Faith

Words can cause confusion when they are taken to mean different things among different people. The word, “faith,” is a word that can be confusing. It can be used to describe a “faithless” society, meaning one that has rejected God and religion. It can be used to describe a wish, such as when someone has “faith” that they are going to win the Publisher’s Clearing House Sweepstakes. It can even be used to describe the practice of a religion, such as when we “practice the faith” or “walk away from the faith.” 

In the Bible, the writer of the book of Hebrews defines “faith” as the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things not seen. Another translation uses the words “substance” of things hoped for and “evidence” of things not seen. The basic message of this verse is that faith, an intangible thing, is tangible based on a person’s trust in something he cannot physically see but knows and trusts to be true and effective. We have faith in the internet. We have faith in WIFI. We have faith in electricity. As I write this article, I am using all three of these things which I cannot see but know to be true and effective. I have faith in them. This faith is real. I depend upon it to get this article written!

Faith is also real when I trust my life with something like a car, a surgeon, a prescription, or an airplane. I cannot accurately see the outcome of a driving my car, undergoing surgery, taking chemicals, or flying into the sky, but I have faith that I will survive. I trust them, exercising the assurance of something for which I’m hoping and the conviction of something I cannot see. I cannot see the positive results of these things until they arrive, but I place my faith in them. It’s how I choose to live because of a greater faith I have.

I’ve been considering our current situation as we are slowly coming out of the restrictions placed upon us for the sake of safety from the spread of the COVID-19 virus. As we have opened businesses and churches incrementally and with caution, we have exercised faith that we will see a positive outcome. Each purchase, each meal, each trip to church exhibits our faith. These successful transactions and trips make us hopeful that things will be alright. We need hope, don’t we? Without hope, what would we do, lock ourselves in our homes and rooms forever? We cannot, however, have hope without faith.

Eventually, as we live through this pandemic, we will come to a point of adjustment and we will go on with our lives. Some things may change, and some may not, but time marches forward in spite of circumstances. I remember talking to my grandfather about the Great Depression and hearing how he and his family made it through the difficulty, knowing that, one way or another, it would eventually end. He simply had faith, and that faith gave him hope. He had a greater faith, as well. It carried him through life’s trials. He chose to look past circumstances because of this greater faith.

Friends and family, life will go on. I want to encourage you to live with a greater faith. We cannot focus on the current negative situation but must focus on someone, (whom we cannot yet physically see), who is greater than the circumstances we can currently see. We must exercise faith in God and the love and provision God brings. Another verse from Hebrews 11 is verse 6, which reads, “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” The KJV adds the word “diligently” before “seek him.” Now, if we can trust our cars, doctors, medicines, and airplanes, why should we have trouble trusting God? When we drive, have surgeries, use prescriptions and travel by air, we focus on the outcome, not the problem, even though these outcomes are not guaranteed. We have faith. We have hope. God, however, provides the only true guarantee. We can place our faith in God without any chance of disappointment. Have you trusted God in this way? If not, I encourage you to contact one of the pastors in your area and have a conversation that will change your life forever. 

Let’s live in faith! God’s got this.