Blog #44 - Real Faith

'Trust in God but lock your doors.'

Faith is a word that we use so often that it's meaning is often lost. We Christians have "faith in God" but we often don't think about what that really means.

Faith in God is often looked at as a deal between ourselves and God. 'I'll believe in you if you make sure I'm kept safe and unharmed'. Unfortunately that's not how it works.

There are plenty of faithful Christians who suffer greatly. The problem is, we sometimes think of God from a human perspective. We exist in this space, in this time. We are made of matter, and our soul exists within that matter for now. God does not exist within time, space or matter. His intentions for you and your future aren't limited to this world.

This is why we need faith. Many believe that faith is about believing in the existence of God and it is to a degree but it's also about believing that God knows better. God sees a future for you beyond this space, time and matter.

Unfortunately this means that we must suffer in this life. Some more than others.

It is vital to understand that there is reason and purpose for that suffering. God is always working. He is always protecting and guiding. We just don't always understand what His plan is.

We all know the story of Noah and the ark but there's a verse that most don't think about.

And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the LORD shut him in. -Genesis 7:16

Noah was faithful. He did as God commanded but in the end, it still required God to shut and seal them inside the ark. Noah didn't doubt that the rain was coming. He didn't convince himself that it was too difficult. He did what he was told and when the time came, God sealed him in to keep him safe. He had no idea if his ark would even float but he obeyed and God stepped in.

There's an old Christian saying; 'Trust in God but lock your doors.'

It's not about doubt, it's about using what God has given you and trusting Him for the rest. It's not a lack of faith to not understand. It's simply accepting that God is much bigger than your limited mind can comprehend and His plan is perfect, even when it makes no sense to you.

Some of us in this life suffer greatly. It's not fair but that lack of fairness only exists within this time, space and matter. We as Christians are going to move beyond this world one day and all of the confusion will be over. We will stand before God and His perfect plan will be made known to us. That is the hope that the suffering must cling to.

The Lord bless thee, and keep thee:

The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:

The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. -Number 6 24-26