What Is Faith?

What Is Faith?

     “Fifteen serving ten!”  We are good at playing this game.  All eyes follow the ball as the teams volley.  Then hands slip letting it fall to the ground.  At this error, the opposing side scores a point, and the serve is set again.  Yet,

Romans 12:15 “Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.”

      Competition regarding faith is a no, no.  If we desire our brother or sister to forfeit their “holier than thou” status by falling, our hearts devise a wicked thing.

     But what is faith?  Precursor to its activation, belief must have its understanding.  The relationship between the two is likened to an automobile’s braking system.  When purchasing a new car from the lot, we assume the engineers have fully equipped the car.  Hence, brake pedal to lines then pads are believed to be installed.  We accept this as true. 

     Belief gets us this far.  Faith describes our relationship with the braking system.  As we understand, when we push the little pedal thingy, the car slows.  Time after time, brakes engage when we depress the pedal.  We continue in this engagement maneuvering the vehicle about turns.  The function of faith then becomes trust as we depend on them before the oncoming train.

     Belief.  Faith.  Trust.  Precept upon precept.  God lays a foundation.  If belief were blocks, then faith would be the concrete binding them together.  Trust would be the completed wall.

James 2:19 “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.”

     Beliefs about God are expected.  He gives us creation as a witness of His character.  Even those in opposition understand His attributes.  So how are we different than demons?

     Random blocks thrown about a dirt pad is the illustration.  Strewn without order, their hit and miss grasp of His character fails them.  We, on the other hand, confess Him as Lord.  Thus begins a beautiful relationship as we fit the blocks together in arrangement.  Faith lays down a concrete binder.  Now we see order in God’s expression as blocks join and stack neatly.

     As we seek God, He provides truths in revelations.  It is up to us to work with His Spirit in fitting them rightly.  Faith declares the new block to be of the same wall.  In other words, faith tests things whether they be of God.  “Does my new understanding of Him work?”  If the block be true, then it is gladly added.

     The ancients knew this.  “By faith…” it is written.  Their real home they sought leaving the constraints of this world.  Single blocks of truth kept them moving as Abraham drew near to sacrificing Isaac.  Rehab waited on the two spies.  But these are only instances.  Without faith, their walls of trust would crumble lacking adhering mortar.

     And what is our final trust in?  The nature of God.  The whole package.  After a time of experiences, we confess we do not understand Him completely.  Yet, we bank on what we know.  It is good enough.  Truth and faith have had their work.  Our walls go up to support works.

     Ever press the brake pedal to the floor?  Brake lines burst.  Panic grips our knuckles to the wheel.  We avert collision by steering to an empty place.  A sudden anger hits as we realize our trust has been violated.  It was once good enough.  Now, doubt shadows.

     God is not like that.  With every ‘press to test’, He comes through.  He gives us faith.  We must let it work. 

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