One of the most key components in our walk of faith is our confession; what we say on regular basis. Our Lord Jesus Christ had a culture of maintaining a good confession of faith even when situations or circumstances seemed to contradict what He believed. He understood that a good confession of faith paves a way where there seems to be no way. When He was on the cross, in His last minute before leaving this world Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing,” [Luke 23:34]. His last sayings when He was on the cross were, “It is finished”, declaring that our pain or sins were wiped away completely and forever. By this Jesus Christ was setting an example and teaching Christians that even in the middle of a crisis or challenges they should maintain their good confession of faith. This is an example which Christ’s followers should strive to mirror.
There are many lessons that can be found in the Scriptures about the importance and power of maintaining a good confession of faith. One such was when Jesus Christ restored the daughter of Jairus to life. When Jesus Christ arrived at Jairus’ house there was enough evidence that the girl was dead. He asked them, “why all this commotion and wailing,” they said the little girl is dead. Jesus Christ did not at any point confess death; this is because He was expecting life. He astonished many with His good confession of faith, He said, “She is not dead but she is sleeping”. Moreover, He did not say little girl resurrect, rather He said, “Talithakoum!” (Which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”) [Mark 5:38-42].
Jesus Christ maintained a good confession of faith throughout. Another powerful example from the scriptures is in [Genesis 22:6-8]. When God asked Abraham to sacrifice his only son Isaac. When they were very close to the mountain, Isaac enquired as to where they would get the lamb for the burnt offering and as a man of faith Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” This was indeed a good confession of faith. “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” [John16:33]. A good confession of faith is the truth of God against which the gates of hell cannot prevail. However, many Christians tend lose it at their last minute; when in agony they begin to question the existence of God in their lives. When pressure from challenges they encounter in life mounts on them they begin to change their confession, hence abort their miracle. As believers we show faith and what we are made of when situations contradict what we believe. When unbelievers give up and lose hope it is a time where we people of faith should hold on by maintaining a good confession of faith. One can never rise beyond their confession nor go beyond their confession but shall be what they confess. When Christians encounter seemingly impossible situations they should continue to bless God even when it seems dark; by doing so they pave a way for a miracle. We should not only confess good when circumstances are favourable. Faith is made complete by what we say.
As a Christian you should believe with your heart and speak with your mouth. The bible teaches us that when we make a heart good, its confession will be good and similarly when we make a heart bad its confession will be bad; for a heart is recognised by its confession. “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognised by its fruit. You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the Day of Judgment for every empty word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” [Matthew 12:33-37]
Therefore, for one to maintain a good confession of faith, it must spring from the heart. Christ’s followers should bear in mind that on the Day of Judgment, everyone will have to give account for every empty word or negative confession they have spoken and by their words they will be acquitted or condemned. The bible in Romans 10:17 says, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” If one treasures God’s word in their heart, they will be able to maintain a good confession of faith and good shall overflow.