By Faith

Now in the morning, as He returned to the city, He was ungry.  And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, "Let no fruit grow on you ever again."  Immediately the fig tree withered away.  And when the disciples saw it they marveled, saying, "How did the fig tree wither away so soon?"  So Jesus answered and dais to them, "Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt,you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, 'Be removed and cast into the sea,' it will be done.  And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive."
Matthew 21: 18-22 NKJV

Faith, it is not only the anchor of our belief in God, but our very assurance that He will do as He says.  It is essential to every christian, and yet often elusive to us as well.  For even Jesus's most trusted disciples had asked of him to "Increase our faith" {Luke 17:5}.  From our local pastors, faith can often be measured in a six week sermon series.  But it is not only christians who have this thing called faith.  For the scriptures tell us that even the demons believe in God, and shudder! {James 2:19}  For what is faith but a deep seated knowledge that God exists?  Well, I say that it is more than that.  I mentioned faith being the anchor of our belief in God, and I believe this to be true.  But how do we believe in something which we cannot see?  This has been a struggle of mine as well as countless others.  I believe that in order to put our faith into perspective that we must first understand just what faith is.  Merriam Webster has defined faith as a "Strong belief or trust in someone or something."  Do we believe in God simply because we have been told that He exists?  Perhaps, but faith goes deeper than that.  When we see a clear blue sky, we have a deep seated belief that it will not rain.  So strong is our belief, that we all too often base our daily schedules around our belief that rain will not interfere with our day.  Simply put, we have faith that it will not rain.  So, what is it which gives us that "Strong belief" that God indeed does exist?  What is this which may be the very anchor of our belief in God?  In Matthew 21, Jesus's disciples "Marveled" at what Jesus had one to the fig tree.  Now, as He so often did, I believe that Jesus used this as a teaching opportunity for the men who followed Him.  How was Jesus able to pull this off?  Well, He told us.  "If you have faith, and do not doubt."  This, christian, is the real definition of our faith.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.  For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.  By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.  By faith Able offered God a more excellent sacrafice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.  By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, "And was not found, because God had taken him", for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God.  But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Hebrews 11: 1-6 NKJV

I like to refer to Hebrews 11 as "The faith chapter."  For I believe that it is here where we find yet another good example of just what faith is.  For our faith is not defined by a definition, but our deep seated belief that our heavenly Father exists.  How do we know this?  We just know.  How did those men of old know that God existed?  Yes, there were times when God indeed manifested Himself that He might be known by His children, but He certainly has never been seen by men {John 1:18}.  Now, I must add that Christ Jesus is the very "Express image of His person" {Hebrews 1:3}.  For if we have come to know Christ Jesus, then we have known He who sent Him.  Jesus being God in the flesh of man.  For God and Jesus are not two seperate spirit beings, but one.  Which brings us back to that question of faith.  How do we know that Jesus even was the very express image of God, and that He came to wipe away the sins of all?  Well, of course we have the scriptures, but I believe that it is something more than that.  I believe that every christian knows in their heart that God exists.  It is this assurance for which the elders of old in Hebrews 11 were known for.  Able, Noah and Abraham all trusted that God not only existed, but that He would do what He promised.  It is a firm foundation and a unshakable trust.  We trust in God because in our hearts we know that he exists.  For it is the spirit of our Lord which speaks His truth into the hearts of His children.  That blue clear sky does not tell us that rain will not fall, we simply trust in our hearts that it won't.  It is that basis of our faith, that we "Do not doubt."

~Scott~