ELEMENTS OF FAITH
What is meant by faith? The Christian faith revolves around faith and Hebrews 11 is the best document of faith described in the Bible. Key elements of faith described therein are summarized.
The Invisible: Faith begins with the realization that there exists a spiritual world that seamlessly interacts with and controls the physical world in which we operate. ‘By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible’ (Hebrews 11:3). There is a clear assignment of spiritual foundations to the physical world we live in. While the earth and the universe are physically suspended in space, spiritual laws that originate from God hold the universe up and sustains it.
Alienness: ‘All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth’ (Hebrews 11:13).Man lives as though he owns the world, and the things in this world. There is a sense of permanency with our experiences. However, a moment’s reflection is enough to conclude that physical death has a cruel way of mocking all of man’s achievements. Faith plants him though, on a stable foundation as he is able to look at the alienness of life here, rather than see it as a permanent experience.
Looking forward: ‘For he was looking forward to a city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God’ (Hebrew 11:10). This element encompasses the time element and faith ensures that our eyes are fixed on what is to come, the eternal future. For one who embraces a loving relationship with God, this future changes from being one of despondency to hopeful anticipation. The coming city, the eternal life promised with faith in Christ is one that has foundations and untainted by the curse of sin.
Obedience: Submission to God follows. Hebrews 11 talks of people who accomplished the impossible with faith, as well as others who in faith were persecuted and killed. While we might look at the former more favorably, both are equally a measure of faith, with one not being more difficult than the other. Being cheered or jeered is a human response; however, for one who lives a life of faith, both are equally difficult because submission to God goes against the basic principles of this world. Being a hero of faith to get great things done as well as suffering for one’s faith are equally easy as well, because one’s sight is fixed on the eternal invisible reality.
Certainty: The element of certainty undergirds everything else as faith is seen in action. Hebrews 11 begins with the verse, ‘Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see’. The assurance and the conviction follow from being planted in the eternal reality, a process made possible by God’s initiative and man’s willingness.
