FAITH TOWARDS GOD

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Keeping Going, Even When You Do Not See Results

By Pastor David Nyansah Hayfron (Youth Director)

Friday Devotional Exhortation at Headquarters

Hebrews 11:6 - 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.

Three Key Aspects of Faith

Hebrews 11 draws our attention to three irreducible aspects of faith that must inform our meditation today

1. Believe He is – Omnipotent, Omniscient, Omnipresent, Immutable, Eternal

This means live, walk and work with this in mind and heart always, though you do not see Him. He does not say faith is seeing, as the very wrong human axiom “seeing is believing” puts it. Anything short of this is not an expression of faith.

2. He rewards faith – whether in this life or the next. Blessing in this life is beautiful and soothing, but reward in the hereafter is more valuable. Either way, God definitely rewards every act of faith, without fail.

3. There is an earthly cost of having faith in God – When people are following what is producing seeable results, you may definitely feel like one beating the wind sometimes, when the results of your faith are not readily seeable. All the stalwarts of faith celebrated in Hebrews 11 suffered in one way or the other for their faith in God, but none of them received his or her full reward on earth. Remember again, faith will not always produce visible results. Some even died for their faith. (See Hebrews 11:39)

Beware of Loss of Faith

Adam and Eve exhibited loss of faith in God, and chose the way of the serpent. Paul therefore repeats a warning to timothy, as to us who must live by faith in 1Timothy 4:1-3

But the Spirit expressly says that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and teachings of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, being seared in their own conscience, forbidding to marry, saying to abstain from foods which God has created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.

In Practice, do you have faith in God?

Since faith will not always produce visible results, are you holding on to the faith in the following among others

a. The way you do your work without supervision?

b. The way you conduct your finances and make money?

c. The way you handle your marriage and relationships?

As is alluded to by Paul above, many have stopped following The Way because they “do not see” results, but remember, Abraham believed God. He did not see much of what God said, but he took decisions in line with it.

A Prayer of Jesus in Luke 22:31-32

And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has desired you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith fail not. And when you are converted, strengthen your brothers. Luke

The Christian’s Ultimate Declaration in 2 Timothy 4:7

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith.

· In your free time, you may just as well read Hebrews 11 today. Have faith in God.

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