Why Is Having Faith Important?

Hebrews 11:1 tells us that faith is "being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." There is no other component of the Christian life that is more important than faith.

The Holy Spirit continues to bring this issue of faith to me, even today, it keeps presenting itself. So I will talk a little about faith and why it is so very important.

First, of all, we cannot purchase it, or sell it or give it to our family or friends. The dictionary defines faith as "belief in, devotion to, or trust in somebody or something, especially without logical proof. It also defines faith as "belief in and devotion to God."

The Bible has a lot to say about faith and how important it is. It is so important that without faith we have no place with God, and it is impossible to please Him (Hebrews 11:6).

Faith is belief in the one, true God without actually seeing Him. I will say that again, "faith is belief in the one, true God without actually seeing Him."

So while we are walking on this earthly plane, we must be all our hope and trust in the one true and living God. The only time we will actually see God is when we die.

Faith is a gift from God, not because we deserve it or have earned it, or are even worthy to have it. It is not from ourselves. It is from God. It is not obtained by our power or our free will. It is simply given to us by God, along with His grace and mercy, according to His holy plan and purpose, and because of that, He gets all the glory.

Failure to have faith means we don't trust God and we don't believe that He is who He says He is, nor do we believe that He will do all that He has promised in His holy Word.

Without demonstrating faith and trust in God, we have no place with Him. We believe in God's existence by faith.

How do we have faith? Romans 10:17 says that "faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.

You can only hear the Word of God if you study the Bible or attend a church that teaches the Bible. The careful study of God's Word is of primary importance in developing a strong faith. God wants us to know Him and completely rely on His direction in ours lives. It is through the hearing, reading and meditation on the Scriptures that we begin to experience a strong confident faith that excludes worry and fear.

God wants and desires a relationship with Him. It is not our religion that strengthens our faith but a relationship with God!

There was a woman who had suffered from hemorrhages for twelve years. She had sought physicians and she had money but could not get cured. She had heard about Jesus, and came up behind him in a crowd and touched his cloak, for she said, "If I but touch his clothes, I will be made well." Immediately her hemorrhage stopped and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. Jesus turned about in the crowd and asked who had touched him and the woman responded that it was she. Christ said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace , and be healed of your disease." (Mark 5:25-34)

This is a lesson in approaching God with humility and putting our confidence and trust in Him instead of of in worldly things. Our faith will enable our spiritual healing and salvation.

I could continue on and on about examples in the Bible of those whose faith was so strong and how they relied on God to fulfill all His promises. You will have to read it for yourself..

Thought for Today: Keep Christ as the Center of your Life; trust God to do what He says He is going to do.