According to Merriam Webster's dictionary, faith is: 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. clinging to the faith that her missing son would one day return.
I have heard faith described as the substance of belief in things unseen. The Bible says "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.Hebrews 11:1 NKJV
https://bible.com/bible/114/heb.11.1.NKJV" Christ, throughout His ministry, questioned the faith of the people, including the Disciples. He did this because many believed in Him because of what they witnessed, saw. Not because they truly trusted in the Word of YahWeh.
From my early years to as recent as 5 years ago, I struggled with this principle. How am I to believe if I literally see or feel you? How do I know it's you if I can hear your audible command? I have asked these and other questions throughout my life.
I realize that it was because I relied on my own senses, wisdom, knowledge, that I could not overcome this hurdle. Then, The Holy Spirit started to move in my life, and it reminded me of all the times Christ had intervened previously in my life for my own good. That's when it became clear to me, in Christ, we live by faith not by sight or other human faculties like our own understanding.
I reflected on how Christ taught. The purpose of his miracles and teachings was not merely to end an affliction, but more so to provide hope to the church then and now, and those to come. Those who witnessed His work were compelled to believe, unless you just adamantly reject Him and Jehovah and the Spirit. His miracles were for the benefit of the who would not be able to see Him perform them, but believe in Him based what they heard.
Now that I understood better what this meant, I was curious as to why this was an issue in the first place. I quickly realized that it was a tandem of things: satan and human will. The latter was a struggle because of the lack of belief in Scripture while experiencing and benefiting from the miracles, teachings, lives first hand. How do you have such a hardened heart people?
John 12 sums up how the tandem effect works as it say, "
But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him, that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke: “Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” Therefore they could not believe, because Isaiah said again: “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, Lest they should see with their eyes, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.” These things Isaiah said when he saw His glory and spoke of Him. Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. Then Jesus cried out and said, “He who believes in Me, believes not in Me but in Him who sent Me. I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness. And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him— the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak.”
John 12:37-44, 46-50 NKJV
https://bible.com/bible/114/jhn.12.37-50.NKJV"
The depravity of humanity was exacerbated by its willful dance with the devil and reliance on self. The book of Ephesian says, "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,
Ephesians 2:8 NKJV
https://bible.com/bible/114/eph.2.8.NKJV" Due to humanity's tango with the devil, we were lead astray and taught to believe that we can suffice on our own. This is the same vanity that caused the devil to get thrown from YahWeh's presence in the first place. Hebrews 11:6 states "By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. But 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 diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:3, 6 NKJV
https://bible.com/bible/114/heb.11.3-6.NKJV". By the hand of the of the devil, we have been hoodwinked into believing that we cannot please Jehovah so why bother.....such a travesty!
There is a Google statistic that shows that use of the word faith in literature, in the English Language, has been in decline since the Civil War era. Why? having condemnation because they have cast off their first faith. "For some have already turned aside after Satan.
I Timothy 5:12, 15 NKJV
https://bible.com/bible/114/1ti.5.12-15.NKJV".
How do we get it back, reflect over history and look at the handy work of our Father. When death and destruction were certain, we have been spared. Why? Circumstances far outweigh options, yet you made it, how? Loss of life or the ability to take care of yourself and these things are worked out for you. Who has done this? It all comes from faith in God! Jesus said faith the size of a mustard seed can move mountains. This has been prove countless times in the Bible and in life right now, yet many still will not believe because of the cloth of vanity over their hearts, minds, and souls. It's time to get back to faith and right this massive wrong perpetrated against God.
