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When the Son of man cometh, shall He find faith on the earth? Luke 18:8
Why Focus on Faith?
The fall of man in the Garden of Eden began with doubting God. The following famous saying is true: “All of our unhappiness and failure, whether as saint or sinner, springs from unbelief of the goodness that is in the heart of God for us.” Faith honors God, just as unbelief dishonors Him. Consequently, faith is essential for a real and vital relationship with God: “But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6. There must be the recognition that God is indeed God, and that He is positively responsive to those who are responsive to Him.
What Faith Is
Faith is simply to do what Adam and Eve failed to do—to take God at His word: “He that hath received His testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.” John 3:33. How we treat God’s Word is how we treat Him. When we receive His testimony, we affirm His righteous character and we are correspondingly blessed. “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness.” Romans 10:10. Faith is unique, and uniquely fragrant to God. There is no adequate or legitimate substitute for it.
What Faith Is Not
There are many things which are commonly mistaken or substituted for faith, and it is important to be clear as to what faith is not. Perhaps the most common and popular faith-fake is a good feeling, sometimes called “optimism”. Optimism is not faith. Feelings are not faith! Feelings are legitimate. God has feelings, and God has given us feelings. But, centuries ago, Martin Luther wisely wrote:
Feelings come and feelings go,
And feelings are deceiving;
My warrant is the Word of God—
Naught else is worth believing.
Though all my heart should feel condemned
For want of some sweet token,
There is One greater than my heart
Whose Word cannot be broken.
I'll trust in God's unchanging Word
Till soul and body sever,
For, though all things shall pass away,
His Word shall stand forever!
Faith is not feelings, and feelings are not faith. This is stressed because we live in a world so hugely influenced by and occupied with feelings; and feelings are probably more often mistaken for faith (and vice versa) than anything else. For example, the world says, “If it feels good, do it,” but we well know how deceptive, delusional, and destructive that common counsel is. But, faith says, “If God says it, then I must receive it and respond to it.” Faith is not feelings, and feelings are not faith.
Works are not faith. While this may be mentally admitted, the two are still often religiously confused. God’s Word is clear. Faith and works belong together, but they are not the same thing. See Romans 3:27 and Ephesians 2:8-9. What is meant to accompany faith cannot be a substitute for it.
Excuses are not faith. It seems that this should be very obvious; but how often do we make excuses to ourselves, to others, and even to God in the place of the obedience of faith? Excuses are exceedingly common and convenient; but God never made an excuse, and He never will. Moreover, He has never condoned or accepted an excuse—and He never will. Excuses are not faith—and not of faith. Faith deals with reality and responsibility. Excuses evade both.
Faith is not experience, and experience, mine, or that of another (precedent), is not faith. Experience is legitimate and may be wonderful, but experience (including precedent) is not faith.
Faith is not fantasy, and fantasy is not faith. Just because we can imagine something does not make it good, legitimate, or true. There are many today who imagine that they can create their own reality—sometimes called “virtual reality.” But God alone determines reality, and His reality is far beyond our comprehension (not to mention our realization), and therefore He alone really reveals reality.
Faith is not foolishness. Certainly there are many who believe many foolish things; and the world, the flesh, and the Devil would tell us that faith in God is foolishness—nothing better than fantasy. But that is the counsel of “them that perish” (1 Corinthians 1:18). W. Kelly well wrote, “Faith will always appear proud to those that have not got it; but it will be proved in the day of the Lord to be the only humility, and that everything which is not faith is pride, or no better. Faith admits that he who has it is nothing—that he has no power nor wisdom of his own; and he looks to God. He is strong in faith, giving glory to Him.” Faith is not foolishness—it is the very opposite of foolishness. Anything and everything down here which is not accompanied by faith is—and will ultimately be proved to be—foolishness, because “Whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” Romans 14:23.
Faith is not formula. Men make up formulas. They say, “Do this, and that will follow.” The result may be as promised, or it may not. Repetition of a similar process does tend toward the repetition of a similar result, but nothing down here is foolproof; and we are all born fools. Formula is particularly the fixation of the so-called “seed faith” preachers and the like. But formula is not God’s way. He is original and unique in every work, and if we would work with Him, it must be by immediate faith rather than by a hand-me-down formula or system.
Faith is not principle. Principles are wonderful things. God’s grand universe is characterized by order—by laws, which we sometimes recognize and call principles. And Scripture reveals many wonderful principles; but known principles by themselves do not necessarily reveal the whole mind or will of God. Only God knows all the details of any given situation and all of the principles which apply to it. Consequently, there must be the dependence (faith) of communion with God as well in order to recognize His way and to act accordingly. And faith recognizes that His principles are never contradictory and that He will never guide contrary to them.
Faith is not reason. Man has a mind because mankind is created in the image of God, and God has a mind. But God says, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.” Isaiah 55:8. Consequently, “The world by wisdom knew not God.” 1 Corinthians 1:21. Faith rests on the revelation which God has given of Himself, not on our opinions or reasonings.
How Faith Works
Faith takes the long view. By faith we see “faintly” (1 Corinthians 13:12) things which God has always seen perfectly clearly: and we see them only as God reveals His view to faith, for faith. Faith affirms what God has promised as presently actionable reality.
Not having been able to find any suitable old clip-art, I have introduced a sort of word picture to illustrate some old reliable truth:
CABOOSE-TENDER-ENGINE OO OO OO OO OOOO OO
Maybe in the above “word picture” you can vaguely visualize an old-time train, engine, tender, and caboose— “tender” being the term for the coal car which held the fuel for the engine. Now, view this picture with added information:
Feelings God’s Word Faith
CABOOSE-TENDER-ENGINE OO OO OO OO OOOO OO
Railroad trains today very seldom include a caboose; but in years gone by, the caboose was provided for the brakeman and for others who wanted a comfortable place in which to travel. But the caboose was placed where one could generally see only where he had been—what he had experienced or had felt. If one wanted to see where he was going, he needed to be in the cab of the engine. Just as the engine, fueled by the tender, pulled the caboose, so a believer progresses by faith fueled by the word of God—and the believer’s feelings inevitably follow. Faith feeds on the Word of God. “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.” Luke 4:4. “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17. Faith, involving action according to the Word of God, progresses, and feelings follow. Feelings are legitimate, just as cabooses used to be the rule; but a train led by a caboose was not generally considered desirable or progressive. God desires our “furtherance [progress] and joy of faith.” Philippians 1:25.
How Faith Is Expressed
Prayer is commonly and properly recognized as an expression of faith—of dependence. But Scripture uses two expressions “the obedience of faith” and “the prayer of faith” to remind us that true and vital faith is not expressed in mere ritual. Prayer is another whole subject—too great for this paper. So, we leave it to the reader to search the God’s Word to get His thoughts on that great subject.
How Faith Is Appreciated
It is plain throughout Scripture that God requires and infinitely appreciates righteousness. And Scripture reveals that we may obtain and express righteousness only by faith. This is why God so appreciates faith. It honors Him. It is so fragrant to Him. Consider how God emphasizes faith:
“The just shall live by faith.” Habakkuk 2:4, Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11, Hebrews 10:38.
“Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.” Genesis 15:6, Romans 4:3, Galatians 3:6, James 2:23.
“Believest thou?” John 1:50, John 11:26, John 14:10, Acts 25:27.
JAK