Common Men who had Uncommon Faith

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible; by faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks. By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and he rewards those who seek him. By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith” (Hebrews 11:1-7). With the sensationalism normally connected with teachings on faith, it is easy to think that faith is limited to an elite corps of God’s choicest saints. Easily overlooked are the masses of simple, plain, ordinary folks who, away from the limelight, modeled the “faith-life.” These are people with whom we have little trouble identifying. The passage we will be studying mentions three such men: a shepherd, a preacher, and a builder. Through their lives we learn about three aspects of faith. First, let look at a brief, simple analysis of faith (v.1). “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” What it is and isn’t. Faith is confidence in God, the firm conviction that He is at work and will come through on our behalf. Faith is not a blind leap into the dark, nor is it wishful positive thinking or presumption. Let's learn how faith works and why. A look at verse 6 gives us the thought that perhaps faith was originally easy for man to exercise, but we’ve made it difficult. Verse 6 gives three easy steps to follow. 1. We come to God, in humble absolute dependence. 2. We believe He’s there, this gives us assurance rather than doubt. 3. We count on Him to keep His word. His character is at stake. He makes things happen. Second, note three plain, common examples of faith. It is easy to trust God in theory, but when a situation is upon us, doubt competes for first place. A shepherd named Abel (v.4). A preacher named Enoch (v. 5). Jude 14-15 tells us that in his public life, Enoch proclaimed a message of judgment which his generation both resented and resisted. Genesis 5:21-14 we learn of his private life. For example take Noah, the builder (v.7). Noah lives 500 miles from the sea. Imagine the mockery Noah endured in his day. Third, let's examine three relevant applications of faith. By faith Abel came God’s way. By faith Enoch proclaimed God’s Word. By faith Noah revered God’s will. Each of these men was common and simple, but each lived by faith. The message is not complicated. Relative question, How about you? If faith were the topic of conversation in your neighborhood, would your name be included? What would happen if Hebrews 11 were to be updated in heaven? Would your name be on the list? Dr. Ken Copley is available for counseling, conferences, and local church meetings.

The Super Test of Super Tests

“By faith Abraham, when has was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, of whom it was said, ‘Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.’ He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back” (Hebrews 11: 17-19). Perhaps you have notices life is marked by tests. Some are major, most are minor; some linger, most leave about as quickly as they arrive. In the process of growth toward maturity, trouble plays an essential role: it puts faith on the line. Note several factors involved in testing. First, there are several levels of testing. We read in II Corinthians 4:8-9, about four levels of stress. The levels of testing or stress are indicated by the following terms: the first level of stress is found in the word afflicted. This is the lowest level of testing. It is mild or moderate. The word in the Greek means pressure. This type of stress comes from people, deadlines, interruptions, and delays. It is easily forgotten but it attacks us on a daily basis. The second level of stress is found in the word perplexed. The Greek word means “without a way” and conveys the idea of not knowing where to go or to whom one can turn. This kind of testing would include not knowing how to handle unfair treatment from unfair people. The third level of stress is found in the word persecuted. This is an extreme level of testing. It can be either emotional or physical. This form of irritation or stress does not pass quickly. And the fourth level of stress is found in the word struck down. This is the ultimate testing, maximum stress. It can include the loss of someone or something near and dear to you: the loss of a spouse to divorce; a mate to death, a child, or friend; something you considered valuable; a dream. For Abraham, it was the potential loss of his “only begotten son” (Hebrews 11:17). Second, we find the ultimate level of testing. The Scriptures reveal the story of Abraham and Isaac in both telescopic (Hebrews 11) and microscopic (Genesis 22) fashions. Note an overview found in Hebrews 11: 17-19. Our usual response to life’s ultimate tests is “I can’t believe it!” We reason, “How can a good God bring such a test? It’s unfair!” An analysis of Genesis 22 is in order. The God who told Abraham to leave Ur, who gave Abraham the promise of a nation, and who opened Sarah’s womb in her old age, told Abraham to sacrifice his son. Please note Abraham’s words found in Genesis 22:3-10. “We will worship, we will return.” How could Abraham have done this? The answer is found in Hebrews 11:19, he brought God into his reasoning. Third, our lives today: a personal examination. In reviewing Hebrews 11:17-19, there are at least four applications we can draw for our own lives. God’s will always require obedience (v. 17a). The plan is never fully understood (v. 17b). Ultimate tests initially seem contradictory (v. 18). Our response invariably reveals our theology (v. 19). Dr. Ken Copley is available for counseling, conferences, and local church meetings.

Learning to Wait

Please read Psalm 62:1-9. Twice in this Psalm David speaks of his soul "Waiting" or "Being silent" before the Lord. This silence is significant,especially in a world filled with noise. It is so difficult for us, at times, to be perfectly still before God, as an instrument whose silent cords wait for His divine touch. Note several aspects of waiting. First, he waited on God. Lit. "My soul is silent. He displayed unwavering submission and quiet faith. He put into practice a silence of the will. The Psalmist believed, was patient, was silent in resignation and he was obedient. "Waiting is hope and trust lengthened. How did he do it? With his soul. He who talks much of his troubles to men is apt to say too little about them to God. What came out of it? Deliverance, present, personal, and eternal. Second, why should we wait on the Lord? Because the secret of strength lies in submission. This is seen in what He is. He is our Rock. He is our strength, God enables us to stand in the midst of all the evil forces of the world. Our Savior is able to deliver us from the power of sin. Our Defender is able to save us from the attacks of the Devil. Because He keeps His great promises, we can trust Him fully. If we do not trust Him with and in all, we do not trust Him at all. Third, how should we wait? Expecting Him to keep His Word. We must be unmovable. He is my Refuge what enemy can pursue me? He is my Rock, what storm shall shake me? He is my Defense, what temptation shall wound me? He is my Salvation, what grief shall deject me? He is my glory, what slander shall defame me? Forth, the result of waiting upon the Lord. Trust will develop. He wants all trust, from all saints at all times. We need to trust in times of prosperity, of desertion by friends, of poverty, of conscious sin, of chastisement, of death. These are the times we learn how to pray. We need to learn how to speak plainly with God. The word "Pour" signifies that the heart is full of grief, and almost afraid to empty itself before the Lord. Jesus is the wonderful counselor. He will be our Refuge. Jesus puts the false helps upon which men depend into contrast with the only help of man, that is God Himself. The false helps are 1. Men of low degree. 2. Men of high degree. 3. Oppression. 4. Robbery. 5. Riches. In this passage of Scripture the weakness and uselessness of all these things apart from God is clearly seen. Dr. Ken Copley is available for counseling, conferences, and local church meetings.

Running to Win

“So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised” (Hebrews 10:35-36). I had a professor in Seminary who would say "Its always to soon to quit." Those words were spoken in a time when the average stay of a pastor was under two years. The above passage says the same thing, Don't quit, its too soon to quit, persevere, keep on keeping on. The Lord is telling us to stay confident in Him. Things don't have to go our way, we can be assured they are going His way. That's what really matters in the end. We find real comfort in the Lord's command to "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding" (Prov. 3:5). The word "Trust" means to fall flat on your face before. The word indicates a total trust which would not in anyway rely on self, resources, other people, or cleaver schemes. Our trust is to be in Him alone. When we fall flat on our face before Him we are saying I surrender everything to You. I give you total control of my life, my future, my finances, my relationships, my possessions, my health, and every other aspect of my life. Then watch Him work, for its all about Him. He is God and I am not. Ya know, I can write about this a whole lot easier than I can live it. That is why I need to actively do things that will keep me close to the Lord. Like what things you may ask? Well like prayer, Bible reading, fellowship with other believers, attending church, and obeying God. He never moves over but I have a tendency to do so. The song writer said "Prone to wander Lord I feel it, prone to leave the God I love." In His grace He is faithful to keep on calling me back to fellowship with Himself. I will be the first to acknowledge that it can be hard to stay focused when life begins to crumble. Staying confident when it seem like our life dreams have evaporated can really be tough. Those are the times we must pray for strength, and exercise faith in the God who is too wise to make a mistake. These times are designed by Him to deepen our dependency and strengthen our resolve to follow Him. Dr. Ken Copley is available for counseling, conferences, and local church meetings.

Who Cares for the Elderly

"Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.”- Isaiah 46:4. We live in a time of genuine economic instability. Every day I read of major companies being in financial trouble. With the present rate of inflation many who live on fixed incomes are feeling the pinch. I have a friend, who is a few years older than I am, he has stated he has two fears as he approaches his "Golden years." The first fear is dying from an extended, extremely painful, illness and the second is that he might out live his material resources. God answers these questions when He says "I am he who will sustain you." I frequently approach the Lord in prayer on the basis of son-ship. My prayer might go as follows "Father, you created me and saved me, you have promised to provide for my needs and take care of me. I have a really big need right now, and I am asking you to take care of me by providing for me according to your will." I believe the Lord delights in answering prayer. The answer (He always answers) makes sense, is practical and leaves no doubt that it came from Him in answer to prayer. Faith works itself out in praying rather than in scheming. The Lord has promised to "carry us." and "rescue us." I believe He does this through the power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is God, an active member of the Godhead who indwells every believer. I am aware that we as Christians tend to ignore Him and His working in our lives. He came to guide us, why would we ignore our Guide. I don't have any direct Scriptural command to pray to Him, but I am commanded to "grieve not the Holy Spirit." and I am to "quench not the Holy Spirit." These commands imply relationship, and the Holy Spirit is a relational member of the Godhead. As we read the Scriptures the Holy Spirit teaches us and illumines the Word in our minds and hearts. The truth is the Lord will indwell us by the Holy Spirit until we draw our last breath and go home to be with our Father in heaven. When I was young we would sing "every day with Jesus is sweeter than the day before."I do know this, every day brings me one day closer to home. Dr. Ken Copley is available for counseling, conferences, and local church meetings.

Sweet Vengeance

"Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves: but give place unto wrath, for it is written, vengeance belongs to me, I will repay, says the Lord." (Romans 12:20). The desire to get even has no place in the life of the believer. Christ gave the example; His followers are to forgive even as He forgave them (Colossians 3:13). There are those who will treat a Christian unkindly and often with purpose, and to retaliate is a natural response. But to turn the other cheek, to go the second mile, is Christlike. This kind of living can only be done through the filling and power of the Holy Spirit. The believer is to do his best to live at peace with all men and avoid giving offense to any. Rather than avenge himself of unjust attacks, he is to return good for evil. Any thought of taking revenge must be banished from the mind. Opposition, persecution, and hatred are to be repaid positively with good. Scripture makes it clear that revenge belongs to God, and to Him alone. God's way a avenging is infinitely better for all concerned and brings glory to Himself. As Christians we need to realize we live in a moral universe that is under the authority of God. We must not play God by seeking revenge for personal affronts. God has His way of dealing with offenders either through governmental authority (13:4) or in the final judgment. When we avoid avenging ourselves and return good for evil, we give God an opportunity to work. When we take revenge into our own hands we are apt to find that at the last it produces bitter fruit. When God avenges wrong it is not done with a retaliation which is so representative of human scheming. God avenges wrong with perfect equity and justice. For the Christian this is called Kingdom living. When it come to vengeance, remember He is God and you are not. Dr. Copley is available for counseling, conferences, and local church meetings.

Cliff Catching

Has the Lord ever asked you to step out into a new venture with Him. Perhaps all you could see in front of you was a cliff. Moses felt the same way when God called him to deliver his people from the bondage of Egypt. Rather than simply tell the Lord he wouldn't go, he came up with an excuse. Someone said an excuse "Is the skin of reason stuffed with a lie." Moses said to the Lord, 'O Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue" (Exodus 4:10). Moses disagreed with the Lord, indicating, he knew himself better than the Lord did. Moses refused the calling the Lord placed on him. Moses got into a "I know best" argument with God. I remember visiting with a good man many year ago. He started crying as he related to me that as a young man he was called to preach, and he sort of ignored the call. Actually he didn't so much ignore the call as he put it off for a more convenient time. Many years later he was still lamenting his disobedience and lost opportunities. The Lord reasoned with Moses, demonstrating His gracious patience. "The LORD said to him, 'Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the LORD? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.' But Moses said, 'O Lord, please send someone else to do it.'" God actually relented in the argument. Can you imagine that? But He's not happy about it. "Then the Lord's anger burned against Moses and he said, 'What about your brother, Aaron the Levite?'" God had to use Aaron as Moses' mouthpiece. Have you ever waited to take a step with the Lord until everything lined up to your satisfaction? I started a church years ago, a godly woman and her children began attending services. I invited her husband to join her in worship, he said he would, as soon at he got his business up and running. To my knowledge he never did come to church, and his business didn't fair all that well either. When God calls a person, He uses the talents and abilities He has given that person. The filling of the Holy Spirit makes us competent to do whatever the Lord leads us to do. Perhaps the Lord is leading you into His work. You and others see His calling on your life, and you are mindful that He is directing you toward a new ministry. God's supply always accompanies His will. This is why you need not fear moving into an unfamiliar area if He calls you there. What is God waiting for you to do? It may be your time to step out. He specializes in "cliff-catching." Dr. Ken Copley is available for counseling, conferences, and local church meetings.

What About Suffering

People are fond of posing the dual questions, "Why is there so much suffering in the world?" and "Why doesn't God do something about it?" Strangely, however we seldom think to ask the deeper and more pertinent questions, "Why is there so little love in human hearts?" and "Why don't we do something about it." For the believer suffering takes on new meaning. Calvin Miller wrote "We glory in knowing that at the core of our best pearls there exists a ragged hurt that once stabbed us with ripping pain. Then God came. His grace 'pearlized' our pain with dependency. Our deep moans gave way to glad hosannas. He transformed our hurt into a beautiful usable ministry (Jeremiah 31:13). 'I will turn their mourning to joy.' This pain is the pouring out of self. Once empty, we are then ready to be filled with something more than ourselves. The emptying is continual. Becoming is indeed hard work. It is the work of being poured out. Fragile trust is stronger than swaggering self-reliance." Suffering can be a means of deeper relationship with God. Crucifixion is God's invitation to resurrection, that our "Joy might be full..." John 15. Dr. Ken Copley is available for counseling, conferences, and local church meetings.

Facts About Faith

Hebrews tells us that "faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things unseen." Our faith is no better than the object of our faith. I can believe in something with all my heart but if I am believing a lie, my faith is worthless. The Scriptures are God's truth. What God says is absolutely true. My eternal salvation is based on the Gospel as revealed in the Word. My faith must be placed in God and the truth of His Word. The fact is God backs up everything He promises, there is not a promise or statement in the Scriptures that He will not honor. Thus we trust in Him and in none other. The Scripture say "Cursed is the man who trusts in man." God is my Father and He takes responsibility for me. He has made it quite clear that He is more than willing to provide for me and He calls on me to trust Him. "My God shall supply all your needs through His riches in glory." Everyone of us will come to the place of desperation in life. During this time it seems as if everything we touch falls apart. There are times we can readily identify with the Prophets of old who would lament the day they lived in. Jeremiah cursed the day he was born. Habakkuk asked the Lord why He would allow a people far more wicked than the children of Israel to conquer them. The most interesting thing is when the Prophet was through crying out his lament to God he would invariability break out in praise. Crying out to God seems to help us get our priorities straight. In the process of crying out we tend to see Jesus. The Author of Hebrews tell us to "Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." I am reminded of the Scripture that says "If you faint in the day of adversity your strength is small." We are reminded in the Bible "The battle belongs to the Lord." The Christian life is a faith life, fleshed out in trust. Is your faith growing or diminishing in your present trial?

Holding Things In An Open Hand

Living in a materialistic world is not easy. The common people in Jesus' world would be paupers by our standards. However one third of His parables had to do with money. In recent years God has called upon me to let go of almost every material thing I ever acquired. Some time ago I sold my college graduation ring to obtain enough money to buy some groceries. I wore it for 37 years, I can frankly say I don't miss it a bit. Several years ago I experienced a knee replacement, twice, (the first one wore out in two weeks). That's when I sold my theological library to pay the bills. No problem, some how the Lord always gets the right materials or books into my hands. He still owns the cattle on a thousand hills and the wealth in every mine. Getting material goods to His children is His speciality, getting materialism out of the hearts of His children certainly can be difficult. Some years ago my mother-in-law passed away. She had worked for many years and laid away some funds for her children. My father-in-law remarried and in doing so he assured his children that "Mom's money" would go to them when he passed on. The time came when my father-in-law was laid to rest. Unknown to us, he transferred all of "Mom's" money to his new wife a few weeks before he died. Upon hearing this I learned something about the subject of greed. This money would have build us a new house, debt free. After struggling with this for a day, I surrender the whole matter to the Lord and have not been bothered by it since. Sitting loose to things may be a good way to view material matters. Someone wisely said "when you own a thing, you don't own it, it owns you." Years ago there was a bumper sticker that stated "He who dies with the most toys wins." I saw an edited version of that bumper sticker that stated "He who dies with the most toys wins NOTHING." In Mark 8:36 says: “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" Job understood this when he said "And said, Naked come I out of my mothers womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord." (Job 1:21). How are you doing with things, tangible and intangible? What if you lost your job, car, house, belongings, children, parents, best friend, reputation, health, position, etc. What would you cling to, what or who would you trust? In times like these, in days of uncertainty, what should a believer do? I pastored a church in a rescue mission some years ago. My congregation was made up of street people, recovering alcoholics, drug addicts and men just released from prison. The blessing of God was amazing, more than once I had to stop a service because a man was so under conviction of sin that he would walk up to me and ask me to help him become a Christian. The rest of the congregation would go to prayer as a new spiritual child was being born. The spiritual insights of these men would surpass that of many long term, uptown, church goers. Their burden for the salvation of souls was amazing. Materialism, still a problem, but most received their daily food with thanksgiving. Perhaps we would do well to ask God to cleanse our hearts of the love of things so we will have more room for the love of God.

Where Is God In Times Like These?

We certainly live in times of uncertainty, political and economic Crisis are standard fare. The darkness deepens, as the world turns a blind eye and a deaf ear toward evil. The Scriptures are quite explicit concerning the end time. "Men will wax worse and worse." Rather than park on the negative, let's consult the Lord and get His view of difficult times. He says, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”- Isaiah 41:10. Look at this scene. The Prophet Jeremiah was in a pit, his fellow country men hated him, they are the ones who threw him in. The city of Jerusalem was about to be captured and her people would go into exile. The Lord spoke to Jeremiah and told him to purchase a portion of land as the Lord would have a purpose for it in the future. Jeremiah couldn't believe his ears. Everything he was experiencing screamed hopeless. Then the Lord said "Is there anything too hard for Me?" That is the question was must ask, is there anything to hard for the Lord? Are His promises relevant for me. Is His Word true for me. Can I trust Him today in the midst of all my trials? What if He let's me down? The hymn writer of old asked this question "Where can I go but to the Lord?" We have many voices calling to us today. False prophets seem to be everywhere. Political Messiahs are on the rise. The scientific community is trying to forecast a better tomorrow. But what about the condition of a man's soul? Are we as a nation, running to the Lord? Where do we go in times of crisis? Some one wisely asked the question "Why do men run to the Devil as though he were God and run away from God as though He were the Devil? Hard times, they are a coming, for many they are here. But what about God. He is here to, and He is a whole lot bigger than our hard times. What do we do in times like these. We run to the God who is our Strength.

Crying Out To The Lord

"But when they cried out to the LORD, he raised up for them a deliverer. . ." (Judge 3:8-9). I often receive requests to help someone whose life is in a difficult place. After a few questions I am able to discern if the Lord has called me to get involved. Sometimes the Lord doesn't want me to get involved. Many times I find this person has not experienced enough pain to want to do anything about their situation. Until they are really ready to cry out to the Lord for a solution to their situation, they will simply talk about desiring change but never take the necessary steps needed for change." If you invest time into someone who has not yet come to the place of wanting a spiritual solution to their problem, you will become emotionally exhausted. The apostle Paul understood this principle when he actually turned such people over to Satan for the destruction of their flesh (I Cor. 5:5). It has been told that a young student came to Plato and asked to learn wisdom. As the story goes Plato took him into a river and then held his head under water for a couple of minutes. The young man thrashed about wildly and finally was allowed to breath again. When the young man caught his breath Plato said "When you desire wisdom as much as you wanted air you will find it." The recognition of desperation changes a man. The greatest need in our world today is the recognition of need. The people of Israel were finally in enough pain to cry out to God for relief from their oppression. Like so many times throughout the scriptures, God answered by raising up a deliverer. "But when they cried out to the LORD, he raised up for them a deliverer, Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother, who saved them. The Spirit of the LORD came upon him, so that he became Israel's judge and went to war. The LORD gave Cushan-Rishathaim king of Aram into the hands of Othniel, who overpowered him. So the land had peace for forty years, until Othniel son of Kenaz died (Judg 3:8-11)." Are you in a difficult place in your life? Are you only talking about changing or are you really ready to cry out to the Lord for a solution? Start now the process of letting the Lord to change your situation for the better, and this begins with crying out to the Lord.

The Reality of the Trusting Heart

The Lord commands us to "Trust in the Lord with all our Heart and lean not on our own understanding." Prov. 3:5-6. Charles Bridges said "This text is the pole star of every Christian life." The Christian life is an act of faith at the beginning and an attitude of faith to the end. Our Father did not say don't use your understanding just don't lean on it. Why? Because we are to lean on Jesus. What does it mean to trust the Lord? A missionary was translating the Bible into a native language. He was searching for a word that would convey the meaning for the word trust. The tribe he was ministering to did not seem to have a word that would convey such a meaning. Seems they were suspicious each other and everybody around them. The missionary had a large easy chair in his office. You know the kind that one falls back into and the chair catches you. One day a young boy came running into his office, jumped into the air and landed in the chair bottom first. As he landed, grinning ear to ear, he spoke a word. This word came to mean to "cast your full weight upon." The missionary had found the word for trust. This is what our Lord wants us to do. We are to "Cast our full weight upon the Lord with all our Heart..." Is he trust worthy? King David said he was. David looked back at his life and saw that the Lord was always faithful to him, even when David was not faithful to the Lord. Abraham trusted the Lord even when he was commanded to sacrifice Isaac. For Abraham to lean on his own understanding would have taken him in another direction. Had Abraham run away from the Lord's command we would have missed the great illustration of "God providing for himself a lamb." Jesus trusted His Father every step of his earthly walk, right up to the cross, death and beyond. We trust in the Christ of the Cross and in nothing else for our eternal salvation. As believers we are to "Walk by faith, not by sight." The Lord asks us to trust him because he is trustworthy. This is to be the primary motivation of the Christian life. We please Him by trusting Him. Hebrews says "Without faith it is impossible to please Him." Trusting the Lord makes Him the Boss, it's His will not ours, it's His way not ours, it's His time table not ours. To "trust the Lord with all our heart" is a command, not an invitation. It refers to a total capitulatin of our heart to God. "All your heart." God does not accept trust unless it is total. The trust is entire and exclussive. It involves a total renunciation of self. "Lean not on your own understanding." Total trust means no back door exit, no other bridges. Today the Lord is asking us to "Cast all of our weight on Him" because He and He alone is trustworthy.