Faith Is… I

Hebrews 11:¹ “What is faith? It is the confident assurance that something we want is going to happen. It is the certainty that what we hope for is waiting for us, even though we cannot see it up ahead.” (LB, emphasis added).

Before we begin to look at growing our faith, let us first answer the question, what is faith? The first thing we need to realize about faith is that Faith Is Higher Than HOPE. Hope is wanting something to be that is not, and having no assurance that it will be. Faith on the other hand is because of the assurance that it will be, we are hoping to have something that is not. Huge difference. When I am watching a movie, because I like the ‘good guy’, I find myself not wanting him to die. The ‘actor’ is not supposed to die but some sadist script writers make the ‘actor’ die. So, I am watching and, in my mind, hoping that the ‘actor’ will not die. Guess what? That is just hope, there is no assurance. Hope is a good thing, it keeps body and soul together.

It will be terrible for anyone to be hopeless. It is always good to have hope. But faith is bigger than hope. Imagine you are having a party, and you send out invitation cards to people. Then you decorate your house and set the tables. And you sit back looking at the time, hoping people will come. Meanwhile, nobody has told you they will come, but you have cooked a nice meal and set the table. However, if you ask your guests to RSVP and confirm that will come. Then you know X number of people will definitely come. And because they are people of integrity, you know they will show up. That is faith because you have an assurance.

The RSVP is an assurance that they would come. Guess what? The Word of God is the RSVP for us, that He will come through for us regardless of what we are facing. And God always keeps His Word. So, it is only hope until you have a promise. When you have a promise, it becomes faith, particularly if the person promising has integrity. Secondly, Faith Is A Response To God’s PROMISES. God has given us promises in His Word, promises of His presence, His power, His salvation, His deliverance, His healing, and His restoration. God has given us promises.

Hebrews 11:⁷ “It was by faith that Noah built a large boat… He obeyed God…” (emphasis added). Noah moved by faith in response to God’s promise that there will be rain. Noah did not just call a family meeting and say, ‘How do you think God will move?’ Shem says, ‘Maybe by fire’, and Ham says, ‘By poisoning’, and Japheth says, ‘God will open a tap’. Then Noah says, ‘Great idea! Let’s build the ark’. Sadly, that is how many people have strategy meetings to forecast the future. It is such a pathetic way to operate when you have a God that can give you instructions.

Prayer: Father, Your Word is my confident assurance. Please help me to always respond to the promises in Your Word in faithful obedience, in the Mighty Name of Jesus. Amen!