DEVOTION
How
Do You Know it's Real?
By
Aaron Bull
Guest Writer
CBN.com
-- I'm sure this has been discussed, debated, preached, or what have you
since the dawn of time. I've had many conversations with others for years about
it. The question is, "how can you rely on something that you can't see?"
What a great question! A while back, while tying up loose ends before
leaving my old job and returning to CBN, I was having a conversation with a dear
friend of mine. She had a discussion with someone who asked her how she could
have faith. She couldn't see it. She couldn't touch it. She certainly couldn't
taste it, hear it, etc I don't remember if she was stumped by the question or
not, but I have to admit that when she shared this with me I wondered how I would
answer that question. Even though I've been a Christian since I was a kid,
I have to admit that, at first, I struggled with my answer. Then, as I was listening
to her, I quickly asked God how I could best serve Him with my answer when and
if this question was asked of me..
Then some things came to mind. Have
you ever told someone that you would see them tomorrow while leaving your place
of business? Have you ever decided to start and grow a savings account, a retirement
fund, or a college fund? Have you ever waved goodbye to a loved one as they stepped
on a plane while anticipating their arrival? Have you ever wondered if you would
have your next breath? I'll bet you have. There are countless examples.
Why
do we expect each of those scenarios to come to a conclusion? Why do we not only
expect, but are usually certain, that each of those scenarios and more will occur
when they are supposed to? No matter how you cut it, slice it, dice it, call
it,
or whatever, it's called faith. Whether you are a believer in Christ or not,
you
have faith.
Don't believe me? Let's go back to my prior examples. You have
faith that you will return to your office tomorrow. You have faith that your retirement
fund will grow, not counting the last year or so in the market of course. You
have faith that your loved one will return when they go on vacation, a business
trip, or whatever. You have faith that you will be here tomorrow, whether or not
you are heading to work. I'm pretty certain you are breathing while reading this.
Why shouldn't we expect each of these to happen? They are the logical conclusions
to each of the scenarios, and more, that I presented. However, the Bible does
not promise tomorrow. Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow.
What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then
vanishes(James 4:14).
The only absolute promise that we have is that God loves us
no matter what we've done. He's proved it time and time again with countless examples.
The easiest and most known example is that of John 3:16. Just in case you've forgotten
it: For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that
whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
He DOES
NOT promise tomorrow, but what He does promise is His love and redemption for
each of us. As to faith, it only takes a little, a smidgen, a tiny bit.
Every one of us has at least a little bit of faith. Otherwise we wouldn't assume
that we would return to work each weekday morning. Jesus talked about faith in
Matthew 17:20: He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell
you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say
to this mountain,
'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."
Faith as small as a mustard seed -- that's an incredible example. Do you
realize the size of a mustard seed and then the size that the tree or plant grows
into!? If not, please check it out. I hope and pray your promise of tomorrow,
your Father's love for you and your faith is based in our Lord and Savior, Jesus
Christ. I know that some of you don't believe in Jesus. If you don't I
ask you to please re-evaluate where your faith is based. For those of you who
do believe, it might be a good time to re-evaluate where you faith is rooted as
well. Take that look and have faith that you will find it, because hint, hint,
He promises that too in Proverbs 2:3-5.
Contact
Aaron Bull with your comments
Other
Devotions on CBN.com
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