What Faith?

Last night I finished "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan and there were so many things going through my head. If nothing else I learned that my life needs to change. It challenged me to think about my life and my faith. In one of Chan's chapter videos, he tells us about the question that one of his professors asked him in Bible school..."What are you doing right now that requires faith?" Just like Chan, I couldn't think of anything that required faith. How terrible is that?! All throughout the book there are many examples of people who live there life completely on their faith and trust in God. That shatters my mind, but at the same time it shows us exactly where are relationship with God is. If what we do on a daily basis requires no faith or trust in God, then what the heck are we doing?! What the heck am I doing?! And whatever it is that I am doing, it surely doesn't seem like its for God's purpose.

Take an honest look at your life; your daily routine. What requires complete faith? I hate to say it, but everything for me seems like I can do it. I know what my credit card balance is. I know how much money is in my checking account. I know that my wallet has a few dollars in it for gas money or a bite to eat. I know all of these things and I don't have to trust that God will provide because it seems like I'm providing, or my parents are providing me with everything. But when's the last time I've stepped out completely by faith? When have I ever said, "Lord, I'm going to go to the mall today to talk about my relationship with you." My instantaneous response to that thought would be, "Well I wouldn't know what to say!" or "I might run into someone I know and that would be awkward!" or "People might shut me down." So then I step back and look at my faith...

So my faith is... comfortable. easy. rehearsed. systematic. fake.

I don't know about you, but if I were to die right now and this is what I have to show God, I would be embarrassed. And I don't know about you, but I want God to say "Well done, thy good and faithful one." I don't know about you, but in the end I want to say "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." (2 Timothy 4:7)

I'm a track guy. I like to run. But what if I have been running for 22 years, and then yesterday I find out that I'm not running on the right road. That the course I've been running is my own. How can you finish a race you've never been on? Never started? What am I doing? What do I need to be doing? Who am I following? Where am I running?

Please don't miss out on the wonderful things God has for us. Take a step back and look at your life. And ask yourself this question... would your life be different if you suddenly stopped believing in God? or would your heart never skip a beat?

Be bold. Test and make sure you even have faith. And if you do, use it only for the Glory of Jesus Christ.

To God be the Glory, forever and ever, Amen.