TRUST, POWER AND LOVE.

I can't remember the name of the teacher; but I will never forget the illustration of trust that he gave us. The year was 2003, June. The Course was the Basic Certificate Course (BCC) of the World of Faith Bible Institute (WOFBI), Lagos. The subject was Principles of Faith.

THE ILLUSTRATION

Once upon a time there were two villages separated by a wide crocodile infested river. The people of one village lived  a troubled and miserable life. But on the other side of the river the people were living in peace and enjoying all the good things of life. All the inhabitants of the troubled village longed to go to the peaceful one. But they must either use a canoe or swim across. The fear of crocodile will not permit it.

That was until a superman arrived and by some magic feats tied a rope across two poles on either side of the river. Like a circus master he walked on the rope from the troubled village to the peaceful one and back. Next he put a bull on his shoulder, walked across and back again. By now all the inhabitants of the troubled village were cheering with excitement. 

Then the superman came and asked them, "Do you believe I can take you across to the other town?"  They all shouted, "Yes!"

Then he asked them to come and let him take them across. Everyone began to flee from him. 

Then he gently asked them again, "But you said you believe I am able to take you across to the other side?" They all shook their heads in the affirmative. 

"Then please let me take you across." Again they all fled from him.

POWER AND LOVE

"What is going on here", someone may ask.

Well, they believed in his POWER or ability to take them across alright. But they did not believe he will take them across. They didn't TRUST him to take them across. They didn't know him enough to trust him with their lives. They were afraid that he might just drop them in the middle of the journey and feed them to the crocodiles.

LET'S APPLY THAT TO GOD

You see there are two aspects of faith in God. There is faith in His POWER. And there is faith in His LOVE. You cannot surrender your life to God until you develop faith in His love. 

God is love. The POWER of God actually backs up His love. God is powerful. So it Love that is powerful. The more you understand God's love, the more you will trust Him with your life. Love never fails. Those who really know God anchor their faith in His unconditional love. That is the foundation of their relationship with Him. They pray and do everything by faith in His love. In fact God introduced His salvation to the world in the context of His love.

"For God so LOVED the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John  3:16).

When you believe in Jesus Christ you are taking refuge in the love of God. Nothing has the power, then, to separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus if you abide in it.

"WHO SHALL SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF CHRIST? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?  

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,   

Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, SHALL BE ABLE TO SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF GOD, WHICH IS IN CHRIST JESUS our Lord." (Romans  8:35, 38-39).

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