In Hebrews 11, we are told plainly that “faith matters.” Example after example, illustration after illustration – faith has played a major role in many accounts that the Word of God records. Here is the opening verse: “Faith assures of things we expect and convinces us of the existence of things we cannot see” (v.1).
The amazing aspect about faith is this: Everybody has faith in someone or in something: money, position, a significant other, a friend, a career, a sports team, tomorrow, the stars, education, religion, Jesus Christ, etc. etc. etc. So the question is never, “Does _____ (person) have faith?” Rather, it should be, “What does _____ (person) put their faith in?” Even atheists and agnostics have faith. In fact, it takes a lot of faith to believe in “nothing” or in pure random chance.
When you have to get up at 3 a.m. and there is no light – everything is pitch dark – you know your way around don’t you. For simplicity sake, let’s say you are in your own home and not staying at a hotel. Even then – you have probably familiarized yourself with your surroundings; so the territory is very “familiar.” No one rearranged the furniture in the middle of the night – no one totally reworked the design of your home configuration while you were sleeping. You are familiar with it; things are consistent.
This is what it’s like when we have faith, unwavering faith in God. Faith allows you to be certain that even though you can’t see God with your eyes, you can be confident of His presence and person in your heart, mind, and life. Faith carries us through challenges, life and death situations, major life transitions, and through aging. Faith helps us to rejoice and give thanks to God for the victories, for the answers to prayer, and for the hope that we have beyond this world. Faith helps us to accept, and receive, what seems to good to be true: that God is for us, that He desires to include us in His work (here), and that He has an eternity planned that we can’t even fathom.
Be sure to thank God today for the incredible hope He has given you. It is available for all! Also, this Sunday, February 3, 2013 – we begin a journey to explore faith and belief and we will dig deeper into why it is so crucial. Join us @ 10:00 a.m. as we venture together, in faith. We would love to have you!
In faith,
Porter
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