfilled right away, wait patiently; for it will certainly come to pass – it will not arrive late.
Look, the one whose desires are not upright will faint from exhaustion, but the person of integrity will live because of his faithfulness.

Amara was in charge of the accounts department in her office. Even though at that time she really needed money, she refused to cooperate with her boss to manipulate some figures and make extra cash. She simply told him that cooperating with him would be acting against her faith.

Doing things that fight your faith is the definition of sinning (see Rom 14:23). Sin is antithetical to faith, that’s why continuing in any sin and defiling conscience would ultimately lead to a shipwreck of faith (see 1 Tim 1:19).

Amara did not compromise because she had the hope of our calling as the anchor for her soul. Our faith is based on hope. This hope is the hope of the eternal kingdom of God and glory that He has promised us when the Lord appears. Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as the substance of things hoped for. There must be hope for there to be faith.

Even though it may appear as if the coming of the Lord (which will bring our hope to fruition) tarries, we wait patiently, for it will certainly come to pass.

Go into today longing for the Lord’s appearing. This longing produces a life of faith and faithfulness in doing the Lord’s assignment. Those who live like this will be sure to wear a crown on that day (see 2 Tim 4:8). They will not suffer loss (see 1 Cor 3:15).