Who Do You Trust?

     Believe it or not, there was once a game show entitled "Who Do You Trust" hosted by the late, great Johnny Carson.  In the game, a couple would be introduced to a category and have to decide who would answer the question.  It came down to whether one member of the couple trusted the other to answer the question correctly.  With a cash award for the right answer, this was something each couple had to think about.  However, this was only a game show, so the decision was not a matter of life and death.  

     By contrast, in our present day circumstances, this is a question of some importance.  We seek out doctors who are experts in their field so we can be confident that we will receive the best care.  Likewise, we have all become more cautious before we believe stories in the news, and ask ourselves if the source is trustworthy.  Then, we are wary when it comes to trusting government, politicians, or others in leadership. As the days become more evil, we are right to seek out the truth.

 

   Jesus demonstrated wisdom that we also need to consider when it comes to putting our faith in people rather than in God.  John 2:23-25 says:  "Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs that He was doing.  But Jesus on His part did not entrust Himself to them, because He knew all people and needed no one to bear witness about man, for He Himself knew what was in man."  Our Lord knew all about our sin nature and how easily we vacillate in our opinions.  He was correct in not trusting men.

     Even the prophet Jeremiah weighed in on the danger of trusting men.  In chapter 17:5, 7, 9:  "Thus says the Lord:  'Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the LORD....Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD...'"  Then, in verse 9, we see why we should not put our trust in man:  "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?"  Just as Jesus was betrayed by one of His own disciples, so many of us may have had the experience of having someone let us down.  Even our loving spouses can disappoint us at times. So why is it that we can trust God?  All we have to do is turn to the Bible for the answers.

     Numbers 23:19 says:  "God is not a man, that He should lie, or a son of man, that He should change His mind.  Has He said, and will He not do it?  Or has He spoken, and will He not fulfill it?"  Unlike fallen man, the Lord is steadfast, truthful and does all according to His will.  In addition, God has promised to never leave us nor forsake us.  Hebrews 13:5 says:  "Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have for He has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.'"  This is a promise that we can count on without concern.  I know in my own life that God brought me through Polio, carried me through the deaths of my mother, father and grandson, and has provided for us through fifty years of marriage.  In fact David witnessed to the faithfulness of God in Psalm 37:25 when he writes:  "I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread."  We serve a trustworthy God on whom we can depend to meet our needs.

     When thinking about God's trustworthiness, we only have to look at the fact that He loved the world so much that He sent His Son to atone for our sins and make a way for salvation.  Paul says it well in Romans 5:7-10:  "For one will scarcely die for a righteous person - though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die, but God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  Since, therefore, we have now been justified by His blood, much more shall we be saved by Him from the wrath of God.  For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, now that we are reconciled shall we be saved by His life."  God's New Covenant made in the blood of Jesus Christ makes clear that He alone can be trusted.

     This old world is passing away, and daily, we see evidence of the decay of morals, government, and relationships.  Putting our trust in anything but God will lead to disappointment.  Now, is the time for each of us to take stock of where we are laying up our treasure.  Is it here on earth where moth and rust can consume it, as Jesus said (Matthew 6:19-21)?  Or are we laying up our treasure in heaven by trusting in God?  We have a choice to make.  In whom do you trust today?  God alone is our refuge and strength!  Selah!