Faith Is the Substance

Faith is an elusive concept. A dictionary defines it as, belief, and trust in, and loyalty to God.

The book of Hebrews provides another definition: Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Heb. 11:1 NKJV)

How do we trust in a God we cannot see? For truly, no one sees, has seen, or will see God. And that is not all bad. If God could be proven, faith would be unnecessary. But what is this elusive faith?

Perhaps we have difficulty with defining faith because we try to describe it as a mental choice or position. We check our thoughts to see whether we have faith. Our thoughts might reveal our status, but they will not help us find or understand faith.

Neither the Bible nor the dictionary approach faith as the thoughts of the mind. For faith is primarily a choice of the heart and a position of the heart. The heart chooses to believe or not believe depending upon its desires. When the heart chooses God, faith becomes reality in the life of a believer.

Originally published February 28, 1992.
Picture: Como Park Conservatory, St. Paul, 2009. Photo by Solveig.

Opportunity to Trust

Moses said to the Israelites, remember that the Lord your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart. . . . (Deut 8:2a NKJV)

When reading that verse, it is important to remember that God doesn’t send tests to see how well His people will do. He sends them as opportunities. We can choose Him or not choose Him. And no one—not even God—predetermines responses during a time of testing. Every person—or every nation—is free.

Nor is God a passive spectator. Because He cares so much, He interacts with individuals and with nations, working to bring them to a place where they have greater opportunity to make the right choices.

When the Israelites came to the end of their long journey through the Wilderness and were about to enter the Promised Land, God reminded them of the blessings He had provided: Your garments did not wear out on you or did your foot swell these forty years. (v. 4) That was the case even though he often allowed hardship before He provided. He allowed them to experience hunger, thirst, failure, attack from hostile armies, etc. Each trial was an opportunity to trust Him—to walk in his ways and to fear Him. (v. 6b)

Originally published July 3, 1987.

Does God Subvert Judgment?

The Biblical book of Job is confusing. Job tried to explain his condition to his friends by saying unthinkable words that seemed to blame God: He crushes me . . . and multiplies my wounds . . . For He is not a man . . . Let Him take His rod away from me, and do not let dread of Him terrify me. (Job 9:17-34)

Bildad the Shuhite was shocked by Job’s outbursts: How long will you speak these things. . . ? Does God subvert judgment? (Job 8:2,3 NKJV) To make matters worse, two additional friends named Eliphaz and Zophar agreed and said similar things. Furthermore, Job’s friends must have quoted truth because almost everything they said can be found in other portions of Scripture.

Yet, in the end, the friends were pronounced guilty. God instructed them to provide an offering so Job could sacrifice in their behalf and pray for them. Now, is that not confusing?

A big difference between Job and his friends was that Job trusted the person of God for salvation. Although the friends seemed to be God-focused as well, they focused on ideas about God. Perhaps they trusted more in being right—more in what they believed about God—than they trusted in God Himself.

Originally published September 27, 1992.

Picture: Lindenwood Park, Fargo, 2009. Photo by Solveig.

Personal Letters

There are many misconceptions about the apostle named Paul: he is often portrayed by people today as a man of no emotion. Yet his letters are full of greetings and friendly words to friends. He relates personal accounts of disappointment or joy. All suggest a rich emotional life.

Look at his letters to Timothy. Paul and Timothy enjoyed a close relationship when they traveled and worked together. While still a young man, Timothy proved his worth to Paul. Paul could send Timothy to settle disputes. Timothy went on preaching-teaching side-trips. The two men shared a common vision, and because their ministries were connected, they also experienced common hardships.

Paul’s letters to Timothy reveal their relationship. He recounted loneliness: At my first defense, no one came to support. (II Tim. 4:16 NIV) He recounted victory in a spiritual battle: But the Lord stood at my side . . . I was delivered from the Lion’s Mouth. (v. 17)

Most of all, Paul emphasized the source of his strength when he was vulnerable: The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom (v. 18a)

Originally published October 25, 1985.

Picture: Commercial landscaping, West Fargo, 2009. Photo by Solveig.

The Work of God

After Jesus fed five thousand people with five small loaves of bread and two fish, the people wanted more. They waited until morning and then they followed Him across Lake Capernaeum. We would assume they were eager to seek God and wanted to hear more of His teaching—or that they were impressed by the miracles.

Jesus knew their hearts. He said, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. (Jn. 6:26b NIV)

Apparently, miracles do not persuade people to seek God or teach them to trust Him. In fact, almost all of Jesus’ contemporaries were aware of His ministry and the many miracles He performed, yet many did not believe in Him. Miracles even seemed to harden the hearts of the Pharisees and Saducees.

God meets physical needs, but He especially desires to fill spiritual needs because they are the foundation for life with Him. Jesus said, Do not work for food that spoils . . . The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent. (v. 27a,29)

Originally published August 9, 1985.
Picture: Tulips, Fargo, 2009. Photo by Solveig.

Trusting God

One of the hardest aspects of the Christian walk is simple trust. Trust requires restraint—more restraint and therefore more effort—than jumping headlong into a situation or doing something just for the sake of doing something.

Trusting God doesn’t mean we stop making efforts on our own, however. In fact, trusting God might give us confidence to do something we had been afraid to do before. It releases us to respond to Him and to others.

Because He is God, He uses every effort we make, the good and even the not-so-good. Trusting Him acknowledges that the final outcome doesn’t rest with us and it accepts His judgment as superior to our own. The psalmist said, Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass . . . The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord; and He delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down. (Ps. 37:5,23,24a KJV)

Wait on the Lord . . . the Lord shall help them, and deliver them; he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him. (Pa. 37:34a,40 KJV)

Originally published January 3, 1992

Picture: Sconce with red berries, 2008. Photo by Solveig