The Measure of Faith
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1
The Living Bible translates this verse as follows: “Faith is the confident assurance that something we want is going to happen. It is the certainty that what we hope for is waiting for us, even though we can’t see it up ahead.” If we can see it, then it doesn’t require faith. We sit down in chairs because we have faith, without thinking about it, that they will hold us up. This is a simple illustration but it shows that faith doesn’t require an analysis, a debate, reasoning, or physical proof that the object of our faith exists. We just simply believe. When Jesus was asked in John 6:28-29 what works could the people do to work the works of God, Jesus answered that the only work of God that was required was to believe on Him whom God had sent. Trust, believe, and have faith.
Faith comes from the LORD. Paul tells us in Romans 12:3 that “God deals to every man the measure of faith”. It’s not what but in whom we place our faith that gives us confidence about our future. God gives us faith and the One in whom to place our faith, but we must exercise it to grow in strength just like an athlete exercises to make his muscles stronger. As any workout guru will tell you, “No pain, no gain.” Life’s experiences, the good ones and the not so good, can also strengthen our faith. A good test of the strength of one’s faith is whether he or she lives by that faith. Hebrews 11:6 tells us that it is impossible to please God without faith.
I find it interesting that in television shows and movies, people speak of having faith, but they rarely ever state the object of that faith, Jesus Christ. It seems to be more of a faith that is in faith itself rather than in Christ. That is like saying, “I have faith in my ability to have faith.” Webster’s Dictionary defines “faithful” as “a continued, steadfast adherence to a person or thing to whom one is bound by an oath, duty, or obligation”. Thus faith is not in what I think I can do, but what I know Christ is doing and has already done.