by Scott Ebisch

Created on: March 06, 2007   Last Updated: May 11, 2007

Faith.

"Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of which is not seen". This verse is found in the New Testament book of Hebrews chapter 11 verse 1. It goes on to read "This is what the ancients were commended for" in verse 2.

According to this verse having faith was commendable. Believing in something you can't physically see or touch is faith. In this light, faith sounds like trust. If a group of people (the ancients) were to be commended for having faith this would mean they believed in something with all their heart. Belief that something exists without being able to see it.

Another translation of Hebrews 11: 1 is worded this way "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."

Faith and certainty are really not the at all the same thing. Faith requires hope.

Faith is not easy to explain.

In many cases our ability to stay faithful to what we believe can be affected by our daily circumstances in life. It can be reinforced or completely damaged by a word spoken out of anger by someone we esteem. It can affect our daily outlook and perhaps cause us to question something we have long understood and accepted for many years. A sudden adjustment in life like an illness or death often causes people to lose sight of what they have believed.

This can be seen as doubt which can also derail a belief system. But more often than not doubt is just uncertainty not disbelief. Uncertainty is not knowing for sure, which is what faith is described as in fact being.

Certain of what we do not see.

Accepting the notion that God exists requires large amounts of faith. We see evidence of creation all around us. The sky above us, the oceans and all the sea life. The miracle of birth. Does this mean God exists? To many people there is no question.

But then to deny that William Shakespeare existed with out my ability to physically see him doesn't mean I don't believe he didn't walk this earth. He left behind sonnets and plays, in effect evidence that has lived on well past his days on this earth. I can deny his existence but it would seem unnecessary how can I prove someone else didn't write Romeo and Juliet and just sign his name?

Keeping ones faith in check requires discipline. It requires a willingness to accept some things we can't prove. How do we arrive at faith, I can't explain that.

How do we remain faithful to what we believe? That is a question everyone needs to answer for themselves on a daily basis.

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