Habakkuk 2:4 “Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.”
In every generation we find this great contrast; those who are “lifted up” (self-exalted) in their own carnal mind and “the just” who humbly live outwardly the Spirit of God that is in them. Those who are “lifted up” with vain pride; their “soul” is “not upright in” them. In stark contrast, “the just shall live by his faith”; that is, their “faith” is evidenced in their demeanor and their behavior. They are said to be “just” because they have been “made righteous” (Romans 5:19) by our Lord’s Sacrifice of Himself. It is said to be “his faith” because our Lord put “his faith” in them (Hebrews s12:2) to guide and impower them. It becomes our “faith” to “live by” when our Lord puts it in us. Those whose “soul” is “not upright” in them, are those who are motivated and guided by their own carnal lust for power, glory, and possession. But, “the just” who have God-given “faith” are those who are motivated and guided by the Spirit of God that dwells within them. Those whose “soul” “is not upright in” them are greedy, self-centered, cruel, immoral, and dishonest. But, “the just” who “live by his faith” are humble, gentle, loving, forgiving, moral, honest, and are kindly generous to help others. Every generation has this contrast, so we should not be surprised that it appears in our generation. The challenge before us is to trust in our God-given “faith” and to “live by” it; that is, make all our decisions with and by it, act upon it in our behavior and demeanor, endure tough situations with courage resting upon it, structure our life of worship based upon it, faithfully attend the Lord’s Church and serve with the joy of it, and recognize our own weaknesses and limitations without it. So important is this point, that Paul referred to it four times (Romans 1:17; Galatians 2:20; Galatians 3:11; Hebrews 10:38). The “just” who “live by” their “faith” are known to find peace in the midst of storms, comfort in times of great distress, joy in times of sadness, and even sweet anticipation as death itself approaches.