Imagine with me, if you will, that someone you desire to have a relationship with is discovered to be a liar.  I mean, you are endeavoring to get to know them only to discover that all they have been telling you about themselves and their intentions is a lie.

Would you think you have a good relationship with that person?

Do you really believe you can have a good, healthy relationship with someone without any ability to take them at their word and trust that they are honest with you?

Has anyone ever heard of a deep and meaningful relationship being established with a lack of trust?

The truth is that in order to have a really rewarding relationship, belief and trust are needed.

That is what Scripture reveals to us with regard to Abraham when it says,

Romans 4:3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”

Righteousness is a right relationship. It is a relationship where everything is as it should be.  It is a relationship with no hindrances, obstacles, or issues.  It is a relationship based on belief and trust.

Abraham believed God!  Abraham took God at his word!  What word?

Genesis 15:1 After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.”  2 But Abram said, “Lord GOD, what will You give me, seeing I go childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 Then Abram said, “Look, You have given me no offspring; indeed one born in my house is my heir!”

4   And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, “This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir.” 5 Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” 6 And he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.

Abraham is having a vision where God comes to him and speaks to him.  This encounter makes Abraham afraid at first, but God tells him not to be afraid because of whom God wants to be to Abraham.  God is Abraham’s shield and exceedingly great reward.  Because Abraham takes God at His word on this, he feels he can ask for something.  Abraham asks for an heir!

God promises Abraham that he will have an heir from his own body even though Abrhama is past his prime, as is his wife.  That would be a stretch to believe already, but then God invites Abraham outside of his tent at night in a place and time where the night would be crystal clear and the night sky filled with stars.  God then promises Abraham that his descendants will outnumber the stars, and Abraham believes God is being honest with him and will follow through on His promise.

Religion cannot offer this to anyone.  It offers a set of conditions and rules that must be kept in order to earn any measure of right standing.  Relationship with God is based on believing what He has promised through His Son Jesus Christ.  When someone feels the need to perform a certain way in order to get close to God, they have moved away from believing the gospel into a merit-based mindset that is contrary to how God has established a relationship with Him.  It will always and forever be by grace through faith in Jesus.  Believing and receiving His generous offer of love and goodness revealed in the giving of His Son will always be the bedrock of a real relationship with Him.