The preacher asked his audience whether they believed he had a $20 bill in his closed hand. After a woman said that she believed he did, the speaker announced that he would destroy her faith by opening his hand and showing the money. “Now that you know I have a $20 bill,” he said, “you can no longer have faith that I do.”
If the preacher is correct, then the return of Christ will destroy the faith of His followers, for our faith will now be sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). And Jesus would not have told Thomas, “You believe because you have seen Me” (John 20:29), but rather “Because you have seen Me, you are no longer able to believe.”
The preacher mistakenly thought that empirical proof destroys faith. Instead, proof strengthens faith by eliminating the uncertainty that often accompanies it (Hebrews 11:1). Firsthand evidence confirms our knowledge, which bolsters our faith.
Faith is not the opposite of knowledge. Faith actually rests on knowledge. The more we know, the more we’re able to believe. Knowledge itself is not sufficient for faith, for even demons believe and tremble (James 2:19), but it’s impossible to have faith without it.
Like the pilot of a hang glider who leaps off a cliff and trusts his survival to the sturdy construction of his glider and the principles of aerodynamics, we have faith only when we put our full trust in the promises of God.
Knowledge isn’t enough. I may understand how hang gliding works and yet refuse to jump. But I won’t take the leap of faith unless I know that hang gliding is a reliable sport. Likewise, I may know the promises of God and still not believe them. But it’s impossible to believe them if I don’t first know them. Want stronger faith? Start by getting to know God.
More:
• Jeremiah 29:13
• Romans 10:13-15
• Hebrews 11:6
Next:
What’s one promise from God that you know is true? Do you also believe it? Have you placed your full trust in that promise and are you acting as if you think it’s true?
bethanyF on February 5, 2010 at 10:02 am
Faith is a tough thing. It is hard to have faith sometimes. But what is life without faith in God. No hope for the Almighty creator is a life in the pits. I am thankful for the hope and faith that I have in God, even though it is hard sometimes.
shayskin on February 5, 2010 at 11:08 am
Herbew 11:1 Say fatih is the substance of thing hope for the evidents of thing not seem
Hope and believing give up faith
God be the glory
ninajanemarie on February 5, 2010 at 11:50 am
I’ve been thinking a lot about faith lately. I think all too often Christians confust Hope for Faith. There is a very important distinction between the two: “You must have hope to have faith, but you don’t have to have faith to have hope.” Look at it again . . . “a part of having faith is “. . . being sure of what we hope for .. .”. The problem is that many of us stop there. We know what we hope for, but that is only the first part of having faith . . . we have to be ” . . . CERTAIN of what we do not see.” Faith requires both parts! Substituting hope for faith is like tring to win a race without crossing the finish line . . . you have to start and finish. The power is not in starting the race, the power is in finishing. This is why faith is so difficult.
learning2serv on February 6, 2010 at 6:03 pm
Awesome! This is the same God we serve, through the pen of David, who said “Oh! Taste and See that the Lord is Good!!
songhee8 on February 11, 2010 at 1:08 pm
I’ve been looking for a daily devotional for a while now. I’m a freshman at college and I’ve been really wanting to change and learn more about God. Even though today’s February 11, this is the devotional I stumbled upon and this truly has to be God’s grace. I believe this is the message he wanted me to hear today! (:
thecandis24 on February 26, 2010 at 11:36 am
Wow what a powerful devo I have chills just reading the post that everyone has written. It is such a beautiful when christians can get together and be honest where they are in their walk with Christ. It shows great humility something this world does not honor because weakness is suppose to be a bad thing. However it is through our weakness that Jesus is strong. I met many christians that have not come to terms with this and I myself struggle with it. The beauty of it all for me is that Christ allows seconds chances and every day I get a second chance to do what I should have done yester and grow even more in my relationship with Christ.