Faith: Seeing the Unseen

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). You might not find these words if you looked up “faith” in a dictionary, but there is no better description of what faith is.

Faith is a key word in the New Testament and a key concept in the Bible. It means conviction of the truth of something and, by extension, trust or confidence in what is believed. Faith provides “assurance” and “conviction.” “Assurance” (“substance” in some versions) denotes what is real. “Conviction” (or “evidence”) signifies a proof or demonstration. These words normally call to mind things we can see and touch. But this verse applies them to spiritual realities that are not discerned with physical senses. Faith makes real and certain what would otherwise be unknowable. The NIV reads, “Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”

Verse 3 gives an example of this principle of faith: “By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.” We cannot go back in time and observe the origin of the universe, but we have a confident conviction that God created it. (Incidentally, the evolutionist also exercises “faith”; he cannot witness the beginning of the world, either. Thus the creation-evolution debate is not between faith and science, but between two different “faiths.”)

Faith is not wishful thinking. It is based on testimony. For instance, our belief that God created the material universe out of nothing is based on the Bible’s statements that He did so (Genesis 1; Psalm 33:6,9). The same should hold true for all of our beliefs about spiritual things. “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17).

“And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him” (verse 6). Faith believes in the existence of the invisible God (“He is”). But it doesn’t stop there (see James 2:19); faith also acknowledges God’s moral government (“He is a rewarder of those who seek Him”). It recognizes His authority and submits to Him in obedience. Without action, faith is dead (James 2:17).

In a way, Hebrews 11 does for faith what 1 Corinthians 13 does for love. Just as Paul described to the Corinthians what love does, the writer of Hebrews shows, through the examples of Old Testament heroes, what faith does. “For by it [faith] the men of old gained approval” (verse 2). These great men and women of the past did what they did because they trusted even though they could not see. The same trust on our part will produce the same fruits.

I Met Gilligan

Who is the most famous person you’ve ever met? I met Gilligan once. That is, I met Bob Denver, the star of “Gilligan’s Island.” I was eight years old and in a children’s hospital for some tests. Mr. Denver was in town doing a theater production, and, being so popular among the primary school set, he came by the hospital to sign autographs.

Most of us have a favorite story of some brief encounter with a celebrity. We talk with some pride about having met them. It gives us a feeling of importance, of having done something that few others have—maybe even the illusion that some of that fame or talent might have rubbed off on us.

Of course, the impression left by such a meeting is always hopelessly one-sided. I seriously doubt that Bob Denver has ever told a wide-eyed group of friends about the time he met me.

Given our excitement at meeting people who are famous in mere human endeavors, it is sad that we tend to speak so little of knowing the Lord of all creation. Paul said, “I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of know­ing Jesus Christ my Lord” (Philippians 3:8). The apostle stood before governors and kings, but his greatest thrill was to know the Son of God.

And unlike those chance meetings with celebrities who will never remember us, Christians have a relationship with a Savior who is deeply interested in us. “The Lord knows those who are His” (2 Timothy 2:19). “For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren” (Hebrews 2:11).

No matter who I meet, it can never equal the joy of knowing and being known by Jesus.

"Be Patient With All"

“Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all” (1 Thessalonians 5:14).

We all have responsibilities toward our brothers and sisters in Christ. That is especially true when the going gets tough. In this verse, Paul briefly identifies some common spiritual problems and our duties toward those who have them.

The word unruly described a soldier who was insubordinate or a laborer who neglected his work. This brother’s behavior is disorderly, out of line. He is not following the rules (i.e., the commandments of God; see 2 Thessalonians 3:6b). He knows what he ought to do but chooses not to do it.

Paul’s command is that we admonish (warn) such a person. We work to persuade him to do better. Whether it requires gentle words of encouragement or stronger words of rebuke, our goal is to get him to change his conduct to conform to what God instructs—in other words, to repent.

The fainthearted (literally, “small-souled”) brother is easily discouraged. He may be overly sensitive to criticism. He may quickly lose heart when he makes mistakes, or when he sees the failures of others. He may be fearful of opposition to his beliefs. Without help, this disciple could become disheartened and depressed to the point of giving up.

Our duty to this brother is to comfort him. He may need a cheerful word or just a sympathetic ear. He needs to know he is not alone. “Let them know that the battle is not theirs, but the Lord’s; and those that trust in him shall conquer” (Adam Clarke). “Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble” (Hebrews 12:12).

The weak brother has many faces: the student who is experiencing doubts about his faith; the new convert who still has much to learn; the brother who is weak in conscience toward some matter of indifference (cf. 1 Corinthians 8-10; Romans 14). This Christian lacks the depth of knowledge or conviction that he needs.

Paul tells us to “uphold” or support the weak. The word here can mean either (1) to endure or withstand, or (2) to cling to or pay attention to. I believe both meanings could apply. “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbor for his neighbor’s good to edification” (Romans 15:1-2). When a brother is weak, we must “put up” with his weaknesses and try to “build up” what is lacking on his part. The goal is not for him to be complacent in his weakness, but for him to grow stronger.

When a Christian has problems, it may be hard to determine which of these descriptions best fits him. Is he willfully disobedient or just struggling with temptation? Is his problem due to a lack of self-control or a lack of knowledge? Does he need reassurance or rebuke? It may take careful consideration and time before we know. And that leads us to one more exhortation…

Be patient with all. The word is literally “long-tempered”—being patient with those who try our patience. Warning the unruly, comforting the fainthearted, and upholding the weak can put a strain on us. Satan seeks to frustrate and discourage us. He would rather we just gave up on those who need our help. But we must not. Remember that we all need the support of our brothers and sisters from time to time. Imitate the longsuffering of God (2 Peter 3:9,15). “And so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience” (Colossians 2:12).