10/28

Habakkuk 2:4

⁴"Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith.

Habakkuk prophesied to Judah just before its fall to the Chaldeans. His short book records his complaint to the LORD and the LORD'S answer. At first he complained about the corruption of his own people. The LORD'S answer was that judgment was on its way by the hand of the Chaldeans. Then he complained about the Chaldeans. They seemed to be brutally swallowing up all the nations and robbing them of their goods. Our verse today is part of the LORD'S answer.

Those God uses for judgment are not used because they are more righteous than the nations they conquer. The LORD will predict the future demise of the Chaldeans. They were prideful, power worshiping idolaters. They were a people of twisted souls. Then the LORD declared that the righteous shall live by faith. This verse was quoted three times in the New Testament (Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11; Hebrews 10:38).

We can complain all we want about the world around us, our own nation, and the wicked nations of the earth, but that is the way fallen people behave. The righteous, on the other hand, shall live by his faith. We are to live consistent lives according to the faith God has given us. It is by faith that we have a life that is different. Living by our faith is the best way to affect the world around us. Sitting in a corner and complaining about injustice and evil doesn't help change anything. Living by your faith will touch lives.

Consider: The next time you are tempted to join others in a complaining session, remember that you will be more helpful by simply living by your faith. The New Testament refers to this verse to teach that it is by faith that we lay hold of eternal life.