Romans 4:17

as it is written, "I have made you the father of many nations"--in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.   
Romans 4:17  ESV

Paul, having explained thoroughly that God's promise to Abraham was due to faith apart from works, now takes some time, in the next several verses, to detail this faith that Abraham had.

as it is written, "I have made you the father of many nations"--in the presence of the God in whom he believed

I think it's important to note that God promised Abraham "I have made you..." - indicating it had been done. God did not make His promise contingent on Abraham being the "perfect Christian" from this point forward. He states that Abraham had been declared righteous, and a covenant had been made. 

This promise was made to Abraham, by God - in whom he believed. This echoes John 3:16:

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

God's promise to all people is eternal life, if we believe in Him. Unfortunately, this word "believe" has been so abused, that it's not uncommon for many people have a false sense of salvation because they have been taught to believe "about" not believe "in" God.

This is clarified in James 2:19,20:

You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe--and shudder! Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?

True belief in God is saving faith in action.. This belief/saving faith is evident by the fruit in a person's life. Even the demons believe about God, but they are void of any good fruit.

An encounter with God that results in a heart conversion always leads to a changed life - where glorifying God becomes the one and only purpose!

This is visible in a persons life when they believe in God - by submitting to Him, following Him, and trusting Him - completely!

So, Paul writes that Abraham believed in God, and this was evident by the fruit his life displayed - the most important being his faith in God.

who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.

These two truths about our God that should cause us to pause in wonder and praise!

Our God has the ability to, and does, give life to the dead. 

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved-- Eph 2:4,5

God doesn't wait for us to become alive before He saves us. By grace He makes us alive while we are still dead corpses, bound by sin. What an amazing God!

dead people...

We see clearly God breathing life into the dead when we look back at what we studied earlier in Romans. Starting in verse 18 of Chapter 1, Paul describes a bunch of spiritually dead people with corrupt hearts and depraved minds, whose only desire is to satisfy fleshly lusts. This is then reinforced in Chapter 3 verses 10-18, which are quoted from Old Testament writings. In these verses, a very corrupt people are described, who want nothing to do with God, refusing to seek Him out, spewing lies and bitterness from their mouths, quick to shed blood, and refusing to fear God. Paul says in verse 10 of chapter 3 that this description applies to all people who are under sin.

We are all spiritually DEAD. Our only hope is in a God who has the power and ability to give LIFE to the DEAD...and He does!

We also serve a God who is able to call into existence things that do not exist. I have very limited knowledge when it comes to physics - but if I remember correctly, we are taught that energy cannot be created or destroyed...it can only converted into different forms. My Bible tells me that there is a God who can create energy...from nothing, and did! 

 And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light.  Gen 1:3

I challenge us today to do two things. Search our hearts, look for areas of our lives where we have not displayed our belief in God - where have we refused or failed to submit, follow, and trust Him completely? 

Secondly, take some time to think about the awesomeness of our God - that He breathed life into us while we were spiritually dead corpses, wanting nothing to do with Him...what mercy! Also thinking about the fact that He can bring into existence things that do not exist...He really can, and does, provide for our every need - regardless of our situation! 

Fall more in love with God today!