Hebrews 11:3: By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.
One of the biggest arguments in the modern history of America is the debate over the origin of creation. Christians believe the account that is recorded in the Bible, but the world believes the theory of evolution. The “theory” of evolution was developed by Charles Darwin in the early or mid 1800’s.
Why do you suppose the world has one world view, and Christians have a totally different view? Faith, not “just any faith,” but faith in the God of the Bible is the reason why believers in Jesus reason differently than people in the world. Paul teaches us in 2 Corinthians 3–4 that there is a veil over the understanding of people who reject Jesus as their Savior. In the Old Testament, when the Jews rejected faith in God, a veil would come over their understanding because of unbelief. The same veil still covers the minds of the people today that refuse to accept the truth that Jesus is the Son of God and the Savior of the world. Paul goes on to say that when someone turns to the Lord, the veil is removed.
It’s not surprising that people in the world have a different view of creation than we who are of the household of faith. Faith, as the writer of Hebrews stated under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, gives us the ability to understand. Understanding doesn’t begin with the mind of man, but with the heart of man when he or she comes to faith in Christ. Just because we come to faith in Christ and the Holy Spirit gives us understanding to know the deep things of God, it doesn’t mean that we will understand everything that God allows.
Since becoming a Christian, have you had things occur in your life that you didn’t understand? When we can’t make sense about situations that come into our lives as Christians, the enemy will use our lack of understanding to challenge our faith in God. Satan uses hurt to cast doubt in the heart of the believer in much the same way that he uses lust in the heart of the sinner. Satan loves to bring something between God and our hearts, but he has to gain our cooperation. Therefore, the enemy uses tragedy, disappointment, heartbreak, and etc. in an attempt to cause us to have a faith eclipse. A temporary lapse of faith can cause us to begin to entertain thoughts of doubt about God’s character. Though we experience faith eclipses from time to time because we live in a fallen world, it doesn’t mean that we have to take the next step and sin against God, as Eve did in the garden. This is where the Holy Spirit and your faith come into play. When Satan, the thief, attacks us, and we begin to experience thoughts of doubt, which cloud our hearts, emotions and minds, we must be still and trust God.
It was at this very place that Eve turned on God because she didn’t know God or His character. It is at this same place of doubt that we must trust in God and wait on the Holy Spirit to give us understanding through our faith so that we might come to know our God. An attack of Satan is one of our best opportunities to gain a deeper understanding of God, but at the same time can be some of the hardest times to seek God for understanding because of pain. We will have to make a choice as new covenant believers, whether we will stand in faith or retreat in unbelief. Those who diligently seek Him shall be rewarded.
As Christians we make decisions continually in our lives that show God, whether we love Him or ourselves more. When we choose to take offense against God because of an attack by Satan, we fall prey to unbelief and forfeit our faith. If we will draw closer to God during a tragedy, we will overcome the Devil, but if we choose to become offended, we have chosen to draw comfort from the flesh nature. Pain doesn’t give us the “right” to choose to walk in unbelief (Hebrews 10:38–39). We must use our shield of faith to protect our hearts against an offense and draw closer to God when Satan attacks us. The Lord is a very present help in times of trouble. You can trust in Him! —submitted by Pastor Asa Dockery, US
cutesyrn on July 22, 2011 at 9:56 pm
These words are so inspiring. I am blessed upon reading the article’s content.. Indeed, we go through many struggles in life, struggles that oftentimes tests our faith, our character.. I have always been in that situation. I mean, struggling life so hard, for many years now. It wasn’t so easy for me, since I was only 16 years old, when my mother abandoned me and tortured me emotionally& mentally. I am an abused child back then, and still an abused individual even until today. Though the situation, has caused so much misery in my life, overwhelming pain, outranging anger, confusion& doubt, I could humbly assess myself as a strong person, not as though being insensitive of life’s complex twists, life’s up’s & down’s, but as a person fighting, fighting against hurt, shame& persecution with Jesus Christ.