A Journey Of Faith

"But they have not all heeded the Gospel; for Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed (had faith in) what he has heard from us? So faith comes by hearing [what is told], and what is heard comes by the preaching [of the message that came from the lips] of Christ (the Messiah Himself). But I ask, Have they not heard? Indeed they have; [for the Scripture says] Their voice [that of nature bearing God's message] has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the far bounds of the world." Romans 10:16-18 (Amplified)

Faith is defined as being heard. So what do we surround ourselves with? What diet of sound do we give our ears? This is the verse used by so many pastors and preachers extolling God (hopefully) from the pulpit. It is a truth that we need to HEAR the Word of God that we may make a permanent part of our lives.

We need to KNOW God, and have FAITH in Him, a real and visible faith. First to know that He is (exists) and then, that He is our divine Father (sonship). As such He is the First Cause of all life, and all things good. But receiving faith, by hearing, is one thing, deepening that faith, by the trying of it, is another.

So where do we get that which draws us to God and to abide in His presence and glory? 

James 1:2-4 tells us:

"Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations. Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience. But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing."

It is the tests of life that deepen our faith, our sonship through Christ and fully a child of God who has acquired an eternal inheritance. Or as the title says: faith is found when tested. So we see that our faith must be tried and proven. Not to God for He knows our hearts, but to ourselves to reach in and apply the faith that we have gained when we first repented. 

Then, and only then, we deepen the root and strengthen our connection to God, or secure the branch to the vine of Christ.

And here is the blessing of that faith:

"And he shall be like a tree firmly planted [and tended] by the streams of water, ready to bring forth its fruit in its season; its leaf also shall not fade or wither; and everything he does shall prosper [and come to maturity]." Psalms 1:3 (Amplified).

So you see that ALL prosperity in God comes from faith. It is the need to believe that often times fails, and we do not receive from God the Father. A good read on this subjectin found in Mark 11. Looking at faith from a different view is this; Faith is found in consistent manifestation of the desire. Let me explain this more deeply. You can have faith in anything if it has proved intself to consistently perform any act or emotional response. 

In sports, many have faith in the consistent performance of a favored player. Michael Jordan, the arguably the greatest basketball player of all time, had a expectation of excellence because of his consently effectively play. This can be applied to our Walk Of Faith.

In this we find that faith is found (manifested, displayed, active, or made consisted) when it is chaleged or needed in any given situation. Every time that we are challenged in the arena of faith, and we are well rooted in Christ, is becomes deeper, more well defined and strengthened. Then God can use us because we have excelled in our faith and have held fast in our walk with Him. 

Remember God searches the heart, and when our lives show that are hearts holds a faith that is secure in Christ, we can be used of God. The tests of life are then the crucible that our faith is built.

Ezekiel 18:21-24 tells us:

"But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live. Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live? But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die." (KJV)

I added this here to illustrate a point: Our faith must be our life, the defining point of WHO and of course WHOSE we are. As long as there is breath we can repent and CHANGE OUR REWARD. This important to remember about faith. We need to disciple ourselves to Christ to gain the inheritance of a beloved son or daughter of God. 

We will be tried in our Walk Of Faith to refine us as Isaiah told us, and of course elsewhere in the Bible. But we must be consistent as I stated above so that we are not on the see-saw of life, gambling with our eternal reward. A very foolish thing to do, but is being done everyday by those who claim sonship in Christ.

What will we say then if we lose it all? That God was unjust? In a word,  NO. The destiny of our lives lies in our hands alone, we need only to look back at Adam and Eve and note that they walked with God SEEING HIM visibly, and sinned anyway. Let us not do the same and build our lives, and our faith, until the sojourn has ended and we have made our election sure.

So build up your faith by passing the tests of life, to gain the adoption and it's sure reward of everlasting glory just like Christ (Romans 8:17). It is the Prodigal Son's road, successfully traversed, and the expected recompense of that journey. We are His, and as His children we CAN live a life of faith. We CAN deepen it and make it real in our lives IN EVERYTHING! And then EXPECT and know that our election has been made sure, by our discipleship in Christ Jesus.

Be blessed, be loved and be at peace. May the light of God's glory and presence fire the brilliance of your souls. You are greatly loved.