Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
This passage of scripture outlines for us the fundamental requirement that is essential to an initial, and ongoing relationship with God. Every relationship has a beginning point and even though God knows each of us personally, yet each of us do not know God personally, and therefore the relationship with Christ must of necessity, begin by having faith in God. After our first parents sinned in the garden of Eden our five senses, including the sense of sight, were greatly impaired, so that we could no longer behold with our naked eyes, unseen realities that transpire around us each day.
For instance, we believe and know that there are good and evil angels all around us, but if we were to ask, most Christians will confess that they have never seen or heard an angel in all of their life experiences. However, what most of us will confirm is the evidence of their work in the many miracles and deliverances that have been showered upon us, and this is what the passage in Hebrews is referring to when it says that faith is the evidence of things not seen. We have never seen what electricity actually looks like, but we can all testify to the evidence of it's working in the many machines and computers which run on electrical power. The same is true of faith. God gives us sufficient evidence to believe in Him and we should respond appropriately by exercising faith in Him, for it was by this means that the heroes of the Bible were able, by the grace of God, to do great exploits for Him. Let's read:
Hebrews 11:32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: 33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions. 34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection.
In our day, and in our own experiences we are called upon to exercise the same type of faith in the present tense, especially now that we are living in turbulent times, and uncertainty hangs in the very atmosphere we breathe. The faith we are speaking about is not a mere superficial claim of trust in God, but that which reaches deep into our everyday experiences, solving the many difficult issues, and surmounting the many hurdles we are often faced with.
We therefore end with a passage of scripture which encourages us to exercise a living faith in God, for we will need it more and more as we head into the future. Let's read:
Matthew 17:19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? 20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
May the limitless possibilities of faith in The Eternal God become living realities in our lives as we exercise the faith necessary for their fulfillment. "Good night" and God bless!