Where Have You Deposited Your Faith?

Where Have You Deposited your Faith? 

Scripture:

2 Timothy 1:12b But I am not ashamed, for I know the one in whom I have put my trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard until that day what I have entrusted to him. 

Observation:

Paul strongly affirms that he is not ashamed of being a Christian. Even if other people think of him as a lunatic on account of his work, he will not turn back. He has given everything that he has for the sake of the gospel. Some of the older translations use the word “deposit” to refer to Paul’s putting his complete trust in God. Other translations us the word “commended,” or what Paul has commended to God. Augustine suggests that Paul is saying that he has commended his faith to God for safe keeping. Others might say that Paul has deposited his faith into God’s bank, and that he is entrusting everything, his mission, and all that he holds dear, to God. When that is done, then no amount of questioning on the part of others will cause him to withdraw his deposit. 

Interestingly, when we think about this deposit into God’s bank, we discover the role of stewardship. In return, God entrusts to Paul his own treasure. There is mutual trust in this relationship and that’s why all of this is possible. It’s about a relationship. Paul has come to know the one in whom he is placing his trust. He has no doubt that his faith will be well-protected because he knows the protector. 

There was no need for anyone to try and convince Paul to turn his back on God. No matter how crazy his faith may have seemed to others, he would never be ashamed of the one in whom he had put his entire trust. 

Application:

We don’t sing a lot of the old hymns much anymore. Sadly, I think we’re missing out on some good theology and reminders of God’s great grace and power. This passage of Scripture obviously brings up this old hymn, “I know Who I have believed.” Let’s revisit the words: 

1. I know not why God’s wondrous grace (I have no idea what God graciously reached out to me, a sinner)
   To me He hath made known, (He let me see his grace in action, revealing himself on the Damascus road)
   Nor why, unworthy, Christ in love
   Redeemed me for His own. (Who was I, but a sinner. Jesus died for me when I was making fun of those who followed him) 
• Refrain:
  But “I know Whom I have believed, (But I have come to know the one in whom I have put my trust)
  And am persuaded that He is able
  To keep that which I’ve committed
  Unto Him against that day.” (The Saviour I have come to know, is able to safely hold my faith until I get to see him again, face to face) 
2. I know not how this saving faith
   To me He did impart, (I can’t explain how all of this happened to me, but I know that I’ve been transformed!)
   Nor how believing in His Word
   Wrought peace within my heart. (It was by my on-going study of the Word that the peace of Christ continued to grow in my heart. I’m not sure how that happened, but it’s been a miracle) 
3. I know not how the Spirit moves, (I know the Spirit moves, but I can’t explain to you how)
   Convincing men of sin, (Yes, it is the Spirit who convicts us of our sin)
   Revealing Jesus through the Word, (The Spirit helps us see Jesus revealed through the reading of the Word)
   Creating faith in Him. (And somehow this develops within me a faith that I didn’t know I was capable of embracing) 
4. I know not what of good or ill
   May be reserved for me, (I have no idea what my future looks like. There may be good days, or there may be bad)
   Of weary ways or golden days,
   Before His face I see. (I still have time to live my life, in weariness from the journey, or strengthened by the golden sunshine) 
5. I know not when my Lord may come, (I don’t know when Jesus will come back again)
   At night or noonday fair, (Maybe it’ll be during the night while I’m sleeping, or in the middle of the day for all to see)
   Nor if I walk the vale with Him, (I don’t know if I’m going to walk this earth with Jesus)
   Or meet Him in the air. (Or whether I will meet him in my death)

It doesn’t matter, because I have come to know the one in whom I have put all my trust. I have deposited everything I have with my Lord, and I trust him fully. 

Where we have deposited our trust will greatly influence the way in which we will live our lives. Singing the old song of our faith is a gentle reminder of entire consecration. Becoming completely sold-out for Jesus Christ means that we deposit every part of our life  with the Lord. Nothing is held back — everything is put into the bank. The beauty is that in return God releases the treasures of heaven, and we become stewards in the kingdom. The hitch in all this, is that we must truly know the one in whom we place our deposit! 

Prayer:

Lord, thank you for your precious promises and faithfulness to us. Amen.