The Equation of Faith, Part VII

It is obvious, although we may think very little of it, that there is more going on in the world than just what we see, feel, and hear. There are planes of existence. We live in the sensory plane where the world around is identified by what our senses are tuned into. However, we know that there is more going on just beneath this surface world. There is so much more taking place that is beyond the limits of our sensory perception.

Interestingly enough, this sensory plane or world we know is built on foundations of the unseen plane. There are internal organs, microscopic organisms, white blood cells, DNA, oxygen, elements of all types, and a vast universe of activity at the cellular level. Without such things life would cease as we know it. There is also a spiritual plane and without this plane, life would also cease because God is the Creator and Sustainer of such life. He brought this world, both seen and unseen, into existence.

He created us for Him but also created us because He loves us. It may not be an easy existence for many of us because life can often times be traumatic. Sometimes our morals, values, plans, ambitions, and beliefs do not always line up with everyone else's. It is a life of conflict as we strive to live together and co-exist with one another. However, just as I believe that there is a microscopic universe, I believe that there is a spiritual one as well. I believe in God. It is an act of faith to believe in anything because there is so much we don't know and the fact that there is so much that exists beyond our meager senses. As a Christian, we must treat the spiritual world as even more important than the one we know through our senses. His kingdom and the Heaven that awaits us is what we should dwell on and live for. This world is temporary and the things of the unseen are more important than that of the seen.

^{Colossians 3:1-4}

¹Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. ²Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. ³For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. ⁴When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

The Equation of Faith, Part VI

Suppose I pick up the stem of a rose. Outwardly, (what I can see with my eyes) it appears like just a stem of a rose. Faith is about perception. If I give this stem to a student in a Biology class, he can put it under 10X magnification and see even more than I see. If I then give it to a scientist in a lab and he/she puts it under an electron microscope, he/she will see things much differently than I do.The scientist will see whole worlds of and remnants of activity.

I have never seen chlorophyll, organelles, or chloroplasts but science tells me they are there. I have never held a liver or a human heart in my hand but books and science tell me that they are there. I know what my physical heart looks like and it's function because I believe in what scientists have put in books. Faith in God is no different. We have the Bible and it tells me God and His Son are real. I can not see them, just as I can not see the world of microscopic organisms that crawl around on my skin but I know that they are there.

Faith is belief in what we are told by those who have seen such things. I didn't see the blinding light and the words of Christ on the road to Damascus but Paul did. Therefore, I believe in what he saw. Faith is truly believing in the unseen.

Mark 16:12-14

12Afterward Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking in the country. 13These returned and reported it to the rest; but they did not believe them either.

14Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen.

The Equation of Faith, Part V

At the moment of conversion, faith in Jesus Christ and faith that God raised Him from the dead is all we need. A confession among witnesses and our belief from the heart is salvation. It does not stop there for we are encouraged by Paul and God's word to grow in faith.

Growing in faith is to grow in confidence. Confident not only of the original faith that Jesus was the Son of God and that God raised Him from the dead but also a growing faith in His word. We grow in faith by growing our confidence in His promises, the power of His love, His calling, His gifts, His will, and all the testimony concerning His Son. Faith in the freedom that Christ provides for us freely. Faith that He died for us, born in the flesh, of a virgin, a Son of promise, to save us by way of promise.

Faith grows as we trust Him and rely on Him more and more often. Faith is belief that God is righteous and good and has all things under His control. Faith is knowing that He goes ahead of us to fight our battles and knowing that He can do all things. Faith causes us to hope for a new day and a new world. We look to another place (Heaven) and His glorified kingdom on Earth. We look for the rapture to be taken from this world and placed in His presence. This is what we look forward to. This is what we yearn for and ache for. This world has nothing that I want for I long for an inheritance more grand.

2 Corinthians 4:13-18

13It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken."With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak, 14because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence. 15All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.

16Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

The Equation of Faith, Part IV

Do not mistake my confidence for arrogance, for my confidence is in God and His Son. The difference between confidence and arrogance is simple... my confidence is in God but arrogance comes out of confidence in self, money, accomplishments, man's wisdom, science, etc.

I trust in the Lord and His word. This is our faith because faith is not simply just belief in God and His existence or the existence of His Son but faith is also the belief in His perfect word and what the word says about His character which is holiness. It is faith (trusting His word and testimony as fact) despite all the other voices in the world that would have me believe differently.

As I said in the last post, (The Equation of Faith, Part III), there is a humility in our trust. We must be humble to fully trust in Him. Faith is belief that He is capable and that God can and will do all things.

2 Corinthians 3:4-6

4Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God. 5Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. 6He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

The Equation of Faith, Part III

I can not trust in my own self but in God and His Son, Jesus Christ. Do I question why? No. Am I blind? Oh, yes. I trust in God. Let that be enough. I trust in His word and in His promises for through His promises I find hope. Blindly following God or blindly trusting in Him is part of our humility before Him. We seek Him and His glory. We should not worry about the small details of our worship. We should not ask the where, what, why, how, or how often but instead we should ask how much.

How much do we love Him? Let our actions out of that be each individuals worship and we should encourage others (and ourselves) on to a greater love for Him and others. When we love Him completely, the worship and how we live for Him will fix itself. Isn't that what faith is... blind trust? Yes. I will blindly follow and blindly trust and I don't care what anyone thinks about it for faith is trust and belief in the unseen.

It is not found in the world or seen on television but it is known in my heart that He is forever real.

Hebrews 11:1-3

1Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. 2This is what the ancients were commended for.

3By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.