FAITH FACTOR

 Key Scripture:  Hebrews 11:6

“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”

First, let’s make sure that we are all working with the same definition of faith.  The “go to” scripture is Hebrews 11:1 (NLT)  “Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.”  To the analytical mind, having faith in someone or something that you have never seen and cannot touch is absolutely illogical, yet to those of us who are Believers, it is absolutely essential and basic to who we are, as well as,” Whose” we are.

According to the Oxford Dictionary, a factor is “a circumstance, fact, or influence that contributes to a result or outcome”.  So faith is the component or ingredient which gives us the choice and privilege to believe in God, serve Him and walk according to His statues on this journey called life.  Faith and the Word of God form our literal spiritual foundation, and we need both.  Faith is like the fertilizer that activates the Word of God in us and our lives.

There used to be a tv show called “Fear Factor” which originally aired from 2001-2006.  For those who may be younger than I, the show had couples who competed against other couples to eat disgusting things and do some insane feats and maneuvers that would test their abilities to overcome their fears.  For example, one of the challenges (that sticks out in my memory) was for the contestant to eat a cow’s eye while an actual cow with a patch over one eye stood nearby watching and chewing cud.🤮 The couple who was most successful  in pushing past all their fears actually won the cash price.  Their only help  was the encouragement of their partner and reliance on their own ability to overcome and control  their repulsions and fears. 

Thankfully, when we are challenged, we don’t have to rely on our own strength, power or fortitude.  In Mark 11:22, Jesus is just blunt.  He says. “Have faith in God”.   In our spiritual walk, fear can paralyze and is an enemy which does not come from God.  2 Timothy 1: 7 (NKJV) reads  “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and a sound mind.” Isaiah 41:10 tells us ‘Not to fear and has the promise that He will help and strengthen us.’  

We must lay hold of the fact that “God is bigger than anything that is bigger than us!”  When we come to the end of ourselves, that is God’s good time to step in to rescue us and “save the day”.  John Flavel, an English minister from the 1600’s coined the phrase, “Man’s extremity is God’s opportunity.”  This is still true in 2021.

When we have the faith and confidence in our Savior, and trust Him even when we don’t understand what He is doing, things can turn out for us just the way He planned… if we have faith.

Blessings.

~CWP~

1/13/21