Last night at church house group we discussed faith. According to the Oxford dictionary, faith can be defined as having complete trust or confidence in something or someone. A strong belief in the doctrines of religion, based on conviction rather than proof.
We discussed that some Atheists only believe in what can be proven, theorised, studied, recreated in a laboratory, tested, based on empirical evidence. That the whole universe occurred by accident from a single cell or atom, and it happened to develop into an ordered, structured universe, with a planet able to support a diverse range of life.
We do not have that much faith.
But we do have faith in the invisible. In things that cannot necessarily be found in a test tube. We believe in a spiritual realm. In our Father and creator God. Much of what He created can be studied in a lab, but our trust in Him does not depend on that alone.
The universe was made by His command so that what is seen was not made from what is visible.
We climb metaphorical staircases that we cannot see the top of. We just choose to take a step at a time and trust it leads somewhere wonderful. Even if that does not get fulfilled in our lifetime.
Many great people were remembered not by what mistakes they made, their failings, their weaknesses. But by their faith. Hebrews 11 lists people such as Abraham, Noah, and Moses. Interestingly none of those giants of the faith ever received the full reward on earth.
God had something better prepared for them in heaven. Their legacy has gone through the ages, enjoyed by multitudes, even to this blog.
We push on, through triumph and hardship, knowing that Jesus has plans that we do not always understand. But are always good and can have impact to others and even future generations.
It is not always easy, it does not always make sense.
But our hope is that as we follow our King,
Our faith will be our eyes.
encouragement from someone who has been through the fire 