Are You Faithful Or Faithless?

The writer of Hebrews shows an unparalleled wisdom concerning faith and before he even gets to the chapter describing "faith" (Chapter 11) he has already made a profound statement concerning faith.

In chapter 10 verses 37 - 39 say, "For yet in a very little while, He who is coming will come, and will not delay. But My righteous one shall live by faith; And if he shrinks back, My soul has no pleasure in him. But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul."

According to the end of these verses, those of us with faith, do not "shrink back to destruction...but preserve the soul." So what is faith? I know that Hebrews 11:1 says that "faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." But is there a clearer understanding of faith? I think so. Consider the following:

• Faith is taking God at His word (Heb.11:6)
• Faith is a keen understanding that "God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God..." (Ro. 8:28) Not that all things ARE good but that the ALL work together for that good.
• Faith shows intellect and will. It is well demonstrated when Thomas the disciple confesses, "My Lord and my God"
• Faith goes beyond reason. Faith believes without understanding "why."

1. Faith "sings in prison" (Acts 16:25)
2. Faith exults in tribulations (Ro. 5:3)
3. Faith chooses to endure ill-treatment (Heb. :25
4. Faith accepts all things as part of God's will (Phil. 1:2).

Faith is paradoxical and Hebrews 10:39 says, "But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul." Now here is a statement you can "hang your hat on!"

Dave