THE TRUE MEANING OF FAITH
Faith is not believing what is evident (obvious); it's having an evidence (proof) of what isn't evident (obvious). It is believing the unknown and having a proof for what we hope for. If the results or outcomes of obeying God were already outlined and constant, what difference does it make if we then decide to obey? Certainly, there would be nothing new because we already know the outcome of our obedience. Once the outcomes of our actions as humans are predetermined and unchanging, there would be no need for faith. I mean, why would you need faith to believe what is already evident? You need not be encouraged to believe what currently happening to you. The mere fact that you are experiencing it eliminates any need to exercise faith. But the Christian faith doesn't work this way. In fact, it's the exact opposite.
It certainly doesn't cost much to believe what is already evident. Once the outcome of our actions as humans is predetermined and unchanging, there will be no need for faith. Why would you want to believe what is already evident? If I know that when I throw a stone up it would most certainly fall back to the ground as a result of obeying the laws of gravity, do I need a miracle or some spectacular event to happen so that I can be convinced that the stone would fall down? Of course not. The same is with faith.
Faith is believing the unknown. It's putting your hope, trust, or expectations on what isn't evident. It is holding on to what you can't or haven't experienced. Faith is being secured in ignorance absence of real knowledge. It means being comfortable with emptiness. It is not believing or expecting the opposite of a present reality or situation; it's much more than that. It's expecting nothing really and yet being contended and convinced that something is going to happen. Faith is holding on to nothing and giving up everything. It is finding peace in not being sure. It involves giving up certainty for uncertainty; it's believing even when you can't tell for sure what's going to happen next.
It is this dilemma of not knowing for sure what to expect from God that often makes Christian faith a difficult and frustrating exercise. Think about it, how can you trust a God who can't even predict his next move? How can you possibly have faith in a God who seems to give so much room for doubt? This is both the simplicity and complexity of the Christian faith. This why it is so hard to demonstrate faith; I mean, how can one steadily hold on to what is non-existent doubt. For this is the true meaning of faith; being secured in doubt. It is simply believing doubt the unknown! Faith is believing in advance the unknown (evidence) and hoping that it will make sense when it actually happens (evident). It is holding on to nothing while passing through something trusting that you will be left with at least one good thing at the end of everything.