Living by Faith

Foggy Road In our social media driven world today, life is viewed by what’s popular, progressive, or posted. Followers of Jesus, however, live by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). Similarly, Christ followers walk by faith in what God has said and done, not by what we may feel or fear. God says “the righteous will live by faith” (Genesis 15:6; Habakkuk 2:5; Romans 1:17; 4:3, 9, 22-25; 5:1; Galatians 3:11; Hebrews 10:38; James 2:23).

The Bible tells us that faith is confidence in God’s promises and the proof of what is not seen (Hebrews 11:1). Furthermore, without faith it is impossible to please God, for anyone who seeks Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who trust Him and His Word (John 1:1-5, 10-14, 18; Hebrews 11:6).

We have many examples (biblically, historically, and personally) of imperfect, yet faithful men and women through the ages who have trusted God’s promises through the dense fog of pop culture (2 Timothy 3:1-5), believed them regardless of ridicule (Matthew 5:11-12; John 15:18-20, 2 Timothy 3:12-13), and viewed themselves as foreigners and temporary residents on this Earth (Hebrews 11:13). Following their examples, let’s walk with God by faith in His Son, Jesus (John 17:3; Ephesians 2:8-10; Colossians 3:1-4), and love others as He loves (Exodus 34:6-7; Numbers 14:18; Psalm 86:15; 103:8; Jonah 4:2 ; Joel 2:13; Nehemiah 9:17-25; John 15:12-13; Romans 5:6-8; Colossians 3:12-14) as citizens of Heaven (Philippians 3:20) and ambassadors here on Earth (2 Corinthians 5:20).

Run the race Since we have so many great examples of those who have walked with God by faith, let’s lay aside defensiveness, selfishness, and sinfulness that so easily trips us up. Let’s run with perseverance, patience, and purity the race of life that lies before us, looking up to Jesus, the creator and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy of Heaven endured the cross on Earth where He was ridiculed Himself (Hebrews 12:1-3). Let’s follow Jesus who is preparing an eternal home for us while praying for us at the right hand of God’s throne in Heaven (John 14:1-4; Philippians 2:8-11; Hebrews 7:25; Revelation 21:3-4).

Many people today may view those of us who choose to live by faith in God and His Word as narrow-minded (Matthew 7:13-14), old fashioned (Deuteronomy 32:7; Psalm 78:1-7; 143:5; 2 Timothy 3:14-17), foolish (1 Corinthians 1:18), and intolerant (2 Timothy 4:2-4). Yet, those who see themselves as open-minded and progressive are making lifestyle choices that have been made before (Judges 17:6, 21:25, Romans 1:21-25). There really isn’t anything new on this Earth (Ecclesiastes 1:9).

Christ followers, also, live by faith in what God has said and done, not by what we feel. So, let’s refuse to react in fear to the recent changes and outrages in our world (2 Timothy 1:8). Instead, let’s recognize that our battle is not against people, police, politicians, or protestors, but against the invisible, spiritual forces of evil that are real (Ephesians 6:12). That’s why we must reject our natural reaction to use the same weapons that are used against us, but rather, put on the spiritual armor of truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, and the Spirit, which is God’s Word (Ephesians 6:14-17). And above all, we put on love so that the peace of Christ will control our hearts (Colossians 3:14).

By faith in God’s Word, we believe there is an enemy who is called the Devil and Satan; the one who deceives the whole world (Revelation 12:8; Revelation 20:10). According to Jesus, deception is an essential element of Satan’s nature “for he is a liar, and the father of lies” (John 8:44). The Devil disguises himself as angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14), but the Bible reveals his true intention to exalt himself above God’s rule and his desire to take God’s glory (Isaiah 14:12–17). As the god of this age, Satan has blinded the minds of people so they cannot see the true light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God (2 Corinthians 4:4). Satan’s latest deceptions involve a repeat attack on the image of God in mankind (Genesis 1:26–28; Genesis 3:1-15) and assault Christ’s love for His church reflected in biblical marriage between a man and a woman (Ephesians 5:22-32). Our cultural and moral battles are not with the ones who have been blinded, but with the ancient deceiver who has blinded them.

So rather than give in to fear or try to defend our faith with the weapons of this world, we resist the Devil and stand firm in our faith in God and His Word, knowing that the grief and sorrows we are experiencing today are not new, but are the experience of fellow believers throughout the world (1 Peter 5:9).

Shine like stars on the road Let’s live our lives by faith so that our words and actions of Christ-like love go viral (Philippians 2:13-15). Let’s live and love in such a way that God gets the credit for the good others may see in us (Matthew 5:16). As for me and my family, we’re choosing to live by faith in God who has given us life in His Son and trust the goodness of His boundaries for living (Joshua 24:15; Micah 6:8; Romans 12:1-3).