Echoes of a more excellent way: Faith

Hebrews 11:1

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

I'm sorry this has been so long in coming. I was going through some rough spots in my life and didn't feel much inspiration or desire to write much. 

But back to my post. Before we get into this verse I want to discuss the difference between faith and hope, because if we don't understand the difference between the two then this post could get confusing. So we've already said that hope is an expectation of future occurrence. But what is faith? Well my definition of faith, according to this chapter, is the catalyst by which our hope can truly be real. And what I mean by that is this, that hope without true faith is like a fairy tale, you want to believe it's real but inside you know it can't be. To have full hope faith must be present, and the same goes for faith, to have true faith hope must be present. Because (as I'll discuss later) to truly have faith in something hope must be there as well. 

 James 2:19

You believe that there is one God; you do well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

Now this is the same famous chapter that has sparked famous debates between Christians as to faith versus works. While I do not believe that works can supply salvation, I do believe it to be a product of true faith. But that's a topic for another time. Now back to this verse, it is often overlooked, as far as I've seen, from most discussions about faith and yet I believe it to be one of the most crucial I've found on the subject. So let me ask you, what is the difference between us and the Devils? What separates our faith from theirs? Hope. Think about it, the Devils do believe, they believe because they've seen. They know God exist, they know he's real because at one point they stood in his presence. But again what separates us from them? Well like I said its hope! Look at this passage it says the Devils believe and tremble. That word makes this whole passage mean something more. The Devils believe yes, but they are afraid, afraid because they know they will one day be judged for what they've done and be thrown into the lake of fire. But we as new creations, sanctified and saved by the sacrifice of Jesus have no reason to fear. We have no reason to fear! Now you may ask, well what does this have to do with faith? Everything! You can believe God is real, but if you do not have life altering faith accompanied by hope in his future coming and resurrection and looking forward to that day, not as a day of judgment, but as a day of rejoicing in Christ Jesus, then for what reason do you believe? If you do not expect God and desire him, and wholly trust he is real, why do you believe? To have belief without desire will not change your life. Only faith accompanied by hope (and love) can do that. That brings me to my next point. 

Hebrews 11:6

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

How often do we hear about God, or even pray to God, without remembering or acknowledging he exists? Recently God laid this question on my heart and I was humbled by my answer. My answer was, too much. We've already seen that hope and faith go hand in hand, but faith has a special place because as it says here, without faith it is impossible to please him. And how often do we lose faith? How often do we forget or just don't want to acknowledge his presence? I know for me too often when I lift my eyes to heaven and pray, I forget who it is I'm praying too. Even if I say the right things, speak so eloquently as to place my prayer among the great ones of history, and stay on my face for hours. If I have not prayed to God, what was the point of my prayer? Faith is the only outlet through which we can please God! The only outlet! If we do anything outside of faith we do not please God, it's that simple. But how do we increase our faith? 

Romans 10:17

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. 

Faith is sometimes elusive. It's the one thing by which we can please God, and yet it seems it's always the one thing were lacking in. Trials will come and they will test and try our faith to see wether it's genuine. But when trials come, when our doubts and fears outweigh our capacity for faith, we turn to the word of God to affirm the promises he made, and rekindle the passion that all of us have inside. Faith comes from hearing, how can we believe what we haven't heard. Hearing comes from the word of Christ, the word of Christ is powerful, it's sharper than any two egged sword, it pierces through spirit and allows us to see truly what we are and who we are. The word of Christ is the only truth, for he is the only truth, allowing yourself to constantly hear that truth opens your ears and strengthens your faith. We are people who constant need to be reminded of the truth, so that our faith stays on fire. It is by the word of Christ that we can hear, and it is by our hearing that we are strengthened in our faith. Now let me back up a little bit in this chapter in Romans. It says a few verses prior, "But how are they to call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching to them?" We as Christians are called to have a faith that burns brightly with hope, but that faith is not just for us. How is this world to hear the gospel if we who have faith in it don't speak. True faith speaks from a heart that believes so much that it can't stay silent. We are called to preach the faith we know is true. Have you answered that calling? 

Hear the echoes of God calling you to have a faith accompanied by hope. To have a faith that burns bright! And to not stay silent but to speak that things that we know to be true. 

Romans 1:16-17

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”