Unfailing Faith

Introduction

There’s something fascinating and inspiring and sometimes ironic about famous last words:

Some people get to think about their last words as the end approaches

  • Ned Kelly – Such is life
  • William Wallace – Freedom!

Others are more ironic and less profound

  • Dylan Thomas (1914-1953) "I have just had eighteen whiskeys in a row. I do believe that is a record."
  • General John Sedgwick (1813-1864) "Nonsense, they couldn't hit an elephant at this distance."

Still others are caught totally unprepared

  • Pancho Villa - "Don't let it end like this. Tell them I said something." (after being assassinated)

That’s an advertising company’s dream!! (McDonalds, Advanced hair etc)

The point – when one has had time to think about them, last words can be incredibly powerful and insightful.

Peter the Apostle was such a man

  • A mature, seasoned Christian
  • An eye witness to the life of Christ (death, burial resurrection, ascension)
  • A leader of the church
  • A man who was soon to be martyred

When a person knows that their end is near they will pass on what is most important

Read 2 Pet 1:3-9

  • Not a puffed up prosperity gospel
  • Not even about signs and wonders and miracles
  • He speaks to them about their FAITH

In his last known communication with the scattered church he begins by speaking to them about UNFAILING FAITH.

Unfailing Faith

Peter lays out a progression of thought that, whilst positive in it’s message, ends with a negative scenario

If our Faith isn’t growing and increasing we will become “near sighted and blind”

In other words OUR VISION GETS PROGRESSIVELY WORSE

Just as people can have failing eyesight, we can have failing faith

1. Faith has Eyes (Vision)

People of Little Faith are people with little vision

People of Great Faith are also people of great vision (even atheists have faith - in themselves)

You may not be a visionary (like Churchill or Martin Luther King Jr), but we all have vision (just like we all have natural eyes)

We are all Born with Vision

  • Children – “when I grow up I want to be a …..” (fireman, policeman, etc)
  • They have loads of vision, great imaginations

Losing our sight/vision is a terrible thing (physically and metaphorically)

  • In my opinion it’s the most devastating sense to lose (biggest impact)
  • Mention my hearing loss (cover right ear as a demo)
  • Tell story of going to visit Colin the blind man – “don’t say ‘good to see you’…”

Point - You don’t move things in a blind persons home – that’s cruel.

  • NOTE – God likes to ‘rearrange the furniture’ in His kingdom!!!
  • That’s why small faith people struggle, they blindly bump into things they can’t see (elaborate)

Question – how do we lose our Faith Vision?

We get dirt in our eyes (Sin kills Vision)

  • A tiny speck of dirt can affect your vision
  • NOTE – Jesus healed a mans sight by putting mud in his eyes
  • Sin has been dealt with (see end vs 9), the problem now has to do with Vision
  • It causes our Faith to FAIL.

To have unfailing faith we need to keep our eyes of faith on Jesus (not the dirt)

2. Faith has Memory (looks back)

Read 2 Peter 1:12-15

Note – 3 references to remembering

Our ability to see for ward is roughly proportional to our ability to see backwards

  • If I can only remember back as far as yesterday I’ll only be able to see as far forward as tomorrow. (very short sighted)
  • If I remember the events of my life, I can plan for the rest of my life
  • If I study history, I can prepare for the future

Point – Remembering and learning from the past is key to seeing the future

Faith is another word for Trust

Trust (or lack of) is the net result of all your previous experiences and knowledge of a person or product.

  • car brands – reliability
  • restaurants – quality and service
  • relationships – personal or professional

Unfailing Faith is anchored to something historical and secure and unchanging –(for the Christian that is the Life, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ)

Kidmo ‘compass point’ – “Don’t forget to Remember!”

3. Faith has Friends

John Calvin Quote (paraphrased)

“We are justified by faith alone, but where there is true faith it is never alone”

Faith isn’t really about words or deeds (as some think based on James 2 - expand).

That is ‘us and them’ thinking.

It’s about a CHANGING LIFE – Look at 2 Pet 1:5-7

Goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, love

A very similar list to Gal 5 – the FRUIT of the Spirit

Unfailing Faith is expressed in a God honouring lifestyle (Christ likeness)

Conclusion

Finish with 2 Peter 1:10-11