March 8, 2015

Without Faith, we cannot grow.  The good news is that God has given a portion of faith to everyone (Romans 12:3): the ability to believe what we cannot see and to hope for what we do not currently possess. 

Hebrews 11:1 NIV84 - Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

But faith is not something that operates in a vacuum or by itself.  We do not have “faith in Faith” or exercise some spiritual version of “mind over matter.”  Faith must have an Object of Focus.  In other words, as Believers our actions are based upon our Belief in Jesus, and we have Confidence that He will honor the Promise of His Word.

The Apostle Paul talked about this core belief in a letter to the Christians at Thessalonica.  He was addressing an issue which is one of the most, if not the most, challenging issue any of us face: the death of a Loved One.  Paul wrote…

1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 NIV84 - Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. 14 We believe that Jesus Christ died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.

This is a great passage that gives us an abundant hope for eternity, but it is not hope in hope, faith in faith, or “pie in the sky” optimism.  It is faith IN Jesus Christ: His Promise and His Power. This hope has transformed our lives, secured our eternity, and comforted our hearts! 

Faith is a Decision…NOT an emotion.  Faith is not the absence of doubt, any more than Courage is the absence of Fear.  Focused upon the Christ, Faith for the Believer is a rational decision to not be ruled by doubt, but instead to be GOVERNED BY PROMISE.