Note on Sunday; Faith

According to Google’s definition:

Faith is complete trust or confidence in someone or something.

It is actually easier to have faith in something or scenarios that we can see, or someone whose loyalty has been tested overtime. On the other hand, it takes a lot of ‘believing-in’ to come to terms with the fact that there is a superior being, let alone have faith in him or in what he can do. Now you know why the population of atheists seems to be on the rise. Realistically speaking though, has anyone seen God?

Bible's definition of faith goes thus in Heb 11; 1;

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen”

Faith in Christianity first of all believes in the existence of the almighty God and Jesus his son. It is also keeping alive the hopes that he would answer and bring to fruition what we desire. And no matter how long it tarries, answers to our prayers lie in wait, and the manifestation to unfold eventually.

Meanwhile faith is often misconstrued as being insanely, like in the case of Noah who looked stupid until it began to rain. Worthy of note is how fervently Noah had hearkened to the voice of God. He even went as far as heeding to instructions albeit abstractly, through God whose voice only him could hear, on how to build the ark and passionately preaching the gospel in the process. He had informed people of the heavy downpour to come, which would sweep them all off the surface of the earth but they never believed him.

Here goes something that has never happened before, but Noah had faith that as long as God has said it, it’ll happen. I cannot begin to imagine his joy, when his doubters swam up the torrential rain, banging on the doors of the ark for him to open up. How can he forget in a hurry the boos, jests and incessant questioning of his sanity as he preached. Same way the second coming of Jesus seemed stupid to unbelievers right now though.

Another man of good faith was Joseph. He so much believed in his dreams to be a leader that he often recounted it to his brothers. And even when all was not well as he journeyed through life, he never dimmed his light, but avoided sinning as he strives to excel in whatever capacity he found himself. (From Potiphar’s house to the prison, to the palace of pharaoh the king, who made him a leader that he was destined to become.)

This however is a clear indication that, when God promises us something, it always comes to fruition regardless. So have faith in him. The bible verses below asserted;

Mat 24; 35- “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away”

                                    And

Isaiah 55;11- “So is my word that goes out of my mouth, it will not return to me empty , but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it”

To be a good man/woman of faith, is working hard alongside waiting for the manifestation of our dreams.

Promises from God asides, faith devoid of malicious intentions and sinning, ensures that our prayers are answered in the long run.

Mark 11; 24- “therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours”

On the other hand, Faith is shrouded in so much complexity, that many faithful are actually waiting on unimaginable stuffs, which they thought was from God, but stupidity is that you?

           

         The fact that God can do the unthinkable, does not mean we should be stupid. Like praying fervently to break free from the shackles of poverty, instead of doubling the hustle that God would use, to bring his multiplication. 

And in as much as I am not disregarding the efficacy of prayer, God actually blesses the works of our hands, not the idleness therein; even the bible confirms it;

·        Proverbs 10;4- Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth.

·        Prov. 12;24-  Diligent hands will rule, but Laziness ends in forced labor.

·        Prov. 13;4- A sluggard’s appetite is never filled, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.

·        James 2; 14-“what does it profit my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?

Another instance is when a supposed Christian woman ends up having a still birth, over an earlier consideration for a Caesarian section, under the guise of wanting to birth like the Hebrew women.

Others claim to look for the fruit of the womb, yet the finances are in place for IVF or surrogacy.  All of these are not belittling the power of God. He created men and enabled some advanced scientific knowledge, so he at times expects us to use our common sense, that’s why he’s made us humans, and not some other 'less-sensed' mammals.

God makes the impossible very possible and vice versa. But in as much as he can do all things, he will refuse to do some, for reasons no one can explain. And that’s why he’s unquestionable.

Proverb 2;6- For the lord gives wisdom, from his mouth come knowledge  and understanding.

The funniest of all supposed faith was a group of Christians in one of the African Countries, praying to God to put out fire from the roof of one of them. This happened in a civilized nation where fire fighters are prompt to rescue such even. Besides, what happens to communal effort towards putting out the fire outbreak? No doubt, the angels on guard would surely have a good laugh at the humor of that day.

            Conclusively, Faith is a Christian value. We truly need to believe God to do the impossible. In the same vein, faith without work is dead. So let’s strive to be practical about it.

Meanwhile, faith is faith, totally different from stupid. Stupid is stupid, faith is not stupid.

Picture:  Community Church Movement, USA