When all around us are reveling in unbelief, how is it that followers of Jesus can maintain their commitment to belief? At the beginning of Luke's gospel, we find a brief, but powerful description of a priest and his wife, Zechariah and Elizabeth.
Luke 1:6 – "Both of them were upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord's commandments and regulations blamelessly."
These two were faithful to God in an era of unfaithfulness. Believers in an age of unbelief. At this time in history, God's people had not heard a single word from God through a prophet in 400 years. After the thousands of years of God's clear voice being heard through Moses, David and all the prophets, God has fallen silent.
Because of the silence, many of the priests in Zechariah's day had grown quite secular. Their role as priest had become simply a career, more cultural than religious.
But here stands Zechariah, faithful. Along with his wife, they are part of a small remnant of God's people that have always remained believers.
In an incredibly fortunate event, Zechariah is chosen to enter into the Holy Place in the temple in Jerusalem to burn incense and offer up a prayer on behalf of the nation. This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. While inside, Zechariah's faithfulness is rewarded. Gabriel, an angel of the Lord, God's Chief Messenger, appears to him and informs him that he will be the father of the next great prophet – John the Baptist.
Luke 1:16-17 – "Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God. And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous–to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."
Gabriel's announcement is the key to this whole idea of remaining a believer in an age of unbelief. Gabriel links this new promise with the last promise from the Old Testament (Malachi 4:5-6). The first promise of the New Testament is the fulfillment of the last promise from the Old Testament.
How do we remain faithful? How can we stay committed believers in an age of unbelief? While we may struggle hearing from God or grow impatient at his timing in fulfilling his promises, we must never forget that God is always faithful (even if it take 400 years!).
God will follow through on his promises. He will always be faithful. So as we follow him in faith, may be never give up hope that he will come through, as he always has. If you want to remain as a committed believer in an age of unbelief, trust in God's faithfulness.
