What does it mean to have faith?

In order to answer that question, we need to know what faith actually is. The Bible gives a clear definition of faith in Hebrews 11:1. 

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

In addition to being the substance of the things we hope for, it’s the evidence of the things we can’t see. Faith doesn’t leave room for doubt, God gives us that deep sense of ‘evidence’ in our heart. 

Let’s take an example: 
If you’re ready to jump out of a plane that’s bound to crash into a mountain, and you have a parachute in your bag. You might not be able to actually see the chute itself, but it’s there. You know it’s there because you trust the one who prepared it for you (or you might even have prepared it yourself). 

This is just like faith.

So here is a question? 
How useful is it for you to simply acknowledge that the parachute existed and was on the plane, but not take it and put it on before leaving the plane!

Sadly, this is very common when we compare the parachute to the Lord Jesus.  Many people believe the facts about the Lord Jesus. They recognise that He existed, died on the cross and rose again, but don’t feel a need for a “parachute”.  They believe they’ll be fine without Jesus in their lives. 

They know the parachute is there for them on the plane, but don’t feel the need for it. They think that by spreading their arms and legs, they’ll manage to stop the fall. 

No matter how much you spread your arms and legs, or how light you are, you know as well as I do what’s going to happen to someone who jumps out of a plane without a parachute. 

This is the same with Christianity, many people believe that their good works will be enough, but the Bible says in Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."

We need to have faith and trust in the work of Jesus on the cross.

Then there’s those who say: ‘’well, I don’t really know if we’re going to crash or not, but we’ll see’’ (in other words: ‘’I don’t really know what comes after death...’’). 

Well, the Bible is very clear on that subject. We read in Hebrews 9:27. 

"It is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment." 

If you are found guilty on judgment day and have not accepted Jesus as your personal Saviour: you are bound to an eternity in the lake of fire. 

What about those with great theories or philosophies? Will these not save us in the end? 

Well, you might as well jump out of a plane with a backpack full of books, theories and dictionaries, than trust in the theories of men. 

If you jumped from a plane with a bag full of books the fall is going to be even worse: like the surprise many “intelligent men” will have after death.

Not believing in God is the same as jumping out of the plane without a parachute. Crazy!

Make sure you have your parachute on your back and open it! 

It’s useless all folded up, so it is with faith. Believe in God and let it be seen. 

Tell people that parachutes are available, and don’t let them jump without one. 

Like in Psalms 105:2. 

“tell of all his wondrous works!” 

Love,

Jimmy