Faith is like having confidence in things we hope for, even if we can’t see them. It’s about trusting that what we believe in will happen. Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”
Confidence means being certain about something. In Hebrews 11:6, we learn that it’s impossible to please God without faith. The Bible gives many examples of people who lived by faith.
Noah was warned by God about a flood. He built an ark to save his family. He did this even though he had never seen a flood before. This act of faith made him righteous in God’s eyes (Hebrews 11:7).
Abraham, known as the father of faith, received a command to go to an unseen land. God promised this land to him. He obeyed, living in tents and looking forward to a city designed by God (Hebrews 11:8-12).
Moses showed great faith by leading the Israelites out of Egypt. He kept his eyes on the unseen God (Hebrews 11:27). Through faith, many people in the Bible did incredible things. They conquered kingdoms. They administered justice. They shut the mouths of lions. They trusted God’s promises, even though they didn’t receive everything they hoped for in their lifetime. This was because God had something better planned for the future (Hebrews 11:39-40).
Living a life of faith is essential for believers. It means having certainty and assurance in your relationship with God. You feel bold because you know you are accepted by God. You are sure that your future is secure with God. Trusting in human abilities or worldly things will eventually disappoint, but placing confidence in God brings true strength and assurance.
In the Bible, confidence in God provided the Israelites with hope and assurance during difficult times. In the New Testament, this confidence also gave early Christians the hope of a wonderful future with Christ in heaven. They were willing to suffer and even die because they trusted in the resurrection of Jesus. Paul, who once boasted about his heritage and achievements, found true confidence only in Christ. He went from persecutor to being persecuted because of his faith (Philippians 3:4-16).
Christians believe that Jesus is alive and will return to claim those who have faith in him (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). This belief gave early Christians a hopeful outlook on life, despite their challenges.
This hope isn’t just about waiting for heaven. It’s about living a life of moral integrity. It means adhering to Jesus’ example of serving others. Christianity is a confident way of living based on what God has done in Christ. Even when facing discouragement, like Paul did, Christians find strength in the resurrection of Jesus. They know that God can help them through any difficulty (2 Corinthians 1:8-10).
Assurance in God means being secure in the knowledge that God cares for you. This assurance does not rely on human abilities. It is based on the confidence that God is always with you, caring for you (1 Peter 5:7). It’s a gift from God, rooted in the salvation offered through Jesus Christ (John 3:16). This assurance helps believers persevere, trusting that God is at work in their lives (Philippians 1:6).
The presence of the Holy Spirit in believers’ lives is a guarantee of God’s work in them (2 Corinthians 1:22). Nothing can separate believers from God’s love (Romans 8:35-39). This assurance extends beyond this life, with the resurrection of Jesus guaranteeing a future hope with God (1 Corinthians 15:17-20).
In simple terms, having faith means trusting in God’s promises. It involves living with confidence and assurance that God is with you now and forever.
Minister A Francine Green
afrancinegreen.com 