“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1)

Over the past few weeks we have discussed Biblical courage, hope and seen evidence of them in certain works of writing and film. This week I would like to focus on a topic that can be falsely defined among believers, that is the topic of faith. We constantly hear the phrase, “Just have faith,” but what does it actually mean? Is faith being misinterpreted? How can a Christ follower live in Biblical faith? Dig deep with me into God’s Word as we discover what it means to live faithfully for God.

Faith over Fact-

There are several verses in Scripture that talk about faith or having a faith-filled life. According to the 1828 Websters Dictionary, faith is “Belief; the assent of the mind to the truth of what is declared by another.” This is true but the Bible defines faith deeper than a declared belief. “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corthinthians 5:7) Faith is not the same as sight, in fact it is the opposite. Sight is when we see something and believe it. For example, a friend may say that they made you a loaf of bread but that will not be proven until you see the fresh bread on the counter. Real faith goes beyond what we can see, if it doesn’t then it is not true faith. During His ministry Jesus Christ told His diciples that, “‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.” (Luke 24:7) But they doubted and struggled with faith because they could not see it happening from a worldly perspecitve. Jesus should not die by sinful men, He’s the Savior. Rising from the dead? People don’t do that. This is exactly what the difference between faith and sight. Biblical faith is having hope in what one can not see and believing God’s promises in both heart and life.

The toughest opponent for Biblical faith is unbelief. Unbelief challenges the true promises of God’s Word and reverts back to worldly thinking against the Lord. When the diciples watched Jesus die on the cross they thought that their Messiah was gone. Instead of standing on the truth of His teaching, the diciples tucked their tails and hid away. After three days the door suddenly flies open and Mary shouts that Jesus is alive, but instead of celebrating the diciples doubt again. “Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, “Peace to you.” But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit.” (Luke 24:36-37) The reason that the diciples continued to doubt was because of their heart condition. The men wanted to believe Jesus’s words, they even ran and checked the tomb of Jesus (verse 12). They left marveling but not believing until Jesus appeared in the midst of His diciples.“And He said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts? Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.” (24:38-39) The passage continues to explain that Jesus ate in their presence and affrimed the words of the prophecies spoken about the risen Messiah.

But Thomas doubted. His eyes were spiritually blinded and covered by worldly wisdom. Jesus Christ called out to the doubter and reminded him to see by faith.“Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” This is what it means to have true faith in Jesus Christ.

Biblical faith is not blind neither does it require sight. We hear the phrase, “A leap of faith” but it can dangerously mininterpreted to mean blindly stepping out. If we have faith in God and learn to believe His promises then we are not spiritually blind. This means that when we step out into the unknown future we have assurance that God is the One who strengthens each step. “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.” (John 15:16) It is God who calls each one of us to step out in faith based on belief in His promises and courage to obey Him. For example, Mankind knows that God exists because we see evidence of it both in Scripture and creation. “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,” (Romans 1:20) Even though evidence of God is seen, every person has the free will to either turn to God or away from Him. We know that faith is believing in what you can’t see, but what about the world that claims to have wisdom and calls us to believe them?

Hardened Hearts-

How many times have we seen those silly ads that advertise, “Free trial” only to flip an additional page that requires money? This is how worldly wisdom works. Our culture battles against how wisdom is defined and where it is found. Humanist thoughts weave through our media and books bidding us to trust ourselves and seek after our own knowlegde. When division arises the world calls out, “What’s true for you is not true for me, but let’s walk hand in hand on the same path of comprimise.” As Christians we know that truth does not have multiple definitions, otherwise it’s an opinion. Truth is absolute so we can not define it based on human understanding. Our knowledge is constantly changing but God’s Word remains steadfast. “The entirety of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever.” (Psalm 119:160)

The world’s wisdom relies on what can be identified by our natural senses and beliefs. In the movie of Horton Hears a Who based on the popular book by Dr. Seuss, we meet two kinds of people – animals. When a kind-hearted elephant discovers a tiny world he tells others about it. In contrast he practical kangaroo shouts, “If you can’t see it, hear it, or feel it, it doesn’t exist!” Horton believed that there were tiny people living on a speck of dust. He could not see them but he believed that they were there and agreed to help the people reach saftey. When the kangaroo rallied the jugle of Nool together against the elephant, she stated her belief and they charge against Horton. Faint voices of the Who’s burst out of the clover and the kangaroo’s firm belief crumbled, both Who and animal lived happily after that. Even though Horton Hears a Who is ficticious there is still much that can be illustrated beyond the colorful trees and world. It boils down to the ideas and worldview presented. Personally, I laugh and cry with movies in a wide range of genre, character and storytelling. Jim Carrey’s voice through the animated elephant brings a smile to my face and laughter with the all-too-familiar quotes. Horton’s dilema is a light-hearted example on a weighty subject, but even then the truth remains the same. The stern kangaroo represents humanistic thinking that leaves no room for faith. In the Bible, Thomas and the other diciples relied on their own knowledge until Jesus appeared to them alive and victorious as the prophecies foretold. But the reality is that unbelieving ears are never opened until their heart is transformed by the One True God. Ezekiel 36:26-27 proclaims that,“ I (God) will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.” This is a reminder that only God can change unbelieving hearts, we have to have faith and trust Him. Back to the jungle of Nool, even if Horton came up with several evidences for the Who’s, she would not believe until their voices could be heard in her purple ears. Unbelief is very dangerous and can blind someone from the truth forever, unless they their eyes are opened by the truth.

With so many contrasting voices, how does one attain wisdom? The world puts wisdom on a shelf with a price tag in the form of teachers, authors, producers and governors. Each person wants their voice to be heard and upheld. As each voice lifts higher than the other it erupts into chaos. These people echo the words of Romans 1:22, “Professing to be wise, they became fools…” Scripture clearly states, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (Psalm 1:7) True wisdom begins with respect and humility to the Creator and Savior, He is soveregin over all. To begin living a life of faith, one must first realize that their wisdom is useless and turn to the One who created and loves them. Only when can we we bow before God in belief and submission are we able to rise in faith. Thomas and the other diciples were so sure of Christ’s words until He died and they reverted relied to their own knowledge. They were awakened in faith when Jesus appeared to them alive and victorious according to the Scriptures. We learn to trust God and step out in faith knowing that God’s will is better than our dreams. The world dangles a price tag and contantly changes their knowledge. 1 Corinthians 3:19 warns us to stay away from worldy wisdom, “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their own craftiness”; Instead of accepting false wisdom ask God for His infinite wisdom. James 1:5-6 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.” If we ask in faith for God’s wisdom, then He will give it and grows us in courage to obey Him.

Examples of Faith-

There are several examples of faith in the Bible but here are a few examples from both the Old and New Testament of sinful people that God used to accomplish His will for His glory.

Moses lived as a prince of Egypt. He had knowledge, power and luxurious furnishings. Anything Moses desired was his to take as a prince of the Pharoh of Egypt. God miraculously saved him as a baby from the violent hand of Pharoh who desired for all of the Hebrew boys to be killed out of fear, “And he said to his people, “Look, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we…  So Pharaoh commanded all his people, saying, “Every son who is born you shall cast into the river, and every daughter you shall save alive.”(Exodus 1:9, 22) God placed Moses in the arms of Pharoh’s daughter to be raised and cared for away from his Hebrew heritage. But when Moses saw an Egyptian beating an innocent Hebrew, the prince of Egypt killed him and fled to Midian. Moses married Zipporah, the daughter of a high priest and lived as a shepherd far away from the cries of the Israelites. But God did not forget His people as He does not forget us. “ So God heard their groaning, and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God acknowledged them.” (Exodus 2:24) In His sovereign will, the Lord called His servant. “God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” (Exodus 3:4) In this miraculous meeting, God reveals His plan to use Moses and set the Isralelites free from the bondage of Egypt. But Moses doubted God and his own abilities, “But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” So He said, “I will certainly be with you.” (verses 11-12) God was surely with Moses and when he stepped out in faith to confront Pharoh, Moses watched God use him in amazing ways. Moses felt unequipped and unworthy to save God’s own people, “ And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ” (verse 14) Moses was sinful and sometimes relied on his own knowledge, but he learned to submit to God’s will and God grew him in faith beyond his own understanding.

Hadassah was a Jewish orphan and cared for by her Uncle Mordecai. When king Xerxes sent out a decree to gather all the young maidens and prepare them to be presented before the king, obtain favor and be crowned queen. In the book of Esther we read that Hadassah’s name was changed to Esther to hide her Jewish decent and that she recieved favor from all who met her, including the king himself. “The king loved Esther more than all the other women, and she obtained grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins; so he set the royal crown upon her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.” (Esther 2:17) But when a plot to kill the Jews arises from Xerxes right hand man, Mordecai calls for Esther and bids her to go before the king and plead for the lives of her people. Esther knew that if she went before the king without prior invitation it meant a signature on her death warrant. It went against practical reasoning to trust that the Jews would be saved from such a sinister plot, or that a mere orphan could save an entire nation. Esther was afraid but Mordecai encouraged her,“And Mordecai told them to answer Esther: “Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king’s palace any more than all the other Jews. For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:13-14) Mordecai challenged his niece with a question reminding her of God’s sovereignty causing Esther to reply in courage. “Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!” (verse 16) In the Scriptures we read how God strengthened Esther and Mordecai to stand up against Haman and this violent plot. This showed that God is always faithful in His promises. It was not by Esther’s strength or Mordecai’s wisdom that saved the Jews, it was through God alone that His people were saved. God used Esther for His glory and rewarded her step of faith with courage.

Peter was a simple Jewish fisherman until Jesus Christ called him as His diciple. “Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” They immediately left their nets and followed Him.” (Matthew 4:19-20) We read in the Gospels that Peter followed Jesus and watched the Messiah perform many miracles to reveal that He truly is the Son of God. During a terrible storm the diciples of Jesus fought desperately against the waves. “Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” (Matthew 14:25-27) The other men chose to stay in the boat, but Peter called out to the Messiah, “…Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” (verses 28-30) The reason that Peter sank was because he took his eyes off of Jesus and looked to the raging waves. But Jesus always answers those who call upon His Name, “And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.” (verse 31-33) Peter was not perfect, he denied that he knew Christ during His trial and hid when the Messiah was crucified. But Jesus appeared to His diciples and grew each one into a mighty apostle for the Gospel. Peter lacked faith and doubted yet God grew him into a warrior and preacher of the Savior’s righteousness and grace.

From Doubt to Faith-

Faith is what drives us to believe and obey God’s promises above our own human understanding. But how do we obtain faith? Because we know that God’s Word is true and holy we have full assurance that God’s promises are always fulfilled. Promises to never leave us, “For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5) For every doubt that we suffer, the Messiah meets with truth from Scripture. The Apostle Paul understood that Jesus is the only source of true strength, “ I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:12-13) This world brings nothing that we should fear, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) Finally, we can be courageous because of God’s everlasting love, “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38) This is why it is so important to not only know God’s Word but to seek Him and apply the truth to our lives. Whevever I feel afraid, God reminds me of His faithfulness seen through His Word and my own life. There have been many unexpected turns, but the One who leads me on the Road is sovereign. I struggle with my fear and doubts and God continues to grow and uses me as He wills for His glory. When God calls us to a new path or while we are in the midst of trials, it’s difficult to see God at work. This is why it’s important to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6) Where was God when many Hebrew children were killed at Pharoh’s hand? Why did God use a poor orphaned Jew to save His people? Can Jesus pull me out of the waves as He did to Peter when he doubted?

There will always be doubt and fear, they are apart of being human in a sinful world. But because God is faithful, He will use our doubts and grow them into faith.“…being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;” (Philippians 1:6) The God whom we serve is the same God who called Moses out of Egypt, who encouraged Esther to stand before the king and strengthened the diciples after Jesus ascended back into Heaven. We can be fully confident that the Messiah is steadfast “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8) Be assured of this truth because the Scriptures are breathed out by God, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17) Know that God uses all things, the trials and times of good for His glory. “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28) True faith is not based in us because our foucs would turn from God onto ourselves. Therefore we are not capable of equipping ourselves for God’s will. That’s why God said to Moses, “I will certainly be with you.” (Exodus 3:12)

Call to Faith-

Hebrews 11 is rightfully named the “Hall of Faith” and names several people recorded in Scripture that God used to accomplish His will. In verse 3 it explains faithful understanding, “By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.” After this truth, God’s Word names several men and women who grew to fear and honor His Name. People such as Abel, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Moses and Gideon. These people lived long before Jesus the Messiah but that did not halt them from believing in the truth and promises of God Himself. “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.” (Hebrews 11:13) This is the Promise of the Messiah, One whom was promised after Adam and Eve first disobeyed the Lord. After this sinful act, God met it with a Promise of Jesus Christ. “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.” (Genesis 3:15) This is the first prophecy of Jesus who would die through sinful mankind and how He shall return to destory death for all eternity! Revelation 22:7 says, ““Behold, I (Jesus) am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”

The men and women of recorded in the Bible should not be glorified. Instead of pointing to them let us open our eyes to see that each person points to the truth and glory of Jesus Christ. Learning to have faith is a lesson that never ends until we meet with Jesus face to face One Day. We will struggle, fear, doubt and constantly fall into sin. But it is God who convicts, strengthens and boldens us to accomplish His will for His glory. I am nothing compared to Christ, but as He teaches me to submit to Him then He grows me in faith. I encourage you reader to seek after God, learn His promises and apply them to your life. Watch in awe and humility as He accomplishes things that you may have doubted and works above your fears. “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6)

Faith leads to belief, which leads to hope, hope leads to courage in pursuing all that God has. Through our growing faith and seeking the Scriptures we are encouraged to live faithfully. “ I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14) For a true follower of Christ, faith without works is dead as James 2:17 says, “ Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” True faith will be seen through the fruit or live of a person being used by God. “ Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Galatians 5:19-21) These are people who live according to their flesh and deny the truth of God in favor of human desire. The Scriptures warn people of God to flee from their own sinful desires.“But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.” (1 Timothy 6:11) In Galatians, God’s Word continues with a description of spiritual fruit that is honoring to God.“ But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23) Jesus Christ Himself said that, “Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.” (Matthew 7:17-20)

Will you answer God’s call to stand in faith and be willing to submit yourself and grow according to His grace? Learn to seek God, lay your doubts at His feet and grow according to His will. Psalm 31:24 clearly says, “Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the Lord.” Life is an adventure with growing pains and struggles, but the eternal rewards are everlasting. “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13) On the glorious Day when the trumpets sound and we kneel before the Savior in our unworthy but saved state, Jesus Christ will say, “‘Well done, good and faithful servant…enter into the joy of your Lord.” (Matthew 25:21) We shall be restored in the Savior and praise His Name for all eternity, only then will our faith become sight.

I will be taking a break this coming week. Join me the following week as we discuss Biblical faith again through the lens of one of my favorite fantasy series! I have included a hint for the characters within these amazing books. Be sure to subscribe to my email list so you don’t miss out on new content. Thank you and have a wonderful day dear reader!

Note: None of the photos belong to me, credit goes elsewhere.