So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.   Romans 10:17

Recommended Reading: EPHESIANS 2:8-9 “  ⁸ For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not of works, lest anyone should boast.”

COMMENTS:  Faith is defined in scripture as “the assurance of things hoped for and conviction of things not seen.”  Hebrews 11:1. 

Psalm 46:10 states “Be still, and know that I am God.  I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth!”

John 8:24 “…unless you believe that I am who I claim to be, you will die in your sins.”

Faith has always been a key ingredient to obedience to God’s commands.  Faith not only requires believing in something or someone but acting on that trust or belief. 

A story is told about a performer who walked across Niagara Falls on a tightrope pushing an empty wheelbarrow.  When asked the audience if he could do it again, they all cheered and said yes.  Then he asked one of the spectators if he would get in the wheelbarrow.  No one was willing.  The evidence of faith is not in profession but in action.  Validity of faith in not just in action, however, but if object or person our faith is in is genuine and worthy of our faith.

So where is your faith placed?   Is it in a job or employer or an object or even a person?   Is it worthy of our faith?  What is the past history of those before us who exampled the same faith before us? 

Consider another example of faith.   Winter in northern parts of the world command sustained temperatures to freeze lakes deep enough to drive a full semi-truck and trailer over.  In fact, in many areas of Canada, for example, supplies are conveyed by truck in just that way since roads are difficult to keep plowed.    But in the early days of winter, the ice is thin and not able to support the weight of one person let alone a semi-truck.

What is different about faith and action of those who walk on ice and how they discern how and when to act on their faith?   Well, genuine faith is not blind nor without reason and understanding.   Such if vital when discerning driving or even walking on ice.   Some more open winters, even walking on an ice-covered lake would be foolish and other more severe winters driving a semi-truck on that same lake would be as safe as land.   Weather and some well-placed bore holds is necessary before confidence of faith should be placed in that ice because the integrity of that ice needs proved.

Christ wants us to have that same confidence in Him but does not expect us to do so without proper searching and inquiring and study.   Far better to fully trust in Christ and embrace His offer of forgiveness and salvation after genuine seeking and exploring His Word, exploring the lives and change in lives of those who did so before us.  Validity and integrity of Christ’s life.  Many atheists and agnostics have done such a study and concluded Christ is genuine and worthy of faith and placed their faith in Him.   Lee Strobel is one of those atheists.   HE began his research with intention of persuading his wife to reject her recent conversion and new faith in Christ.   The end of his research was his own conversion and faith in Christ too.  Since then he has written powerful books recording his own journey to faith and guide in helping others in that journey too.

Well, I accepted Christ early, at age 10, due to influence of many in my family and church family who influenced me.  But during my teen years and early adult years, study and prayer and honest seeking drew me much closer to Christ and impacted my understanding and increased my faith in Him.  Yet there were still times when believing and acting on my faith was a struggle.  It still is at time.  

Then I ask myself if He is really asking me to step on the ice or to take a new but different path.  Influence and pressure from others may not be what He is asking or calling us to do.

For example, a number of years ago, I spent 3 weeks working with miners in a West Virginia coal mine installing and testing a prototype machine I was involved in designing.   During that time, I became good friends and had many good conversations with many of those miners.   One was a part-time pastor in a local small church.  During those conversations, I discovered that congregation practiced “snake handling” as part of their worship and way to develop their faith and trust in Christ.  He invited me to attend his church.  After much prayer and soul searching, I declined and reason for declining became a focus of some good conversation.

Since then, I have studied that practice and have learned much.  I have concluding such practices are a human way of trying to force God’s hand in order to justify and demonstrate faith instead of yielding to the way and purpose God chooses.  Scripture tells us to flee youthful temptations, not run to them.   A poisonous snake is something to avoid, not seek out.  But in the case of Paul, God protected Him until his time to go home to heaven had come.    Tempting God or trying to force God’s Hand is not exercising faith and generally does not reflect the spirit of obedience and faith I believe God is seeking. 

Instead, God is wanting and asking us to focus on seeking Him first and opening us to listen to His voice and direction. Faith that He will help and protect us when we step out in faith in Him.  However, consideration to impact on others is definitely worthy of thought and prayer.  God brings unity and relationship building and more Christ-like life building. 

When choices bring division or broken relationships or even heated debates in the church or in families, then stopping and reflecting individually and together is justified and critical.   Seeking God’s input in scripture and with wise pastors and counselors and in prayer waiting til God answers is important.   All too often satan will come as an “angel of light” seeming to be genuine but fruit is far from being angelic.

So, what acts of faith are genuine and what acts are not?    Not an easy or obvious answer in many cases.    Many churches who focused on worship practices or tempting danger in order to show faith tend to force “mechanical” ways to avoid disaster while participating.  We could use the same logic to incorporate walking off cliffs or stepping blindfolded onto a busy highway or climbing a mountain or a tall tree to worship as a normal practice.  The though or idea of doing so may seen genuine to some but God does not think nor reason or plan like we do.  

 Life is full of mystery. How the brain becomes the mind is a mystery. Love is often a mystery. And in the spiritual realm, how does faith rise up in the human heart?

The apostle Paul says clearly: “So then faith comes by hearing…the word of God.” Most modern interpreters suggest that “the word of God” refers to “the message of/concerning Christ.” When Christ’s Gospel and His teachings are embraced by the human heart, faith is the result. But Paul also says we are saved by grace through faith which is “the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8-9). So, faith is a gift from God and it is also the result of embracing the message about Christ and His salvation.

But how does the gift of God mix with the human response? The experience of salvation is not a science experiment that can be understood in a laboratory. It is a wonderful mystery that can be experienced though not totally understood.

Have you embraced the Gospel of Christ? And thanked God for His gift of faith? Don’t let the day pass without doing both.

The Word generates faith and regenerates us.
Joseph Alleine

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