“Faith”

 Hebrews 11:1 is probably the most concise definition of faith found in the Bible. It is considered the classical definition of faith. Faith is both the substance of things hoped for and the evidence that things exist that are not yet perceived with the senses.

Have you ever experienced true faith for yourself or from others?  It’s so easy to claim faith when things are going well isn’t it?  But, it can be very hard to have faith when something catastrophic confronts you.  I learned about faith many years ago and have had much faith in many things in life such as faith in my wife, my car to get me to work every day and on and on.  But I have never been in a life or death situation where my faith was challenged.  Recently had a talk with my brother who just a few weeks ago had his kidney removed and was treated for prostate cancer.  All seemed to go well with both the kidney removal and the prostate treatment.  He was feeling as he said; “like a million dollars”.  Then, when he went in this week for his checkup, it was discovered that he had another cancer spot on his other kidney.  The only remaining kidney he had.  I talked with him at length on the phone about his situation and the possible outcomes of which could be complete success or he might lose his last kidney and have to be on kidney dialysis until a donor could be found.

I offered him one of my kidneys if it came to that but his response to me was: “I have no fear, I have faith that God will allow me to keep my remaining kidney and all will be fine”.  He was very upbeat about this.  I found this wonderful in that he had lost his one kidney and had shown complete faith in God protecting him yet this new situation comes upon him and he still claims healing from God.

That is faith my friends.  Faith that even though he has never seen God face to face, he trust Him and has complete faith in Him.  We should all be this way.  The Bible tells the following in James 5:14 – 16.
"Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much."

Ask Yourself:     Do I have this kind of faith?  And, if not…..why?

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