Some meditations of faith, drawn largely from Hebrews 11, from one who is pondering and struggling with what faith is supposed to mean in his life, and why the Christian life isn’t always all some people make it out to be.
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see…And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”Hebrews 11: 1, 6 – NIV
Hebrews 11 is an amazing exposition on faith with example upon example of people of faith in the Old Testament interspersed by concrete statements about what faith is. It is a passage that feels as if it should be set to poetry or music – such is the depth and power of its message. It is also a passage that, upon careful reading, is not merely inspirational but a massive reality check.
Faith is often presented as some towering emotional certainty and belief that overcomes all odds in the face of imminent danger or an overpowering obstacle. It has some magical quality to it that causes us to wonder if “the rest of us” can posses it in any great degree. Yet, faith in this passage is not linked with miraculous success and victory. Rather, in verse 39 the passage states that “none of them received what had been promised!”
Indeed, when we think of the many prophets in the Old Testament who lived by faith and preached by faith and died by faith because of their faith, we would dismiss many of them as failures today! Their preaching failed to change the nation of Israel and turn their people back to God. Instead, their audience hardened their hearts and pursued idolatry. If a pastor had such results in his church, many Christians would be quick to question his faith and his calling to his ministry. If we read the Old Testament closely, we will find that the prophets often questioned their own faith and ministry. Yet, from the experience of these prophets, who were vindicated by God it is clear that faith is no guarantee of “victory” over our external circumstances if we define victory as tangible, measurable success.
Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Faith in God is being sure of what we hope for in God’s promises and certain of God’s truth whether or not we see it in “reality.” We should not make the mistake of having faith in faith! If the list of people in Hebrews 11 had that kind of faith, it would not have lasted. They lived for long stretches of time without seeing any results from their faith, and died without the full and final vindication of their lives of faith. We see clearly the results, but they could not and did not. Should we then expect to see the results of our faith, except through eyes of faith?
Unless we are certain that God’s Word is true, we cannot persevere. It is difficult to have faith at the moment of some great test, when much is at stake. It is perhaps even more difficult to have faith when life is meandering, when little or nothing seems to be at stake. Abraham’s act of faith in leaving Ur was monumental, and we all remember that. His faith in continuing to journey for months, even years, is something we often forget. Not to mention the number of years he had to wait for the promise of a child to be fulfilled! In that time, he doubted, even tried to bring about God’s promises through his initiative, yet in all his doubt and confusion, he continued to have faith that God would do what he had promised.
What then is faith? It is a belief in God and His promises that enables us to live according to his Word, to lay down our lives, take up our crosses, and follow Him. Faith is not to be measured in our successes our through monumental events, but in how we follow after God every day, regardless of how little seems to be going on. By that measure, how much faith do I have? And yet, we are not called to have great faith, but to act on the little faith we do have. For even a mustard seed shall grow.
Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief.
