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Faith
July 13, 2024

Imagine doing something not based on any evidence, but through belief and faith. That totally contrasts to the world we live in. Science is based on evidence and the scientific method is designed to verify if the evidence collected establishes the hypothesis. Criminal cases rely on evidence. In the United States, our criminal justice system requires evidence to be presented by the prosecutor if there is to be any hope of a conviction. Juries aren’t allowed just to take the word of the prosecutor when deciding guilt or innocence. Some type of evidence, even if only circumstantial evidence, must be presented before a verdict can be rendered.

Evidence, unlike faith, is something that can or could be humanly seen. In the case of a murder where a gun is used, some type of evidence linking the bullet to the gun to the defendant will be offered. The problem with physical evidence is it can be contaminated. Its integrity can be called into question if not handled properly. Sometimes, evidence can also be manufactured whether to support a prosecutor’s case against a defendant or by a scientist to verify a hypothesis, and when evidence is used in a corrupt way, a corrupt result is obtained.

Faith is not based on what we see, because the reality is if we can see something for ourselves with our own eyes, we have very little need for faith. We have faith for those things which we hope for and have not seen. Throughout history, people of God have had faith. Take for example, Noah. Noah lived during a time when people’s thoughts were focused on evil and it was so bad even God felt bad and initially thought the easiest solution would be to kill everyone, until he came across Noah who walked with God and found grace from God. Noah lived his life doing what God expected.

We have no idea whether Noah saw himself as different than everyone else, or if everyone else saw him as different. We do know that God devised a plan where all the evil people would die, and Noah and his family would live. We do know God told Noah that the people would die, and he needed to build an ark to specifications provided by God, and that this ark, which we know would protect Noah and his family, would preserve animal life. Noah was also to take aboard enough food for his family and the animals.

Genesis 6:5-22
And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God. And Noah begat three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth. And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth. Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch. And this is the fashion which thou shalt make it of: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits. A window shalt thou make to the ark, and in a cubit shalt thou finish it above; and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof; with lower, second, and third stories shalt thou make it. And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and everything that is in the earth shall die. But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons' wives with thee. And of every living thing of all flesh, two of every sort shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep them alive with thee; they shall be male and female. Of fowls after their kind, and of cattle after their kind, of every creeping thing of the earth after his kind, two of every sort shall come unto thee, to keep them alive. And take thou unto thee of all food that is eaten, and thou shalt gather it to thee; and it shall be for food for thee, and for them. Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.

Noah did all of this without any physical proof of an impending flood. There are no mentions prior to this in the Bible of rising flood waters, or a catastrophic change to climate which could lead to widespread flooding. We just know that God came to Noah and told him to build this ark, and Noah did. Noah had no physical evidence that a flood was coming. All he had was the word of God, much like what we have today.

Like Noah, would we be able to say that we acted with faith? When Noah became aware of something made known by God not verifiable with physical proof, Noah acted in faith. Would we today act in faith? For those who are called and who have the Holy Spirit, we must act in faith through the rest of our human life. We must keep the faith, in good times and bad times.

2 Timothy 4:6-8
For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

Faith is defined by the Bible to be the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen. It is through faith we understand there is a spiritual world that transcends the physical world we see. Throughout the Old Testament, there were so many examples of people who lived by faith. Able lived by faith and offered a more excellent sacrifice than Cain. Enoch, who also walked with God, was translated that he should not see death. If we wish to please God, we must have faith knowing that He diligently rewards those who seek him. When Noah built the ark, there was no evidence of the flood, and when Abraham left his homeland for the promised land, he left sight unseen. That very same faith led Abraham to live as a nomad in the promised land looking to a city made by God. Sarah lived by faith and even though everything she saw and felt probably told her she was too old to become a mom, she still became a mom. Through the faith of Sarah and Abraham came the people of Israel, a nation with far too many people to be easily counted.

The people of faith died in faith not having received the promises but still seeing them afar off. Even Moses died looking at the promised land but not allowed to enter. Through their faith, the people of faith not having received the promises declared they were seeking a country. Today we think of that country as the Kingdom of God, which is described for us so wonderfully in the Book of Revelation. Even when Abraham was tested to offer up Isaac, Abraham responded with faith seeking what we seek. By faith, Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau giving Jacob the greater blessing, and through faith Joseph demanded his bones be taken with the people of Israel when they left Egypt.

By faith, Moses understood as an adult he was an Israelite even though he had been raised in Pharoah’s household and chose to suffer with the people of God knowing there was a greater reward to come. By faith the walls of Jericho fell after seven days and by faith Rahab did not die when others in her city did. There are examples of faith throughout the Bible of people who lived at different times than us but who also had their share of difficulties in life. They endured the difficulties of their life knowing something better was awaiting them.

Hebrews 11:1-40
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable. These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city. By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure. By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff. By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones. By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment. By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them. By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned. By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days. By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace. And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; Of whom the world was not worthy; they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

It is through faith that we overcome the world. If we lose focus on the Kingdom of God and God’s righteousness, and if we lose focus on the hope of eternal life, we jeopardize faith, and we jeopardize our opportunity to overcome the world. For now, as we focus on the Kingdom of God, God’s righteousness and the hope of eternal life we love God by keeping His commandments.

1 John 1:1-5
Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and everyone that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

Before us is a spiritual race and our goal like anyone who runs a race is to win the race. In a few weeks, nations will gather in Paris so athletes can compete against one another, and in those games the gold medal signifies a win. That gold medal is valuable to athletes and because of its nature is something that could be stolen, melted down, and made into something else like gold bars or jewelry. What we spiritually strive for can’t be stolen from us by another person. All we need to do is run the race before us knowing the prize we seek is yet in the future. We run our race not on the hope of some physical reward today, but the reward of eternal life to come.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27
Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

Through faith, we have peace with God through Jesus Christ. When others see a vengeful and cruel God, we know these are people not of the faith, because through Jesus Christ who died so our sins could be forgiven, we have nothing to fear with God. We still have reverent awe of God and keep His commandments, but we are not afraid of God. That peace that comes through Jesus Christ does not mean the life we have now on earth is an easy life. God uses the circumstances of human life to perfect the faith we have. When others mourn in despair having no hope, we have hope of the resurrection, eternal life, and the Kingdom of God.

Romans 5:1-11
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

The faith that we have is not based on what other people do. Other people are people just like we are, and as long as we are on this side of eternity our faith is not yet perfected. When others look to people for comfort and care, we look to God and Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 2:1-5
And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

We do not look to other people as a source of faith, nor do we look to the physical things we have as a source of faith. Everything that is a physical possession today will be of no value to us on the other side of eternity. While many find comfort from the physical comforts of what they call home, when we consider the physical comforts of home, we are reminded that we are not yet with God and Jesus Christ in the Kingdom of God. As we move through life seeking first the Kingdom of God and God’s righteousness, we do not look to the physical things we already have as a source of faith, we look to the Kingdom of God to come, God’s righteousness, and the hope of eternal life.

2 Corinthians 5:1-8
For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: For we walk by faith, not by sight: We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

Jesus taught His disciples of the need for faith. Once, when Jesus came across a fig tree, He was disappointed to find no figs and cursed the tree.

Mark 11:12-14
And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry: And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find anything thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet. And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter forever. And his disciples heard it.

The next morning the disciples noticed that fig tree had died overnight which made Peter bring to the attention of Jesus the curse he had uttered the day before. Jesus used this to give a lesson on faith. Through faith, Jesus could cause a fig tree to die, and He taught that through faith mountains could be moved and cast into the sea. Fast forward thousands of years and moving mountains and casting them into the sea was how the landmass was formed for the airport in Hong Kong. If the engineers couldn’t see that this was possible, another solution for the airport in Hong Kong would have been developed. Spiritually, we are spiritually limited by what we cannot spiritually see. If we can see something spiritually happening in our life, through the spirit it will be possible, if we have faith.

Mark 11:20-24
And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away. And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

What we will have is a place in the Kingdom of God, but we don’t have that place right now. Right now all we can do is seek first the Kingdom of God and God’s righteousness knowing that the Kingdom of God and eternal life awaits us, and all of this comes through faith.

Ephesians 2:1-10
And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, by grace ye are saved; And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

To be part of the Kingdom of God, we must recognize that it is through faith, the faith of Jesus Christ that we can be part. It is Jesus who died so we can have eternal life. There is nothing we can do for ourselves that will give us eternal life. It is through faith we will attain this hope. The works of the law address our shortcomings today, but it is through faith, the hope of eternal life that we will have eternal life.

Galatians 2:15-21
We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

To be a person of faith, we must be a person without doubt. If we doubt there will be a Kingdom of God than there would be no need to seek it first along with God’s righteousness. But we seek the Kingdom of God and God’s righteousness without doubt. We have faith that the Kingdom of God which we do not see with human eyes today, will be part of our future.

James 1:2-8
My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

If we are a person of faith, that will lead us to do certain things in our life. As John wrote in his first letter which we read a part of earlier, because we have faith, we will keep God’s commandments. The faith that we have will cause us to take action that is worthy of the Kingdom of God while realizing that the gift of eternal life is solely a gift from God and nothing we can earn. Even though we cannot see the Kingdom of God, we will live our life knowing the Kingdom of God will be part of our life on the other side of eternity.

James 2:14-26
What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

We can look through the pages of the Bible to find people of faith and can even look to others today who are also of the household of faith and know we all have this spiritual race to run that is before us. Like the athletes who will gather in Paris in a few weeks seeking a gold medal, we first seek the Kingdom of God and God’s righteousness looking to Jesus Christ who is the author and finisher of our faith, and we look to Jesus Christ when life is good and when life is tough, knowing that whatever life throws our way will be used to bring us to spiritual perfection.

Hebrews 12:1-11
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

We look forward to the Kingdom of God, the New Earth and the New Jerusalem, from where God and Jesus Christ will reign. No more will there be a curse. No more will there be pain and suffering, because the faith we have today, will be the reality of tomorrow.

Revelation 22:1-5
And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

That reality of tomorrow will include a time of no more tears, no more death, no more sorrow, no more crying, and no more pain. The former things will be done away, and through faith, we will be there to experience this incredible happy future time.

Revelation 21:4-7
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

Today we walk by faith, seeking first the Kingdom of God and God’s righteousness, and hoping for eternal life. During this future time of incredible happiness, we will then experience the reward of the faith we must now have.

All verses are from the King James Version.
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