“Without faith, it is impossible to please God” (Heb 11:6). If faith is what pleases God, I want faith. Many claim to have faith in doctors, in science, in their fellow man, and even in politicians (I can’t figure out why), but that is not the kind of faith of which the Bible speaks. Jesus talked about faith that can move mountains (Matt 17:20-21) – that’s the kind of faith I want because I’ve got some mountains that need to go.
Merriam-Webster defines faith as allegiance, loyalty, or sincerity. The “archaic” definition is trust in the traditional doctrines of a religion, and firm belief in something for which there is no proof. Mountain-moving faith isn’t built on doctrines or traditions. It’s not archaic, but eternal. And if you need proof, just go look at the stars. But I digress.
Faith as the Bible defines it is different. The Greek word for faith is pistis and it means belief or trust – simple enough, right – but there is more that sets biblical faith apart. It also means that actions based on that trust will follow. Let me give you an example.
There’s an old story about a tightrope walker who strung his rope across a tall and dangerous cavern and then asked the crowd, “Who here believes I can walk across this rope and back without falling?” Many applauded their approval and so he stepped up and made the trip across and back with ease. Then he set a wheelbarrow on the rope and asked, “Who here believes I can push this wheelbarrow across this rope and back without dropping it or falling off?” The crowd, encouraged by his previous success, agreed that he could. And so he pushed the wheelbarrow across and back without a hitch. When he returned, the crowd whistled and clapped with delight. “Now,” the man said, “who’s willing to get in the wheelbarrow?” That’s what the Bible means by faith.
Faith is not just sitting around thinking good, faithy thoughts. Real faith, sustaining faith is faith that moves you to obedience. It looks at the impossibility of the situation and steps forward anyway. It submits to God’s will even when it’s hard. Mountain-moving faith trusts that when the Lord says “Let us go to the other side” (Mrk 4:35) you will indeed get to the other side – despite the storm on the way. That’s the kind of faith you and I can have because that’s the kind of God He is.
So, Beloved, are you ready to get in the wheelbarrow?
Deeper Roots 