I’ll never forget hearing a US preacher tackle this question (via podcast). To paraphrase, he argued faith is the belief in something that has not yet arrived.
You might have faith in your ability to pass an exam, but once you’ve passed that exam you don’t need faith for that any more. You’ve passed. It’s done. Hebrews chapter 11 is good on this one. Verse one says: “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
I reckon many of us think of faith as something of a bet, a punt. We “have faith” something will happen, but we still leave room for doubt. We have 80 per cent faith that what we believe is true. Why is that? Is it part of the so-called human condition? We’ve been wrong by so many people, jaded from the harsh realities of life that we just can’t muster the faith in faith itself?
Take a look at Hebrews 11 if you get a moment and there’s a stack of stories about ancient prophets who did what God told them to do, in faith, and God rewarded their faithfulness. Call it tough love, but I suspect God is saying faith isn’t faith unless we believe 100 per cent.
May 28, 2007 at 12:08 am
not sure about the 100%, it doesn’t seem that clear cut?
Just thinking of “Mark 9:24
Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”
(please read in context of course…)and the stuff about faith as small as a mustard seed etc. It seems God takes you wherever you are at. Of course I’m not a prophet in the OT so I don’t need to trouble myself about killing my child or whatever as a faith test.