Some people claim they don’t believe in God, or anything so therefore, they don’t have faith. But, it’s hard not to have some amount of faith in order to simply live life. We have to have faith another driver will stop when the light is red. We have to have faith that the chair we pull out will actually hold us or we’ll just stay standing forever. We have to have faith the store will have at least some selection of food so our family doesn’t starve. Everyone lives by a certain amount of faith.
But, as you may have heard: “Faith is only as good as the object in which it is placed.” Put your faith in your bank account or your stocks and you could be in for a crazy ride and a big shock. Put your total faith in a person, and you might be disappointed.
If you have placed your faith in the God of the universe, how real is that faith? Is it the real deal, or is it fake? Most of us would proclaim right and left that our faith is definitely the real deal. No doubt about it. But, let’s examine that for a second:
Fake faith compromises. It tries to bargain with God. “I’ll do this, if You’ll do that.”
Fake faith disintegrates in the face of a challenge or trial.
Fake faith demands its own way. It says, “I’ll believe as long as things go according to my plan.”
Fake faith refuses to stick its neck out and stand against the crowd. It says, “God will understand. It’s just this once.”
On the other hand,
True faith stands strong, no matter what.
True faith is NOT dependent on the outcome. In fact, it leaves the outcome to God.
True faith is unmoving because the object of its faith is also unmoving. A solid Rock.
In Daniel 3, the three Hebrews in captivity were instructed – as everyone else – to bow down to an image created by the king. Everyone in the crowd did so. The three stuck out by their refusal. They had already determined they could only worship and bow before the One, True God. Their lives were on the line, yet they unwaveringly said, “…The God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire, BUT EVEN IF HE DOES NOT, we are NOT going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.” (Dan. 3:17-18) We know they got tossed into the furnace, but that God delivered them. Yet, they didn’t know that would be the outcome.
Their faith was the real deal. Is yours?
“How blessed is the man who trusts in You.” (Psalm 84:12)
Such a thoughtful post and so relevant to everyone’s life today. God bless.
I think I compromise my faith every time I sin. For instance, do I not believe that God will deliver me from temptation? Do or don’t I believe that God has given me His divine nature and power to live a godly life in an ungodly world? (2 Peter 1:3-4) Sometimes this faith issue is limited to being persecuted for one’s faith. Isn’t sinning bowing down to something other than the one, true, living God.
Thank you this devotional. It certainly has triggered more introspection for me!
Perhaps, this question of one’s faith is too often limited to the realm of persecution. Today I am understanding faith as it relates to sin. For instance, do or don’t I believe God will deliver me from temptation? 1 Corinthians 10:13. Do or don’t I believe that God has given me His divine nature and power? 2 Peter 1: 3,4.
Thank you for this devotional. It has me taking another look at myself!
I pray that my Faith is the “real deal”.
FAITH: REAL OR FALSE
I DO BELIEVE THE BIBLICAL DEFINITION OF FAITH STANDS ALONE AND APART FROM A CONVERSATION OF HAVING FAITH IN LESS TEMPORAL THINGS . THERE IS A VAST DIFFERENCE BIBLICAL FAITH IS SOLELY DEFINED BY THE WORD OF GOD. TRUE FAITH IS A GIFT. ITS EVIDENCE IN A PERSON’S LIFE IS A VISIBLE CHANGE FROM SUPPOSITION, DOUBT AND QUESTIONING TO ABSOLUTE ASSURANCE AND CERTAINTY. NO SECOND GUESSING OR REDEFINING BUT CLEARLY OUTLINED IN THE WORD–THE SAME FOR EVERYONE. TRUE BIBLICAL FAITH DOES NOT WAVER OR CHANGE —-IT IS THE SAME YESTERDAY, TODAY AND FOREVER AND IS NOT DEPENDENT ON MAN’S PERSUASON. THIS GIFT IS NON NEGOTIABLE, SECURED BY GOD HIMSELF AND EVIDENCED BY A BORN AGAIN LIFE THAT IS BOTH ENDURING AND ETERNAL. BIBLICAL FAITH IS ESTABLISHED BY A GREATER POWER AND NOT DEFINED BY MAN’S ATTEMPTS TO DEFINE IT. WE ARE NOT BORN WITH THIS FAITH AND WE CANNOT ATTAIN IT ON OUR OWN. THE BIBLICAL UNDERSTANDING OF FAITH DOES NOT CHANGE. WHAT MAKES IT REAL OR NOT COMES FROM THE FREE WILL WITHIN MANKIND TO ACCEPT IT OR NOT ACCEPT IT. REAL FAITH IS A PROMISE TO THE BELIEVER THAT HE IS NOW RESTORED TO THE FAMILY OF GOD. WE ARE ALL BORN IN SIN and WE ALL MUST REPENT TO RECEIVE THIS WONDROUS FAITH PROMISE TO BE RESTORED TO THE FAMILY OF GOD HEB 13:20-21, ROMANS 3; JOHN 3:5
Some say true faith manifests itself through our actions. Something to think about.
We even put faith into boarding an airplane. It’s true “Real Faith” is action – evidence to our confidence its the real thing!