Faith Is A Sure Thing

Faith is not a shot in the dark, it is a shot in the light. It is not a leap into the unknown, it is a leap into the promises of God.

We fundamental Christians are always delighted to say that we know Jesus as our personal Savior. We shout a hearty "Amen" to the assertion that Jesus dwells in us and that we are the temple of the Holy Spirit. That we will never perish.

Christian? Do you really believe that?

I am not trying to call your salvation into doubt (although the Scriptures do tell us to examine ourselves to see if we are in the faith - II Cor. 13:5), but I am asking you, as I am asking myself; is our faith what it should be?

Jesus didn't just come to save us, He came to change us. He didn't just come for the next life. He came to impact this life through faith.

Faith in Jesus for salvation is one thing and it is not as though we mustered that up, it is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8,9). Having been enlightened, however, we were glad to embrace Christ. Why not? Our sins are forgiven, we are bound for Heaven. We have a blessed hope, we are part of God's family. We have a Great Shepherd to walk us through the valley of the shadow of death. We will never perish. What is not to like?

Having believed and trusted in Jesus, having faith in life after death is comforting.

It is having faith for living life until death that is hard. We are expected to live in a very different way than the rest of the world.

We are expected to live as though it is better to give than to receive. (Acts 20:35)

We are expected to live being the servant of all. (Mark 9:35)

We are expected to live considering others to be more important than ourselves. (Phil. 2:3-11)

We are expected to live taking up our cross and following Christ. (Luke 9:23)

We are to live knowing we are the light of the world. (Matt. 5:14-16)

We are to live knowing we are the salt of the earth.( Matt. 5:13)

We are expected to live as a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation and a people set apart for God's own possession. (I Peter 2: 9-12)

We are expected to live by faith, not by sight. (II Cor. 5:6,7)

We are told that without faith it is impossible to please God. (Heb 11:6)

There is more. These are not just words. These are not just church platitudes. God's Word is not a series of suggestions through which you can pick and choose, or are applicable in some situations but not others.

Some say these things are not practical in a real world. Well, ...

It is a real world in which you sinned. It is a real world into which Christ came. It was a real cross on which He died, it was a real dead body laid in the tomb, it was a real living Godman who came back to life. It is the real Word of God that commands you to live by faith.

Faith is not a shot in the dark, it is a shot in the light. It is not a leap into the unknown, it is a leap into the promises of God. It is not moving ahead with your eyes closed, it is moving ahead with your eyes fixed on Jesus. Do we see the end of faith? No, we trust in the end without seeing it.

Christian? Do you really believe that? Then live it.

(If you have never put your faith and trust in Jesus Christ, this column was not for you, but your questions and comments are still welcome. [highroadzhills@aol.com, Facebook P.M. under my name.] If you don't know about Jesus - please, please contact me.)