“The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see.” (Hebrews 11:1 – The Message)
Every action we initiate is based on faith, or said differently, everyone has faith and faith is the basis of every action. Our actions depend on believe (faith) for a good outcome, a bad outcome or an uncertain outcome. You may have heard people making statements like; “I feel good about this deal, it’s going to be good,” or “Oh, it’s really going to be bad” or “I really don’t know what is going to happen, but I’m in anyway.” It is therefore logical to say that there are different types of faith; God-kind of faith, experiential faith, intellectual faith, and doubting faith.
From time to time many of us roller coast in the loop of faith; moving from God’s kind of faith to other kinds of faith. And too often when we drift away from faith in God we “leave money on the table” just like when we negotiate a bad financial deal. The comforting difference though is that with God’s transactions, the deals are never off the table.
Abraham was promised a child at his old age, but while waiting, and was at the low end of his faith he accepted the Ishmael deal, which did not in any way constrained God to foreclose him from the Isaac offer. Despite choosing Ishmael, God still gave the promised Isaac Abraham, who then switched his faith to God to receive that deal.
God’s promises to us are benefits that we could receive ONLY by faith in God. Whenever we stumble in our faith, the deal is not canceled. And our expectation would still be realized if we would switch on our God-kind of Faith.
Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1). Hope channels our passion for expectation, faith directs our vision for actualization. Faith therefore converts expectation to actuality. Faith is the material foundation of hope, and without God-kind of faith hope becomes a wishful thinking. This dynamic faith is activated by confession of the expectation (hope), as Paul confirmed “But having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed, therefore I spoke,” we also believe, therefore we also speak,” (2 Corinthians. 4:13).
Now, we are presented with vast opportunities to witness the gospel of faith daily to the people we meet by physical contact, phone, internet and more. Let’s do it by Faith!
Bible Verses:
God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. (Hebrews 11:40)
And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise. (Hebrews 11:11)
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesian 2:8-9)
“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” (Rom 10:9-10)