“True Faith” – EP36 (2Cor. 5:7)
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2Corinthians 5:7
For we live by faith, not by sight
Hi, Pastor Bob here. Welcome back to the Men of Valor daily living podcast. The verse for today is 2 Corinthians, chapter 5 verse 7. And it states, “For we live by faith, not by sight.”
"So ask yourself, ‘What do I believe in? What do I have faith in? And why do I have faith in something if I can't see it?’"We have heard and read the word “faith” so many many times in our lives. Sometimes, when that happens, we lose the impact of what the Holy Spirit is really trying to reveal to us. Living by faith is what is required in this life. Hebrews 11 states that without faith, it's impossible to please God. Many people will say, ‘But God, but God - look what I did!’ But, if it didn't require faith, it apparently does not please the Lord.
Living by sight is what we will do in our afterlife, when we are face to face with the Lord - we really won't need any faith to believe in Him. I believe we’ll be staring just in absolute awe of His gloriousness. We will spend eternity looking by sight at such an Almighty God. Or, we will spend eternity looking at the eternal flames we and other non-followers of Christ will be engulfed in.
So what is faith? “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, and the assurance of what we do not see.” Remember, we are instructed to walk not by sight. So ask yourself, ‘What do I believe in? What do I have faith in? And why do I have faith in something if I can't see it?’ As you contemplate that, you will see that God has to touch you miraculously to open your heart to believe in a God and Savior you can't see.
"...if it makes sense to your mind, [then] it's not faith."In John 20, Thomas, who is still known as ‘doubting Thomas’ over 2000 years later - which is surely not a complimentary title - said he would only believe in a risen Jesus if he could touch the holes in Christ’s hands and the hole in His side where He was pierced by a spear while He was hanging on the cross. Jesus said, “Because you have seen me, Thomas, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen, and yet believe.” Faith, faith, and faith.
If you were Thomas, wouldn’t the title ‘faithful Thomas’ been so much better? Just wondering - what title would describe your Christian walk? Hmm…
If people watched your life since you heard and believed in the Gospel of Christ, would they say, ‘What faith that person has and what a powerful Gospel they believe in’? Or would they have a different opinion?
"It does require faith to give up the things of the world...pick up the cross and follow Christ...to believe His Words...for you to remain pure...to live a life pleasing to God..."Probably about 12 years ago, Pastor Kris and Pastor Jeff asked, ‘What in your life - right now - requires faith? Or how would your life look different if you didn't have any faith?’ At that time, I had to admit - not much of a difference at all. So what changed for me? First, the Holy Spirit graced me over the years, and truth started coming in. Then, after many meetings with Pastor, the Word came alive and very real to me - and faith increased as I applied it and observed how the Pastors actually lived a life of faith. I eventually learned that if it makes sense to your mind that it's not faith.
When you read the Bible, hardly anything makes sense to our minds! Read about Noah, Gideon David - almost everyone in the Bible, and even Jesus Christ - and tell me any of those stories make sense! But when you are graced and have your eyes and your heart opened by the Holy Spirit, you realize the Greatest Story Ever Told just happens to be true. It is amazing how your beliefs and your lives change.
It does require faith to give up the things of the world, and to pick up the cross and follow Christ. It requires much faith to believe His Words when He says, “Lay down your life for Me,” when the world is screaming, ‘You only have one life to live! Go for everything you can get - get it, get it! You’ve only got one shot at this!’ It requires a lot for you to remain pure in a world full of filth, screaming for you to bow to your selfish desires. And it requires a lot of faith to live a life pleasing to God because you long to hear Him say to you, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
Faith. So important, so vital to please God. Is it any wonder that He gave Pastors the name for this extraordinary church - United Faith Church? United in faith - to love and serve such an amazing, amazing God. Thank You, thank You, Father. God bless you all.
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