A reader’s comment on ‘faith’
(Part III)
AN e-mail sent to me (what I mentioned in Part I) by a Visayan lawyer who requested anonymity raised the following: “How should one exercise his faith in God?” Let me share the following: • The Holy Bible says that to the man who trusts God, his faith is credited as righteousness. The Holy Bible is replete with verses on faith and faithfulness in our Lord God. In layman’s language, faith in our Lord God simply means trust in Him. Complete trust, that is. Not a kind of trust that is shared with others. Meaning, putting God first in our lives without ifs and buts. As simply, clearly, and briefly stated in the Holy Bible, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and everything will be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33) Faith in our Lord God is a choice. A decision and not an argument or debate. A commitment and not a controversy.
• It is often said that our Lord God is faithful and He expects us to be faithful to Him. An unwavering faith forever. Aptly captured in the following Latin motto of the Marines “Semper Fidelis.” Meaning forever faithful. Not all of us can sing, dance, or preach. But all of us can exude faith in our Creator who gave us the gift of life. As the Holy Bible says, “Have faith in the Lord your God and you will be upheld.” (2 Chronicle 20:20)
• The word faith is used only twice in the Old Testament while in the New Testament, the word faith is used more than 400 times.
• The Old Testament in the Holy Bible abounds with examples of people who lived by faith. They have never seen God or Jesus Christ – yet they believed that God is personal and real in their lives.
• The Book of Hebrews in the New Testament mentions some of these heroes of faith:
“By faith, Noah, when warned about things not yet seen in holy fear, built an ark to save his family. By his faith, he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes from faith.” (Hebrews 11:7)
“By faith, Abraham, even though he was past age – and Sarah herself was barren – was enabled to become a father because He considered him faithful who had the promise. And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.” (Hebrews 11:11)
“By faith, Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.” (Hebrews 11:23)
“By faith, the people passed through the Red Seas as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.” (Hebrews 11:29)
“By faith, the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days.” (Hebrews 11:30)
*** What is this Bible faith exuded by these men? Noah, Abraham, Moses, and the others were still living by faith when they died. The Holy Bible says that “faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1-2) This Biblical passage deals with the things future and things not seen – by faith the unseen things become reality and the future becomes present. Simply put, Bible faith is believing in God and His promises. If God says it is true, then it is. Bible faith is total dependence and trust in the unseen God.
In contrast to Bible faith, there is the so-called natural human faith. Many people say, “When I see it or when I feel it, then I’ll know I have it (referring to faith).” This is the natural human faith as distinguished from the real faith in God, sometimes called Bible faith.
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There is a saying that is commonly quoted by many – that “faith can move mountains.” Actually this saying is quoted from a Biblical passage which says: “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matthew 17:20)
*** So much has been said about the God kind of faith in the human heart – sometimes referred to as Biblical faith. But definitely without faith, it is impossible to please God. This is what Hebrews 11:6 of the New Testament says. Simply, faith is acknowledging the lordship and leadership of God. Faith is yielding to God. To His power, to His love, to His grace, to His protection, and to His provision. To His presence in our life.
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During these times of uncertainty, especially with regard to our political and economic situations, let us just have complete trust and faith in our unseen God. Let us not for an instant forget that our Almighty and Sovereign God is in control of everything. He DOES NOT sleep as we do. Have a blessed day.
*** This column continues to give out copies of the Holy Bible for free to those who cannot afford to buy their own copies. If interested, please send your letter-request to Ms. Nelly Favis Villafuerte, 5233 LRV Building, Fahrenheit St., Palanan, Makati City. Kindly mention if it is the Tagalog, English, Cebuano, or Ilocano Bible that is preferred.