Faith can sometimes seem abstract, but if you think about it, we use faith every day.
When I’m at a 4 way traffic light and it turns green, I assume that the light will not be green for the cars coming from the other directions. When you get sick the doctor hands you a prescription- you usually take it, right? When you turn on the tap to get a drink of water, do you check to make sure it isn’t salt water? The last time I flew in an airplane, I didn’t ask the pilot for his credentials. I had Faith that the airlines make sure the pilots are qualified.
How much better to place our Faith in the One that loves us and created all things- including us!
Here’s a little story to illustrate childlike faith:
From Streams in the Desert:
Mark 11:24 NLT : I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours.
When Mrs Rounds little son was about ten years of age, his grandmother promised him a stamp album for Christmas. Christmas came, but no stamp album, and no word from grandmother. The matter was never discussed; but when his playmates came to see his Christmas presents, his mother was astonished! After he had named and shown the gifts he received, she heard him add, "And a stamp album from grandmother."
After she had heard him say it several times, she called him over to her, and said, "But, Georgie, you did not get an album from your grandmother. Why did you say so?"
There was a wondering look on his face, as if he thought it strange that she should ask such a question, and he replied, "Well, mamma, grandma said so, so it’s the same thing." She could not say a word to change his faith.
A month went by, and nothing was heard about the album. Wondering in her heart why the album had not been sent, she finally said, "Well, Georgie, I think grandma has forgotten her promise."
"Oh, no, mamma," he said quickly and firmly, "she hasn't."
She watched the dear, trusting face, which, for a while, looked very sober, as if considering the possibility she had suggested. Finally a bright light passed over it, and he said, "Mamma, do you think it would do any good if I should write to her thanking her for the album?"
"I do not know," she said, "but you might try it." A rich spiritual truth began to dawn upon her.
In a few minutes a letter was prepared and committed to the mail, and he went off whistling with confidence in his grandma. In just a short time a letter came, saying:
"My dear Georgie: I have not forgotten my promise to you, of an album. I tried, but could not get the one you wanted; so I sent on to New York. It did not get here till after Christmas, and it was still not the right one, so I sent for another, and it has not come as yet. I have enclosed some money to get one near you. Your loving grandma."
As he read the letter, his face was the face of a victor. "Now, mamma, didn't I tell you?" he said, from the depths of a heart that never doubted, that, "against hope, believed in hope" that the stamp album would come. While he was trusting, grandma was working, and in due season faith became sight.
It is so human to want sight when we step out on the promises of God, but our Savior said to Thomas, and to the long roll of doubters who have ever since followed him: "Blessed are they who have not seen, and yet have believed."
--Mrs. Rounds
I could just say Amen and call it right there! However, let’s dig in a bit deeper:
In talking about Faith, it’s important to get the first things first:
Romans 3:10-12 (NIV):
As it is written:
10. “There is no one righteous, not even one;
11. there is no one who understands;
there is no one who seeks God.
12. All have turned away,
they have together become worthless;
there is no one who does good,
not even one.”
This sounds pretty bleak, right? The state of man is hopeless! If there is no one ‘right with God’ we may as well all just quit! But hang on, the significance of this verse is that it sets us up for what’s coming next.
We’re all in the same boat- Jesus doesn’t play favorites!
Paul doesn’t leave us hanging there, but goes on a bit further down from there:
Romans 3: 21-24 (NIV)
21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.
22 This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
Let’s break it down:
“But now...”- This is the best deal going- God knows that we aren’t able to live up to the standards given in the Law. (Over 600 OT laws!)
"All...": All have sinned- all are made righteous through FAITH
Justified- JUST AS IF I’D…never sinned! Never broken His trust!
Freely- Not grudgingly or with fine print!
Grace- you can’t earn it!
Redemption- Definition “the act of saving something or somebody from a declined, dilapidated, or corrupted state and restoring it, him, or her to a better condition” or, “the buying back of something given, e.g. to a pawnbroker, as security for a loan”
like a pawnbroker- we traded our soul for sin, but Jesus paid the price!
These next two verses amplify this truth:
Ephesians 2:8
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—
Rom 5:1-2 (NIV)
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.
That’s something to really get excited about, right! By simply placing our trust in Jesus, we are made right with God! Just like little Georgie, we can act on this trust in God and possess the gifts of God! That peace is the peace that the world can't give and money can't buy, amen?
Down a bit further in Romans Paul summarizes this, and puts an exclamation point on it:
Rom 6:23 (NIV)
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.
I always try to keep it simple, so in summary what does this all mean?
We all have been born with a ‘sin nature’. We have all blown it when it comes to living the life that is pleasing to God! God says that without faith, it is impossible to please Him.
Faith in Jesus is the starting point of relationship with God.
The promise of eternal life is a Free gift, we just have to receive it!
We are at peace with God because of faith in Jesus and experience God’s grace.
Question: Are you at Peace with God?
This quote from DL Moody summarizes this all nicely:
“A little faith will bring your soul to heaven, but a lot of faith will bring heaven to your soul.”- DL Moody
