What is Faith?

1Corothains 13:13 But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.

 

Faith is at the core of being a Christian, but what is faith? Jesus illustrated it this way; He took a small child and sitting the child on His lap, He said. Except that you have faith as a little child, you shall by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Hold that thought for a moment.

Jesus was the fulfillment of the Law, and New Testament teaching makes it clear that no man is justified by the law. If we could be justified by the law, then Christ would have died in vain. Jesus is our righteousness, which allows us to stand in God’s presence uncondemned. So, what has the faith of a child to do with gaining entrance into God’s presence?

When a young child needs something from their parents, what work do they perform to obtain what they need? Do our children work for their food, their clothes, or their shelter? They grow up knowing these things will be provided for them. This confidence is so much a part of their nature, that when they see an orphan that does not have this status they often make fun of them. Because I understand the orphan’s plight, I understand what the children that have parents have.

Jesus says that He is the door to relationship with the Father. Jesus is the way, the truth, the life and no man comes unto the Father unless they go through that door. If you have entered that door, there is nothing you can do to earn your status in His kingdom as sons of His. You just are His children and if you try to earn privilege through works, you do just what the Jews did that tried to obtain justification by the works of the law.

You make faith about works. This is why Jesus used the example of the little child’s faith, if you try to earn your status as His son then you try to define faith as work. In the “faith” chapter (Hebrews 11) we find: “ And 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 seek Him.” You must first understand that God is. Then you need to understand that God is a rewarder of those that seek Him.

To obtain faith you must study and learn about Jesus and all the scriptures about Him. Romans 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. Jesus delights in teaching us, ask Him to help you understand what it means for you to have faith in Him and He will give you understanding.

The Choice I Make

What is man that You take thought of him…

 Psalms 8:3-4  When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained; What is man that You take thought of him, And the son of man that You care for him?

Mat 10:29-31 "Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. "But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  "So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.

I recently read an article comparing the size of the sun to an 8” diameter bowling ball and the earth to the head of a straight pin (about the size of a muster seed). If you place that muster seed about 90 feet from the bowling ball, you get an idea of their approximate size and relative distance apart. If the earth is the size of a muster seed compared to a bowling ball, then man would be microscopic by comparison.  Uranus (the outer planet), at its greatest distance from the sun; would be placed about a half a mile from the above bowling ball and it’s relative size would be about half the size of a muster seed. Who is man, that the creator of the universe is mindful of us?

God has always existed, during this time He has created untold numbers of civilizations. I think it likely that most of the stars have inhabited planets associated with them, and that God is aware of what goes on in each of these worlds. Perhaps in all eternity, earth is the only planet where God created it’s inhabitants in His image, and perhaps the only planet where He came down and lived as one of them. Not only lived as one of them, but was killed by them to be the means of redeeming them so that they could choose to have a personal relationship with Him.

Mic 5:2  "But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity."

 God often chooses the most insignificant things to place the greatest honor on, the least of men to raise to the highest positions. Earth is therefore most likely the smallest of inhabited planets and man the smallest of intelligent creations. While it is beyond my comprehension that God acknowledges man, He choose to make us special to Himself. Those that choose to receive Him as their God; He gives the privilege to be called His sons.

Heb 2:3  how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard,

Psa 24:1  A Psalm of David. The earth is the LORD'S, and all it contains, The world, and those who dwell in it.

Joh 1:11-12  He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,

God created man and his solar system, we belong to God. Few of those that He created acknowledge Him, few choose Him as their Lord. It is a reasonable thing for me to bow my knees and more importantly my heart to my creator. God gives all men a choice and He has gone to great lengths to entice us to choose Him. God wants a people who willingly submit their selves to Him. That the majority of men do not choose to submit to their creator is a testimony of the free will that God gives man. It behooves one to choose wisely, for as God gives us a choice; He will not take away that choice we these bodies die. 

Deu_30:19  "I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants,

Heb 2:2-3  For if the word spoken through angels proved unalterable, and every transgression and disobedience received a just penalty, how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard,

My friend, God has gone to great lengths not only to provide an eternal salvation for you, but also to give you an abundant life (both on earth and beyond). The creator of the universe wants a personal relationship with you! Wow! To date your experiences on earth may have left you feeling useless or it may have exalted you to the highest ranks of man. Beware; God is no respecter of persons! Whatever your class in this life, you stand before God as redeemed or as having rejected redemption. These are the only status you will carry with you, if you have chosen to reject the salvation provided through Jesus Christ, then God will not deny you your choice and make you spend eternity with Him.

Mat 11:28-30  "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.

"Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

Jesus offers you a relationship with Himself, not just salvation after your life on earth, but an abundant life, full of meaning and purpose while on earth. I hope and pray for you dear reader, that these words will guide your journey to the foot of the Cross and into the arms of God that are outstretched to receive you.

Sleep

One of my favorite scriptures is: Psalms 127:2  It is vain for you to rise up early, To retire late, To eat the bread of painful labors; For He gives to His beloved even in his sleep. This scripture coupled with Philippians 4:8,9 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
Usually when it's late at night I can put my mind at peace and fall off to sleep rather quickly (tonight is an exception), God wants our trust to be in Him and not in our abilities or inabilities. What I think about is important to my Lord and I want to mediate on His provisions and blessings and not on what I can or can't do. If one is up this late it is likely because of worries (mine is because of my work schedule this week messing up my sleep pattern), and Jesus in Matthew 6:27 asks:  "And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? Read this in context for more of what Jesus thinks about our worrying.

I hope this will help you as you consider God's will for your life, God's provision for you and your family, and that you will ask God to provide you with sleep and provide for those things that were troubling you as you sleep.

From the Mouths of Babes

My oldest grandson (Now 4), is always giving me something to smile about. About a year ago, he was out with my wife and me. Upon returning home as I was heading to unlock the door, he hastened ahead of me and very assured of himself announced, "I can do that" and in the next breath announced, "only I don't know how".

Many times over the years I've told God I'm willing to do something, only I don't know how. And just like I enjoy teaching my grandson, God delights in teaching me.

Proverbs 17:22 (MKJV)  A merry heart does good like a medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones.

Knowing God's Will

The awesomeness of God is beyond comprehension, and therefore we have a tendency to relegate God to a mythical part of our lives. However, when God created man He wanted a relationship with His creation. There is nothing special about any of us that the creator of the universe would be drawn to us. Rather we get this audience with Him, because He decided that this was what He wanted when He created us.

God is not hiding from us, He tells us that when we seek Him with our whole heart, we will find Him. To find God's will specifically or generally in our lives is a matter of deciding that we are not going to relay on the knowledge we have, but acknowledging God in all matters of our life, knowing that God will then direct us.

 Pro 3:5,6 NASB Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.
Pro 18:2  A fool does not delight in understanding, But only in revealing his own mind.
Jas 1:5  But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

Whether we are a scientist seeking to understand the creation of the universe; a bicycle designer wanting to design a specific type bike, or a mother wanting to help her young child walk in the right paths of life, our own knowledge is insufficient. God know's the best answer for us in any circumstance and is eager to guide us, that  presuppose's that we are wanting to be lead. If we come to God telling Him what His will is, we are not seeking but rather guiding. I don't think our creator needs our guidance and we won't get His if we're not seeking.  

Eternity

I've often heard people discuss when life begins; usually at conception or at birth. There is a more important question one should ask themselves, that totally makes the other question mute. That is when does my eternity begin?

Man is created a living soul, an as such eternity begins at conception. What is the difference between the idea that life or eternity begins at conception? If one realizes that they are living in eternity, it makes a big difference in one's attitude. It's not a matter of one day when I die I will go into eternity, but rather I am an eternal creature that will one day move to a new location. The idea that "one day" , I will go into eternity has the false impression that one has a choice. There is no choice, you are an eternal being! Let that be settled forever in your mind, and start developing relationships that will always be there.

One day this phrase popped into my thinking, "God is the one with whom I have to do". I used to find myself shying away from scriptures that made me uncomfortable because I felt I could not measure up. Then that phrase popped into my thinking and I realized that I could not protect myself from an face-to-face encounter with God once I leave this planet. The alternative to trying to escape responsibility for my actions was to seek to know God as fully as my abilities allow.

God sets before every man, "life and death, blessing and cursing" and He even tells us to choose life (sometimes we are really dense between the ears). Jesus provided Himself to us, as an advocate to Father God that guarantees us a plea of redeemed and thus not guilty. It is our option to accept or reject the provision that God provided for us. Just remember that you are presently living in eternity, when you depart earth you are only changing addresses.

Bill

Let's See, Now How do I do This Blog Thing

This is a test, and only a test! Do not proceed forward and up on the starboard side, or down and aft on the port side. Just sit there and contemplate this blog!!!!!!!!!