True Faith

Faith is…

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” This is the definition of faith as presented in Hebrews Chapter 11, verse 1 of the Holy Bible. But what does that really mean, and how is it applicable to my life? Is faith simply believing blindly and without reason? Not exactly – blindly and without reason would indicate that it is simply pulled out of the air, captured out of nothingness, and clung to as a wish made in desperation.

But faith to the Christian believer is so very different. When I open up the Bible, I first must believe that the words therein were all inspired by God, who is truth and cannot lie. I must believe that I am dearly loved by the God of the whole universe. I must believe that the words written in that most unique book, are alive and powerful, and God-spoken for all generations of those who would believe that He is. This is my first exercise in faith.

I cannot prove God from sight or touch – this would be substance and evidence in my human understanding that something exists. If I can use my senses of sight, touch, taste, hearing, or smelling, then that would be evidence that there is some molecular substance and therefore scientific proof. But faith cannot be proven to be, by our human senses. Its existence supersedes anything human within us. It delves into the spiritual nature of man, that part that we innately know exists, but we cannot prove it using mere human senses.

Faith has its own substance and evidence, but not in terms of our senses or molecular science. If it is the substance of things hoped for (or being sure of what we hope for, as stated in another translation), then that surety is the substance, in the realm of the spiritual. The things hoped for are that which God says we can believe and place our hope in, as His own word (the Bible) reveals to us. The evidence of things not seen (or certain of what we do not see, in another translation of this verse), that certainty – regardless of the fact that our human senses cannot prove it as evidence in our minds – this is the evidence of our faith. If we could prove it by any human means, then it would no longer be classified as faith.

While there are many other things written in the Bible that history has been able to prove as truth and therefore exist, faith is not one of those things. We demonstrate our trust for someone by believing what they say to us, and even acting upon that belief. We stand as surety for someone because we have faith that that person is who he says he is, believes what he says he believes, and does what he says he will do. We gain that faith through evidence over time, as that person is found worthy of our trust again and again. This is our human understanding of what faith is. We have faith that our vehicles will go when we put them in drive and press the accelerator. We have faith that the door will open when we turn the doorknob and pull or push. We have faith that we will receive a paycheck for our work, when we show up and do our jobs, day in and day out. But this is faith produced by substance and evidence that we can prove. This faith is wrought through tangible experiences.

To step outside of our human “box” of understanding, into the unknown of the spiritual, takes faith to a whole new level – and many find this impossible to do unfortunately. This is why so few have true faith. Yet the Bible tells us that “without faith it is impossible to please God” – and we would all love to be in that place, spiritually-speaking, where we are pleasing to God. We all want to know that when we pray, our prayers will be heard and answered. We all want to be in the position to receive God’s blessings over our lives on this earth. We all want to live at perfect peace, not fretting over a thing, knowing God will take care of all of the concerns of our lives… don’t we?

As we read on in the 11th chapter of the book of Hebrews, we find that the universe was formed not by what was visible, but by what God commanded into existence – from nothing. We read of the great men of the Bible, that God himself commended for their faith, and that God blessed them for their obedience to him because of their faith. We read that “God is not ashamed to be called their God…” (verse 16). We read of the sacrifices men made, and were fully willing to make, by faith alone – as when Abraham was willing to sacrifice his own son – having full faith that if he took his son’s life in obedience to God’s command, God would surely raise him from the dead! Wow – that’s true faith! And these men, along with many others, were still “living by faith when they died” (verse 13). Even though they did not receive what had been promised during their lifetime, they died knowing that it would happen, just as God had promised it would – by faith… and it did. They did not have their proof, except that God promised and that was the substance that was their evidence that it would come to pass.

So, what is true faith, really? Faith is first believing that God is, and that He created all that is. Faith is believing that his word – the Bible – is his own spoken word and is as applicable today as it was thousands of years ago. Faith is believing that God so loved the world that He sent his only begotten son (Jesus), to die on the cross for us, so that our sins could be paid for by the blood he shed willingly – if we would only choose to believe by faith and receive His sacrifice. Faith is reading the many promises of God, for His chosen (those who purpose in their heart to repent and believe), and knowing that God will deliver his promises and I can bank my life on it. Faith is looking at impossible odds, and knowing that what I see doesn’t matter, because faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain even of what we do not see, because God said it. Faith is believing that God speaks personally to me through his Holy Word – the Bible – and loves me as a dear father loves his children – and is the rewarder of those who diligently and ernestly seek Him. How many of us, as loving parents, pleasure in our children’s obedience to us, and bless them because of it? The Bible tells us that compared to the Father God, we can’t begin to love our children as He does – so how much more will He bless his children who live by faith?

What is true faith? Begin to ask yourself how much you believe God… Do you only believe what you can see or prove to be? Are you still afraid to step outside of your human “box”, into the spiritual unknown – simply trusting God and His word? Do you honestly have the true faith that the Bible refers to, and God desires and commands of you? Search your heart… what is faith?