I Peter 1 tells us that our faith will one day be tried, like gold is tried by fire. The Scripture is also careful to point out that our faith is much more precious than gold. Our faith is what will deliver us in the day that we are tried. The passage states that the end of our faith is the salvation of our souls. So from this passage we see that our faith is important, and that a trial of it is a guarantee. What then, proves your faith? Is there any proof of faith evident in your life?
Before we get into what proofs of faith we should manifest, we must carefully define just what faith is, exactly. The terms hope and faith are sometimes used synonymously, but they are really different in their core meanings. Hope is a word that carries connotations of the future. Hope is looking down the road, and believing that some good thing lies ahead. Hope is largely based on emotion and can be influenced by exterior circumstances. We catch a bad break, and suddenly our hope begins to wane. Faith, on the other hand, is a solidly present tense term. Faith is the knowledge that God will do what He says He will do. Faith is knowing that God has always provided, and not wavering from that knowledge when a new situation of need arises. Faith is what we must possess when facing a trial. Faith is the comfort of knowing that God has always delivered before, and therefore will deliver again because He is unchanging. Hope is not so concrete. Faith requires a knowledge of God, and hope only requires a belief in God. The difference is quite stark.
There are many who have a belief that God exists, and they may actually hope that He hears their prayers and will help them. However, these people do not have a knowledge of God and have yet to place their faith in Him. Their hope, while genuine, will lead them straight to hell. Faith prompts us to action. Faith is taking that step into the unknown, and placing all trust and hope in that which is unseen. Faith is then rewarded with the knowledge and confirmation that it has found a true resting place. God provides His Holy Spirit to live within the temple of man once that man places all his faith in Him. This indwelling confirms in us the presence of God and is the proof that our faith has been correctly placed.
Faith is the thing that transforms our hopes into realities. Faith is the tangible proof of a thing we once could only hope for. We gain faith when we see its provision in our lives. These fulfillments of hope become faith, so that our hope is no longer only a dream. When we hope for a thing and unwaveringly cling to the belief that it will come to pass, we build faith. Faith is then fully gained when the hope becomes reality. Going through trials with a hope that God will deliver is rewarded with a new measure of faith at the end of the trial when God actually does deliver.
So what proofs of faith are manifest in your life? Do you know Christ? The only way to succeed in the Christian life is to live by faith. We are only alive to bring honor and glory to the Lord. Without faith it is impossible to please God. Faith is the key that will unlock the blessings of God in your life. Faith is a substance; it is the catalyst that will activate and bring about the things for which you are hoping. Do you have regular answers to prayer? Is your life marked by the unmistakable goodness of God? When was the last time you felt so overwhelmed by the love and presence of God in your life that all you could do was weep for joy? How has the Lord conveyed to you His grace, mercy, and favor lately? How much power has God granted you for His service? Are you regularly seeing opportunities to witness, and seeing people trust Christ? How sweet is your walk with Christ?
If these questions give you pause, you may not be exhibiting the proofs of faith you should be exhibiting as a Christian. Faith is the force that will enable us to experience all the goodness that God wants to pour out upon His children. God does not intend for us to lead an anemic, meager Christian existence. The earmarks of a blessed Christian walk are abundance and blessing. Yes, trials will come; but in the trials His goodness and grace abound even more. Let us not only hope for God's blessings but also possess the faith necessary to receive God's blessings. Endeavor to stand firm in time of testing. See your hope mature into faith by refusing to waver until the hope becomes reality. Grow your faith so that its proofs will be readily evident in your life.
No comments:
Post a Comment