Faith, Hope, Assurance

What is faith, and what is it good for?

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

I am a man who lives and asks questions. In this one passage, many are raised...

Here's what I have come to discover as I press through this adventure called life.

What things am I hoping for?

I hope to live a life that is much larger, and more benevolent than personally capable. If I were to accomplish such a task, it would be demonstrated by significant contributions into the lives of many, partnering with them as one who inspires them to do the same.

Where can I find assurance that what I hope for are best for me?

This question of assurance strikes me at two levels.

One is the present, day to day level assurance, with the other looking to the horizon as I sail toward it. For if I have hope, that must mean I do not have it yet. Assurance? I am assured that meaningful employ (I do not have a job and have not had one for a year now) will occur. That does not mean that there isn't anything to do today. There is 'work' to do today, just not the predicted jump in the truck and drive to the office kind of work.

The second is the future, both near and far; The essentials of assurance and desire I find residing in my soul, beyond today and even beyond the end of my earthly life. Immediately beyond today, will be finding work. But is work the significant fulfillment of life? Hardly. I am assured that I am a husband to my beloved, a father to my children, a friend to my friends and a caring shepherd to anyone who may need care. I am assured that these will continue forward until my earthly demise, which brings the final assurance, that as I walk listening to The One who provides such assurance, I am assured of never ending rest from 'hoping', for one day my hope will transform into glorious acquisition of peace. It will be a wonderful, unending respite with absence of struggle and angst. Each 'day', every decade century and millennia filled with peace.

And, I find this assurance as I engage in relationship with God. For those of you who haven't experienced such, this may all seem like gobble-dee-gook or even like wishful thinking. I can state with confidence that I have absolute assurance of this faith I proclaim. It isn't the hollow 'going to church and going through the motions'; It is in the doing as Jesus Christ did as He walked the earth. The amazing life that not only performed miracles and spoke with such authority, but who finished with the unthinkable, taking the depravity of all that is me, taking it upon Himself with the single requirement of my submission to humble myself and engage Him in conversation, trusting in His way toward eternity.

If I can't see things, how can I have 'conviction' or discover them?

If one is born blind, he/she must find new ways to 'see'. One can read via braille, or be led through a house by a friend until he/she knows it well enough to move through it as long as they have the remembrance of where they are in the home. That is, until someone puts something where it doesn't belong and then it goes missing, or becomes a stumbling block. How often it is, that even us, blessed with sight, still find ourselves tripping over things in our own homes, and automobile accidents. Of course it would be ludicrous to jump into a car driven by a blind person. Wouldn't it be ludicrous to jump into life with a bunch of blind people?

For me, I have come to discover that my conviction comes from my relationship with The Master Designer of it all, and yes, I must admit, I am far from perfect, continually growing in grace as His representative here on this planet. I have been one touched and healed by Him for His purpose as the Bible speak of during the earthly period of Jesus' life. I continue to find direction and grow as He leads and we talk. Just as my marriage grows deeper and deeper each day, my 'friendship' with God does as well.

Where does my 'faith' rest? And do I have the assurance and conviction spoken in this statement?

The evidence of faith in my life has been uncovered as I walk and 'tested' my miniscule faith in the early days. I was looking for 'the real deal', nothing silly or hollow, the true God who inspired the likes of Mother Theresa, Issac Newton, and Billy Graham. When I ponder the lives of King David, Moses, Paul, Peter and others in the Bible, I am struck by how imperfect their lives were, yet still God used them and motivated them for His good.

My faith, hope, assurance and conviction is found in God because of the real evidence of His work revealed to me through my study of history, and study of my life as it unfolds with Him. Prayer works because God works. I am good because of the good He does through me. I can be a friend to those who have few because He helps me and in fact calls me to do so. I can live a life more potent and powerful than anything I can muster because it is the God I serve who does greater by His might, today and for eternity.

Where is your hope, faith, assurance and conviction found?