Faith

I’ve been learning a lot about faith in the past several weeks.

Maybe “learning” isn’t the best word, because in our information-oriented culture, we tend to associate things we learn with things we have.  For example, once we “learn” something, then we “have” that thing or body of knowledge or skill indefinitely.  To some extent this is true, especially in the case of matters of pure, objective knowledge like riding a bike, understanding math, knowing how to balance a checkbook, driving a car, etc.  But in the world of ideas & relationships & behaviors it’s a bit different, isn’t it?  I “know” how important it is to treat people I don’t like with respect, but sometimes I “forget.”  I know it’s important to control my tongue, but sometimes I don’t want to.  I know it’s wrong to cheat & lie but sometimes I find myself pushing the boundaries and justifying myself so that I can achieve my desired goal.  I want to follow God’s ways and receive the blessings that He promises but sometimes I want to do what I want, when I want, more.  I’m not alone in this.

We all suffer from lapses of faith.  We get caught in cycles of selfishness & immaturity, most often resulting from the fears that lurk in our hearts that cause us to not believe God.  Not to say that we “stop believing in” God, but that we stop “believing Him.”  We sometimes find ourselves not believing that His way is best and that He’s the boss of us.  We’re like petulant children sometimes, right?  We want the benefits of knowing God without the responsibilities & disciplines they require.  Often, that’s why our prayers stop at the ceiling…God says “no” because giving us what we want isn’t His end-game…relationship with us is.  

“…You don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure. You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God. What do you think the Scriptures mean when they say that the spirit God has placed within us is filled with envy? But he gives us even more grace to stand against such evil desires. As the Scriptures say, ‘God opposes the proud but favors the humble.’  So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor. (James 4:2-10)

Faith is not a religious word, actually.  It’s synonymous with trust, confidence, belief.  It’s interesting how faith & belief seem like religious concepts, while trust & confidence seem like practical ones.  It’s also interesting that we tend to differentiate between what we consider religious and practical…as if “matters of faith” and “practical matters” are completely different.  It’s much easier to trust in something that one can see, touch, feel, smell, or hear….but placing absolute confidence in that which cannot be scientifically observed is something quite different.  The problem is that we were not designed to be content inside the box of our 5 senses, we were created with eternity in our hearts and a constant gravity-pull toward meaning & purpose & destiny.  It’s the God stuff in us, pulling & pushing us to discover who we really are, what the world is all about, what happens after we die, and Who’s really in charge of it all.

Faith, real true trusting faith, is like a lost compass in the forest of the post-modern world.

The wonderful thing about God, the real God, is that when we finally “come to our senses” and come to Him (or come back to Him), He runs to us and throws His arms around us and takes us where we cannot take ourselves!  (Like the parable of the prodigal son…see Luke 15:11ff)

“But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:14-17)

“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 1:5-11)