There is nothing deceitful in God, nothing two-faced, nothing fickle. James 1:17 THE MESSAGE.

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. James 3:17 NRSV.

I keep thinking about what it must have been like for the people living then to have experienced or to have heard about Jesus. What was it like in the early decades following His crucifixion and ascension to the Father? Everything changed. We are slow to change because of uncertainty. Creator God – Father, Son, Spirit, is constant. Our world will experience upheavals. And when we turn to God, He is here and will be our help. That we can count on. And in our chapter, Romans 10: Brethren, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation. For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge. For not knowing about God’s righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. For Moses writes that the man who practices the righteousness which is based on law shall live by that righteousness. But the righteousness based on faith speaks as follows: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ (that is, to bring Christ down), or, ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).” But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” – that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!” However, they did not all heed the good news; for Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. But I say, surely they have never heard, have they? Indeed they have; “Their voice has gone out unto all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.” But I say, surely Israel did not know, did they? First Moses says, “I will make you jealous by that which is not a nation, by a nation without understanding I will anger you.” And Isaiah is very bold and says, “I was found by those who did not seek Me, I became manifest to those who did not ask for Me.” But as for Israel He says, “All the day long I have stretched out My hands to a disobedient and obstinate people.”

What we need more than anything is faith in Creator God Himself. He is real. He is what we need. More than a creed, more than a religion, more than knowledge of God only, more than anything this world offers, we need Him. Sooner or later we all come to that place of deep personal need when everything else that helped us before no longer helps or even makes sense for the truly deeper understanding we need. It matters not how much time has passed since Jesus, the Son, walked this earth. What matters is do we know Him now, do we turn to Him now in trust and faith and hope…because He IS. Has this world helped us see what is not God’s goodness and wisdom? Has that lack of goodness and wisdom in our world helped us see our need for God’s holiness and righteousness that will never fail us and that brings the greatest riches and blessings we will ever experience – the love of Creator God? For not knowing about God’s righteousness…and seeking to establish their own…they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God. God’s love is deeply personal and real…and here in us…when we turn to Him in trust and hope. With Him we begin to hunger for His holiness and His righteousness in this world broken by everything not of His love and His holiness and His righteousness. Why do we fight Him so? Because we live in a broken world of certain uncertainty. And everything is uncertain right up until the time we turn to God and cry out to Him for His help. And He is here…Always! The Word is near you…in your mouth and in your heart…the Word of faith which we are preaching…that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord…and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved…for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness…and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. And everything changes.