Mirriam-Webster defines faith as “firm belief in something for which there is no proof” and “complete trust”. There are other definitions as well but these were the ones I was looking for.
People want proof that God exists. While I believe that there is much evidence that points to the existence of God, I cannot take someone’s hand and say “Here, this is where God lives. I’ll make an appointment for you to see Him.” This is where faith comes in. It is so hard for me when I get into these kinds of discussions. I want so badly to be able to give them faith, to make them believe. But that is something only God and the Holy Spirit can give. This post is coming about in part because of conversations that have happened as a result of my last post. I use the Bible as my guidebook and my final authority. If you do not accept the Bible as inerrant and inspired then my arguments will appear to be weak and have no basis.
Heb. 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Heb. 11:6 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.
Romans 10:14-18 How then shall they call on HIm in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!”
We cannot MAKE people have faith. There is no question of that. But we must be obedient to Jesus’ command to “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you…” (Matt. 28:19-20a) This doesn’t necessarily mean standing on street corners or walking up to strangers to witness to them, some gifted ones are called to that but not everyone. This means developing friendships with your neighbors, the people that you have regular contact with. This means offering hospitality to those around us.
I know that as a homeschooling mama it was very easy to put myself in a very protected bubble. I just recently popped my bubble by going to work part time, and I have been struggling with the culture shock. But these people need the Lord, and suddenly the Great Commission has so much more meaning and is so much more convicting.
In my last post, I wanted to encourage my brothers and sisters to not lose hope. We need to be spurred into action by these recent events. The answer to our societies ills is not to legislate morality or to get the “right” person elected into office. The answer is for those of us who have accepted God’s gift of grace and eternal life to step up and follow His commands. When we obey Christ’s command in Matt. 28, we will see the Spirit move and convict the world of its sin. John 16:8-11 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. Our society will change when its peoples’ hearts’ are changed.
These last two posts are very outside of my normal. But these are things that are being laid on my heart to share with my fellow believers. We need to spur one another on to good works, to do the work that God has laid out for us. I don’t know everyone who reads my blog. But I love every single one of you nevertheless and pray for each one of you as you live out your faith in this world that we visit.
