Faith

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But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is the rewarder of them that diligently seek him.  (Hebrews 11:6)

“All you have to do is believe.”  It sounds simple enough, doesn’t it?  People believe or put their trust in many different things only to become disappointed or disillusioned.  One may place their trust in a person to whom they commit their lives only to end up betrayed and abandoned.  Others may put their faith and trust in their investments only to see them squandered away by unscrupulous investors.  Christians invite the unsaved to place their faith and trust in Christ and are ridiculed for promoting a “blind faith.”  But does God demand a “blind faith?”

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for [eternal life with Christ], the evidence of things not seen [heaven]” (Hebrews11:1).  “Substance; evidence?” There is nothing invisible about these nouns.  The Greek word translated “substance” is the compound word hupóstasis: “hupó” is a preposition meaning “under” or “underneath” and “stasis” means “to stand.”  Together they carry the sense of something that will stand firmly supported by a strong foundation underneath.  “Evidence” simply means “proof” – something that can be shown.  So God does not demand “blind faith,” yet “without faith, it is impossible to please him.”

“Abraham believed [had faith in] God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness” (Romans 4:3; Genesis 15:6).  One might argue, “That was easy for Abraham; God spoke to him directly.”  But Abraham believed God enough to obey God in self-circumcision.  He still had to wait another 25 years to see the promised heir, and he never saw the promised nation fulfilled.  Yet God’s Word was sufficient and substantial for him.  

So what about us?  “But now the righteousness of God … is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets” (Romans 3:21).  “The law and the prophets” is nothing other than the Word of God.  The Bible has been tested and tried, and it has never failed.  It is substance and evidence so that our faith need not be blind.  Paul reminds us: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8).  That faith, that substance, that evidence is a gift of God.  It is nothing that we ourselves work up; God has already provided it for us.  All we need to do is act on the faith that He has already provided.  “And Jesus said unto them, … for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you” (Matthew 17:20).  Great faith is not required, only that you act on the faith you have been given.  Now go on – move mountains!