“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1 NIV)

In the New Testament, the word we have translated as faith means the conviction of truth, a belief respecting man’s relationship with God. It is no wonder that the writer of Hebrews would say, “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6) Faith is the foundation of our relationship with God. Abraham’s relationship with God was built by his faith, his trust in the faithfulness of God. This is shown as Abraham was willing to give up his own son, who was a miraculous gift from God. Through this event, God knew that Abraham’s faith in Him was true. God stopped Abraham, He only wanted to know Abraham’s level of faith. Scripture tells us concerning Abraham, “Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.” (Genesis 15:6, see also Romans 4:9,13; Galatians 3:6; Jams 2:23)

The Apostle Paul reminds us of the importance of faith when he lists the three things which will last for all eternity. What we know now is only a part of what is to come about in eternity with God. Paul writes, “For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:12-13)

The first one on the list is faith. It is a faith that will be realized. Until then we must come by faith and let our faith grow. Jesus reminds us about our faith and how God uses our faith even when it is small. Jesus, Peter, James and John had come down from the mount of Transfiguration, where they had experienced Christ’s deity and heard the voice of the Father. Now they were back facing life and the trouble in life. The other disciples had tried to heal a boy who had seizures and was suffering greatly, but they failed. (see Matthew 17:14-18) Jesus uses this as a teachable moment about faith. He says, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, 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)

Jesus had used the mustard seed illustration before in relationship to the Kingdom of God. “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.” (Matthew 13:31-32) The more we walk with God through faith, the more we grow in our faith, and the more we understand about the magnitude of the Kingdom of God.

Jesus, who is God in the flesh, provides for us an example of how to live by faith. Jesus trusted His Heavenly Father, and this is shown in His greatest moment of trial. From the cross, as Jesus is about to die, He calls out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34) He is at the point where the sins of man and the justice of God come together. He experiences the weight of all the sins of mankind and our sin nature as He dies in our place. Later, He would say in faith from the cross, “’Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.’ When he had said this, he breathed his last.” (Luke 23:46) Here, Jesus as a man, expresses total confidence in God the Father.

Jesus has set for us the example of one who has faith. It is from Jesus that we learn how to live by faith. “And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” (Hebrews 12:1b-3) Every day we are to fix our eyes on Jesus and learn how to live a life of faith. This is a new life which He gives to us because He has conquered sin and death as He was raised from the dead. “We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” (Romans 6:4) Now, as followers of Christ, by faith let us live daily in this new life.

In the Love of Jesus,

Michael Block