Do you have faith or do you simply believe?

Hey everyone,

Given my track record, I didn't think I would have something to post on here so soon! But here I am writing what God has laid on my heart. It has been challenging for me to think through and it is challenging me daily in what I do believe. I think it will have a similar challenge to you all, so I'm sharing it with you!

This past weekend, I had the opportunity to attend LifeLight festival south of Sioux Falls, SD. This was my sixth time attending the festival, and I always enjoy it. But this year was better than years past. When I've gone in the past, I've never been challenged in my faith - usually, I end up worshiping God but also enjoying music. I thoroughly enjoy music, but I needed something a little more this year. Funny how God will provide what you need when you ask Him!?!

This weekend I had the opportunity, once again, to hear Francis Chan preach to us. I love Francis and his heart for the people of God to truly love God. Along with that, I also had the opportunity to hear one of my favorite pastors in the Sioux Falls area, Pastor Eric Verhulst, who also happens to pastor my aunt & uncle's church, Shalom CRC. It was great to hear these two orators present truths of faith and hand out spiritual meat to chew on. In this post, you will hear some of my chewing and digestion of what they presented.

Both preachers shared about faith. Faith has become an ambiguous word in our society. "Do you have faith or do you simply believe" is the question that resounded through both their presentations.

So, to share more on this, I thought I'd start with the definition of faith. In Hebrews 11:1 is that "faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." (emphasis mine) What we see from this definition is that faith is knowledge. It's not blind and something ethereal. It comes from actually knowing something, and knowledge comes through experience. When we have true faith, we have tasted something utterly divine and are stirred to continue finding satisfaction in that source. Our faith is in God, the one who absolutely and totally fulfills our every longing. That's what faith is.

But too long, we have defined faith as belief. Belief is such a huge word because it can mean firm commitment, or it can mean wishful hoping. More often than not, it's the latter that stands for what we mean when we say it. For instance:

"I believe today will be a good day."
or
"I believe that tacos at (such and such a place) are really good."
or
"I believe that there will be a judgment day."

All these statements are fine, but if they're not backed up by solid experience, they're just words. And words are not something we're to toss around lightly.

Now, in contrast:

"I believe that Jesus has forgiven all my sins."

"I believe, without doubt, that I will go to heaven because I believe in Jesus."

There's a difference between having faith and simply believing. Faith based on knowledge is always more powerful than faith based on airy words. True faith saves us and does not let us turn into cowards and run when we get scared. (See Hebrews 10:39) True faith is powerful and that's what gets us through every situation!

One passage of Scripture that I love that God has given me to (it was a part of the passage God used to call me to ministry) is 2 Corinthians 5:7. This verse is one that I feel too many have abused (in the wishful thinking sense) rather than taken to heart (in the way of knowledge). The verse says this:

"We live by faith, not by sight."

This verse speaks of what we are to live by - faith - and that faith is built on certainty and assurance, not blindness. Now, in regards to this world and the things we see, we're not to live by them. They make sense. They make a lot of sense. But they're not for us.

Now, this also doesn't mean we can always see the path. There are times where we have to take leaps that seem blind. But are they blind if we're resting on the hope and promises that God has laid out before in His word? I don't think so. But often, many do not know or trust the promises God has made in Scripture. We're Bible illiterate and it hurts us so substantially. We lose our power to walk in full assurance that God has our every move a part of His plan.

Why do we do this? Why do we not love His Word as we should? Why do we neglect that certainty we can have for our every path.

When we live this way, I would safely say we're actually living by sight and not in accordance to God's word. True faith lives out what's promised, even if our eyesight is dim.

I know I'm preaching to myself when I write and reread this. Too many times have I relied on my own sight to guide me through affairs rather than trust God. I worked all in my own strength and I don't know my God to the extent that He lovingly wants me to. And I really hate it. I want to love Him so wonderfully and He's provided so many times for me to love Him more.

I want to stop this. I want this true, soul-firm, committed, powerful faith. Lord, will you call me once again to it? Will you put me in situations where I have to trust you more? Lord, I want to love you with everything in me. Lead me to you Lord.

I want to challenge you all to pray that. Seek Him and ask Him for real, genuine faith and not wishful thinking.

Love you all,

Brandon