If someone asked you what faith is how would you respond? Some people might say faith is a positive attitude, or perhaps confidence that people will do the right thing, as in "I have faith in you." Others may say faith is a weak persons' response to the harsh realities of life. In their minds someone will just resign themselves to just have faith that things will work out for the best rather than take stock of the situation and act.
The Bible tells us what faith is and it says this in Hebrews 11:1, " Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." Faith is not blind acceptance of things, it is the substance or evidence of what God is going to do through faith and trust in Jesus Christ.
We are familiar with the account of Noah. He was warned by God of a great flood that God would send by forty days and nights of rain. It was Gods' judgment upon the sinful world at that time. Noah had faith that what God said he was going to do, He would certainly do. Now consider Noah and his circumstances. Up to that time no one had ever seen rain fall from the sky. He was building and ark on dry land. His obedience and faith endured the ridicule from everyone around him since they had no precedent for what Noah said was about to happen and what he was doing. Circumstances told him one thing, God told him another, and he chose to believe God. It was his faith that convinced him and assured him that it was going to rain, a lot. He had the conviction of things not seen. That conviction and faith motivated his actions and life. As a result he and his family were spared but the rest of humanity at that time perished in the flood and the righteous judgment of God.
How about us today? Our culture in America scoffs at faith more and more. Will we rise to the challenges authentic faith brings? Can we decide to take God and Christ seriously and believe the teachings of the Bible? Do we have in our hearts the same conviction as Noah, that what God says He definitely means and will do? This doesn't mean that we know everything and can tell the future. Nobody can do that, but the presence of faith persuades us that Jesus is true and His plan for our salvation and for the world in general will certainly come to pass.
This gives us great confidence to face life, challenges, adversities, blessings and the rest are all lived by faith, and thereby govern our lives as we serve our Lord Jesus. It is by faith that we gain,..."the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."
