Facts Leading to Faith in God

Faith – 2 a (1): belief and trust in and loyalty to God (2): belief in the traditional doctrines of a religion b (1): firm belief in something for which there is no proof (2): complete trust – Merriam-Webster Online

I think it is interesting that the definition of faith above indicates that there is no proof, yet we ignore facts that are true and cannot be explained. And those facts lead to our faith.

In my study this morning I was pointed to evidence for faith in God. Cosmological, evidential, and moral. Each makes a case for having faith in God, and the question is asked by James MacDonald, to choose whether or not you believe them or not. Again with another choice. It is up to us to choose.

“³All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.” – John 1:3 (ESV)

The cosmological evidence is that all things in this world are based on an effect with a cause. God created all things, even the universe, which may be too big for us to fathom. But read the verse above once again and think it through. Isn’t it proof.

“¹The heavens declare the glory of God,

and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.”

— Psalm 19:1 (ESV)

The evidential evidence is that all things made for our existence are perfect. Our place in the solar system is perfect for us to live. Our distance from the sun. How fast we go around the sun. The moon we have. The atmosphere. All things point to proof that we were not an accident. Isn’t that proof.

“¹⁴For when Gentile, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. ¹⁵They show that the wok of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them” – Romans 2:14-15 (ESV)

And then there is the moral evidence. We know right from wrong and we do not have to be taught it. It is in our DNA. Other creatures created by God do not have that in their DNA as it was us that were created in God’s image, no other. God is the moral right and as we are created in His image, we have the moral right as well. Isn’t that proof.

Well there you have it. Three examples of facts that point to proof for having faith in God. When you look up the significance of the number three, you will find that it points to balance and completeness. It has long been my favorite number and as such I choose to believe the proof leading to my faith in God.

What evidence to you have to have faith in God? Did you even know that there was evidence? What if you look to all of the evidence, will you choose to believe the proof?

Committed or Submitted

Wow, this morning I was hit right in the face with the Word of God. I am not complaining, as I am one of those who need the direct hit as I do not recognize the subtleties as some do. This was just what I needed in my walk with Christ and my aspiration of being the spiritual leader He has for me to be. You see, I have been committed to the LORD for quite a while now, but I have not, at least as I see it, been submitted to Him.

As I read and study this morning in the MasterWork materials, Henry and Richard Blackaby point out five characteristics of God-inspired leadership. 1. Organizational fulfilled promises. 2. Leader affirmation and vindication of reputation. 3. Changed lives of those touched. 4. Recognition of God in the life and agenda of the leader. 5. Recognized as Being Christ-like.

These are characteristics that I am able to pick out over the course of my career, well the first three that is. I have specific events or milestones in my career that I can point to for each of them, and it was not hard or even time consuming to do so. With the final two items, I am not sure that I have or do measure up.

Moses may not have been my or anyone’s first choice to be a spiritual leader. He had not exactly been or led a life of Christ in his younger years. He had to flee his childhood home for killing a man and he was not exactly known to be a great speaker. But, He was a man who was recognized as having and great relationship with God as you could see it on his face.

“²⁹When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand as he came down from the mountain, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God.” and “³⁵the people of Israel would see the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses’ face was shining. And Moses would put the veil over his face again, until he went in to speak with him.” – Exodus 34:29 & 35 (ESV)

I can see in myself some but maybe not all of the characteristics of God-inspired leadership, but recognized by others as being so, I am not sure.

This is where I was hit in the face this morning. Am I going through the motions of being committed to Christ by doing the work and expecting that is the work I am to be doing. Or, am I submitted to Him and His leadership in my life to be the spiritual leader He would have of me. Where I come from this is that I feel as though with the first three characteristics identified above, I have met the standard, but with the final two, I don’t know. The first three I can find results to count, but the final two are seen by others and I have to ask myself, are they?

The Blackabys as a great question that I am unable to answer; “What evidences of God’s presence in your life are unmistakable?” I am unable to answer this one.

What is your status, committed or submitted? Are you going through the work assigned like a task list? What if you were to take on the five characteristics of God-inspired leadership to ensure that there is evidence of God’s presence in your life and it is unmistakable?

Steadfast and Faithful, Evidence of Righteousness

“⁴Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring. ⁵This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering” – 2 Thessalonians 1:4-5 (ESV)

The people of the church of the Thessalonians were sticking to the LORD. These people were under persecution for their following of Christ and Paul was fast to recognize it. He wanted them to know that they were not unnoticed. They were recognized to be righteous in their actions and their faith.

I know, I am reading into things a bit here as the righteous reference was to the judgment of God. I will not claim to know that the people were righteous. I simply see that their acts of faith and steadfastness are evidence of righteousness. They held to the LORD under all sorts of persecution and affliction and suffering. And, as you read on further in the passage, they are rewarded for it with the destruction of those persecuting them. Yet, they do not follow the LORD for their persecutors to be destroyed, they follow Him for the reward of heaven and communion with Him.

I have to let this be a lesson to me. I have to love the LORD and do His work, not for what I would receive here in this world, but it is what I am to do thanks to the grace He afforded me through His death. I have to give evidence to the LORD for his declaration of righteousness. I have to be steadfast and faithful through all, the good times and the persecution. The LORD will see my dedication to Him and ensure that I am given relief. He will judge my actions according to my heart. I will be rewarded with glory in heaven.

What evidence do you present of your dedication to the LORD? Are you hoping that you have taken a few actions to show it? What if you were steadfast and faithful always as your evidence of righteousness to the LORD?