Heaven Coach

Faith Is Never Blind

We live in a time when belief in God is rapidly declining and being replaced by what I would call worldliness. It is popular to point to religion as a problem, maybe the most destructive thing in the world. Religion is something modern man needs to “get past.” Religion deserves such a reputation due to wars, indifference and all the suffering that can be attributed to the name of religion. So it is not hard to convince someone of the horrors of religion. On the other hand there can be great peace and sacrifice and giving as a result of belief in God as people look to many of the fundamental principles associated with religion. Behind a great deal of good behavior of humankind is a belief in a reward / punishment system of their religion. In systems of non-belief, in humanistic systems there is really no good reason to do anything except act selfishly since existence is over at death. Humanists would claim they act morally out of concern for others or just to make society workable, better for them and others. This may be true but it must from time to time cause problems believing in the end it really will not matter. Today, a very high percentage of religions as throughout time have no association with God. The religions are just men inventing God with rules they say are from God. Rejecting man-made religion is fine and commendable, but rejecting the God of creation for the religious actions, doctrines invented by men/women is unfortunate.
I truly believe few men and women if any would reject the truth if they knew it. Coming to a knowledge of God’s plan for man does not come from some secret formula but God in his wisdom devised something that is as unique as His creation. Your ability to get to the truth is within you but you may never find it. That ability is associated with your character, with the real YOU! You might imagine correctly that rejecting God’s existence is not a characteristic which points you in a direction leading to God. Pride and selfishness are also things that destroy the path to God. On the other hand, a deep love of the truth will serve you well in finding God. A humble spirit, a kind and patient personality are great characteristics. People bring the truth to others but frequently the message fails to convince. The message dies sometimes because a person will not listen since they already are convinced of their current position. Others may listen but they have no deep love of the truth and most today just love the “world.” The “world” is the things of the world and it consists of many extremely short term gains. Some people will lose heaven simply because they never cared about the truth and so God’s plan is indeed perfect. It is perfect because there is no way you can cheat, no way you can find the formula for heaven and store it away and in the end claim heaven. Heaven requires a love of the truth and then obedience or as the scriptures teach, “Be faithful unto death and you will receive the crown of life.”

Obsession With A Quick, Easy Answer

This idea mentioned above is worth more discussion.

Man looks for the formula, some set of instructions he can follow and never learns what he must do. The answer lies to some extent in the character of the person. Many people have characteristics that will cause them to reject the truth if it interferes with what they want. Yet as you come to understand God you will see that God purposely requires of every person things that are difficult. So, you see in every way God’s ways are higher than man’s. No man or woman will be found acceptable because they did something, some little trick, spoke some little phrase, followed some pattern but God knows if you had an obedient relationship with His Son. God knows your heart and your actions are consistent with the “real you.”

Faith – Our Motivation

This page is discussing faith but “Faith” has not been mentioned (to this point) and yet behind your actions in life in order to please God, you will need faith. The faith you need will not be blind faith. Faith as the bible indicates comes from the word of God but you will not hear and understand it without having the right character. Your character needs to one that seeks truth, loves truth and when you hear, you make it part of your life despite its difficulties. Do you see the difficulty as mentioned in the first sentence of this page when the world is rejecting the idea of God. The difficulty is that the world is going down a road which minimizes God and to get to heaven recognizing God as creator is just the first step.

The following is from my book,”What Is Life All About?” and is a short chapter on faith.

CHAPTER 15

FAITH, THE CAUSE OF PROBLEMS AND THE CURE

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes
to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those
who diligently seek Him.
—Hebrews 11.6

BEHIND A GREAT deal of the world’s religious confusion is a misunderstanding of faith. One of the most powerful tools in building a religion THAT IS NOT TRUE is to tell people, “Trust me.” A stronger way is to tell them the “faith story.” That is, you must believe what you cannot see and cannot understand. Again, a partial truth is used, and people often relent to this explanation. That is, they may not understand or ever understand, but to accept this on faith. Usually you are placing your faith in the person doing the teaching. As Hebrews 11.1 indicates, faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Therefore, the idea of faith is accepting something without all the evidence or with limited evidence. The faith of the Bible comes from hearing, reading the Word of God. At the beginning, there is more unseen, but with time and study, the faith becomes less unseen and more seen. If it is not the truth, then your continued study will only leave your faith unseen and often even more uncertain. The true meaning of faith is never a mystery in the sense we cannot understand; perhaps we cannot completely understand, so there is an uncertain element. Faith is understandable but requires in some cases, especially for those who are searching for the truth, a belief in something when less than 100 percent of the evidence is available.

Hebrews 11:1-3

1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.
3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

God never wanted you to put your trust in any man but to search the scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so as indicated in Acts 17.11.


Unseen: Jesus, Abraham Lincoln, George Washington

To believe in Jesus or that He even existed would necessarily require some faith since you cannot see Him or know anyone who had seen Him. You were not there when He walked on earth, taught, and
suffered the terrible death. You were also not present when Abraham Lincoln gave the Gettysburg Address, but you believe the accounts of history; and as you study his life, you may see how that short but powerful speech of Lincoln’s was in keeping with his character, style, and beliefs. You, without having been there fully, believe Lincoln lived; and he gave the famous speech at Gettysburg, and George Washington lived and crossed the Delaware during that terrible winter. There are photographs of Abraham Lincoln including one at Gettysburg but not of George Washington, so you might have more confidence in Lincoln’s existence than Washington’s and certainly more confidence in the accurate appearance of Lincoln than in Washington. This example is given to point out that, to some extent, faith is involved in much of what we believe, and that faith is strengthened or weakened by the amount we diligently pursue the truth of any issue. The Bible evidence and substantial supporting historical evidence (for example, from Josephus), which has been provided for Jesus’ life, His teachings, and His wisdom, provide compelling evidence of the existence of Jesus. In addition, the nature of His message supported by miracles, the fulfillment of prophecy, the life lived as a Jew in keeping with the correct understanding of Moses and the prophets, and the uniqueness of what God has done for man through Jesus provide support and consistency for the reality of His life and stated purpose. You can know from history that Lincoln, Washington, and Jesus existed. History also provides considerably more regarding their actions, beliefs and their motives. Jesus is unique from any other historical character. His history goes back to the beginning (John 1.1), and His purpose is alluded to in
Genesis 3.15 but not understood until much later. The whole purpose of the Jews is for bringing Jesus, and now Jesus sits at the right hand of God. Jesus established the kingdom. He will return the kingdom to His Father at the end of time. Jesus turns out to “be History” from beginning to the end. The evidence for “historical Jesus” is available and consistent with what God intended, and if that (historical Jesus) is all you ever know about Jesus, then you have missed what life is all about.

Abraham Lincoln at Gettysburg

Washington Crossing the Delaware

Faith originates in the Bible as it says, “Faith comes from hearing and hearing from the Word of God.”

Romans 10:17

17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

The Bible is a book of evidences to those who want the truth about life. The evidence increases as one grows in study and consequently understands God’s Word to the point where the “unseen” part of faith is becoming very real. The belief part of faith is now very strong. Without actually seeing God, the evidence provided by God in His Word is beginning to become substantial, and you really start to understand God and His purpose for you. God defines faith in relation to things hoped for but the evidence of things not seen.

Hebrews 11:1

1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Somehow people wrongly translate that to mean faith is blind. The faith that God refers to is not blind. God provides the following help:

Hebrews 11.3

3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the Word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

In other words, we see the creation as evidence of God but may not see the God of the Bible as the creator. To please God, we need to see the God of the Bible as the creator. God has tied together the delivery of His message and faith (Romans 10.17). He could have written in the sky every day that He was God or appeared continually talking to man, but He chose the vehicle of His Word to produce faith. This is evidence recognized by the kind of person God seeks. God wants men to grow in faith, as they better and better understand Him through His Word. It is not faith in God when we believe or have faith in some man’s religion or teaching. Many will claim that what they teach is from God or from God’s Word, but it is obvious that it may be the truth or it may not be the truth. What men teach about God and religion is of no value to you unless it is the truth. Religious error is no more acceptable today than it was during the time the Hebrews worshipped Baal, that is, for example, during the time of Elijah.

1 Kings 18.20-40

20 So Ahab sent for all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together on Mount Carmel.
21 And Elijah came to all the people, and said, “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people answered him not a word.
22 Then Elijah said to the people, “I alone am left a prophet of the LORD; but Baal’s prophets are four hundred and fifty men.
23 Therefore let them give us two bulls; and let them choose one bull for themselves, cut it in pieces, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire under it; and I will prepare the other bull, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire under it.
24 Then you call on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD; and the God who answers by fire, He is God.”
So all the people answered and said, “It is well spoken.”
25 Now Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose one bull for yourselves and prepare it first, for you are many; and call on the name of your god, but put no fire under it.”
26 So they took the bull which was given them, and they prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even till noon, saying, “O Baal, hear us!” But there was no voice; no one answered. Then they leaped about the altar which they had made.
27 And so it was, at noon, that Elijah mocked them and said, “Cry aloud, for he is a god; either he is meditating, or he is busy, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is sleeping and must be awakened.”
28 So they cried aloud, and cut themselves, as was their custom, with knives and lances, until the blood gushed out on them.
29 And when midday was past, they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice. But there was no voice; no one answered, no one paid attention.
30 Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me.” So all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down.
31 And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD had come, saying, “Israel shall be your name.”
32 Then with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD; and he made a trench around the altar large enough to hold two seahs of seed.
33 And he put the wood in order, cut the bull in pieces, and laid it on the wood, and said, “Fill four waterpots with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice and on the wood.”
34 Then he said, “Do it a second time,” and they did it a second time; and he said, “Do it a third time,” and they did it a third time.
35 So the water ran all around the altar; and he also filled the trench with water.
36 And it came to pass, at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near and said, “LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and I am Your servant, and that I have done all these things at Your word.
37 Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that You are the LORD God, and that You have turned their hearts back to You again.”
38 Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench.
39 Now when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, “The LORD, He is God! The LORD, He is God!”
40 And Elijah said to them, “Seize the prophets of Baal! Do not let one of them escape!” So they seized them; and Elijah brought them down to the Brook Kishon and executed them there.

Behind it is Faith

The faith produced by the word of truth is exceedingly precious.

2 Corinthians 6:7

7 by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,

Ephesians 1:13

13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,

My friend Don Kinney illustrated that to me many years ago in the story of the young boy. The young boy trusted his father but when his father told him to give away the bicycle he so dearly loved to the poor boy down the street he was tested. Somewhat surprised by the request, the boy sluggishly takes the bike down the street and turns it over to the boy as his dad instructed. As he walks back home, he does not really feel very good but realizes he had done the right thing. He thinks this was really a hard thing to do. He opens the garage door, and to his surprise, there is a brand-new shiny bike much better than the one he just gave away. You see, God says you give away all those things that you hold as so precious but are sinful. You give up the sins that seem so very important to you, and in their place at the end of your life, there will be something so much better. As a child of God, you will see that the thing behind your actions is faith. Faith is reason for writing this book. Faith is the reason for our unselfish treatment of others. It is the reason we are not too proud to be the example or do things that place us in a role as servant or be humiliated in doing the right thing. It is the reason we can leave behind the sins we so cherish. We give up our sins because God says they are no good for us, and by faith, we believe Him and act accordingly. Faith in God is the reason that we will be able to get through the tough times because, by faith, we understand what life is all about. Faith is never only a mental accepting of something, like believing in Jesus. Such faith would be a dead faith.

James 2:26

26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

The faith of the Bible is a faith in Jesus as God’s Son and obedience to Him. That is why the Bible says,

Hebrews 5.9

9 And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him,

Jesus could not make it any clearer than when He said,

Matthew 7.21

21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.

If the boy with the bicycle had said I believe in you, Dad, but I am not giving up my bike, we would have thought he did not respect his father. God makes it clear that if you love Him, you will keep His commands.

John 14.15

15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments.

How silly for someone to tell you that you can please God by saying you believe in Jesus but not doing everything He says. Faith in God is a beautiful, beautiful thing when day in and day out you are doing God’s will.

Understand what you believe

God never expected people to believe without any evidence. Obviously, if that were the case, anything said by anyone could produce valuable faith and people could believe just anything. In fact, most of the religious error consists of believing some man’s teaching but with little or no evidence.
Catholics frequently use this word faith to mean do not question, using that as the answer to many questions and sometimes talk about the mystery of the faith. In answer to questions about the pope or Mary or the practices of the Catholic Church, I have had Catholics simply tell me it is a “mystery of the faith.” It is the only answer because they have no good answer. The other answer is that the Catholic Church has the right to do whatever they want. The only proof of that is the “convoluted in some form” repeating of their authority. Do you really think God would leave you to trust in any man or men? Which one would you choose to believe? God never intended people to be ignorant of Him and His ways and, in fact, went to “great pains” to deliver the faith once and for all to the saints.

Jude 1:3

3 Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.

If you do not understand what you believe, how do you know it is correct? There is nothing wrong with questioning.

Faith in God comes from truth and never out of ignorance.

God created the world with great precision. The central focus for all of creation was mankind, not the plants or animal life, mountains, forests, lakes, oceans, stars, or seemingly endless galaxies. God has a great desire for man to be successful. Do you really think that God would be careless about His instructions for man? God has been just as careful in His delivery of truth as He was in every detail of creation. The faith God wants you to have has been carefully designed and revealed in His Word and nowhere else! As you become familiar with that Word, you will better understand God and His plan for man, really for you. Day by day, your faith will grow, and as it does, you will want to do the things that please God. Faith plays a very essential part in the plan of God. God even says:

Hebrews 11.6

6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Faith begins, matures

In man’s religion, people often come to consider that growing in familiarity and participation with procedures and traditions of their belief is an indication of being stronger in the faith. Indeed, they are stronger in the beliefs of that group. The faith that God had in mind for you has you growing in the true knowledge of Him as well as the confidence of your hope of heaven. When you possess the truth, you no longer look to this individual or that as being experts. You fully understand what you are doing and why. Day after day, you study, question, and grow stronger in the faith. The truth about life will make your faith in God very strong. Once you get on the path of correctly understanding God, there will be a growing confidence in what you believe. God’s children can answer questions about their faith and will not have to say, “Trust me,” or trust the men or women who came before me in this belief.
Paul wrote a passage to the church at Corinth that embodies the idea of faith without using the word faith. It includes encouragement as we go down the road of life as a child of God.

2 Corinthians 4.16-18

16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.
17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,
18 While we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Every human being has the ability to see the unseen, the eternal by faith. You can see the unseen by faith in God via His creation and faith in God’s answer to sin as seen in Christ. Man expresses his faith, and God sees and credits the person who is obedient to the will of Christ. God knows the road for His children may not be easy but refers to it as a light affliction in comparison to a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. In hundreds of verses in the Bible, God is revealing what life is all about. In so many ways He consistently provides this truth to man. He so beautifully does it here in Paul’s letter to the Corinthians in the verse above. I do not know of anything more exciting than God’s message to you. You can go to heaven regardless of your current “state in life.” You may be one that few believe has any potential to make something of their life or you might be at the pinnacle of success. God wants you to very personally come to grips with what life is all about. You need to place your faith in God and not in men. It will not be a blind faith, but one that will grow as your knowledge of God increases, and you will be able to overcome the obstacles in your life because you will have Christ on your side.

Philippians 4:13

13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.