No, I don't mean the George Michael/Wham kind of faith (Wow, fly back to the 80's!). The song will probably be back around thanks to the Eli Stone show. I just listened to the whole song again (and watched the video). Yikes! I used to sing the words and not even think about them. DEFINITELY not the kind of faith, faith, faith I'm thinking of!
I'm thinking the Hebrews 11 kind of faith.
Hebrews 11:1 (NIV) Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
Many of the verses in this chapter begin with "by faith". In fact, the NIV version lists "by faith" over 20 times in 40 verses! Some of the things and people mentioned "by faith": Creation, Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham and Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses’ parents, Moses, Israelites, Rahab, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets. Looking at these names, I realized these were not perfect people. Many of them had messed up, but still had faith that God would be with them during their times of trouble.
Reading on, I discovered a surprising fact.
Hebrews 11:13-16 (NIV) 13All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. 14People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
Hebrews 11:39 (NIV) These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised.
How often do we believe that if we live by faith that entitles us to what God promises? We are blessed, definitely. I believe that part of the reason we do not receive ALL that has been promised is because we still live in a fallen world. If life was so great here, would we yearn to eventually go to our promised, much better forever home?
Another version I read mentioned not receiving the prize at the end of the race until we finish the race. We're still running the race, the prize lies ahead. Run on, one step at a time, to the prize! :)
Sometimes we get glimpses, unexpected blessings, prizes along the way. A few weeks ago, I was treated to time with my mom and a Martina McBride concert. I did not realize how much I would enjoy the concert and her many songs.
The following link is to her video for Anyway. Kind of follows the faith theme. Believe anyway, even when it doesn't make sense, even when you don't see the prize right now. Have faith in what you can't see. We don't "see" the wind either, but we know it's there and we feel it's power!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uLtyzRgmyI
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