Do I Have Faith?

Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Hebrews 11:1

The impala is one of the most powerful and graceful animals in Africa. It can jump to a height of more than ten feet and cover a distance of more than thirty feet in one jump. In spite of its great ability, an impala can be kept in an enclosure with a solid fence no more than three feet high. Impalas will not jump if they can’t see where their feet will land.

Do impalas walk by faith or by sight? Don’t laugh—there are many Christians who walk the same way. Faith is “the evidence of things not seen,” not the evidence of things seen. If we are willing to take steps in life only when we can see exactly what’s on the path ahead, we don’t have biblical faith. Abraham was a man who had true faith. God called him from his home in Mesopotamia and directed him to he-knew-not-where. He just obeyed God and left his home and walked one step at a time. Eventually, he arrived at his destination—not because he saw Canaan but because he saw the will of God for his life. The future can only be faced in two ways: with faith or with fear.

If you have to see the next step before you’ll move ahead, you’re trusting your sight instead of your Savior.

Knowing the Bible should lead to living the Bible, which leads to honoring the Author of the Bible.

DAVID JEREMIAH^a