Today I was reading some scripture and saw a definition for faith that caught my eye. The author said that faith is the “assurance” of things hope for and the “conviction” of things not seen. Faith is the assurance and conviction of a reality that is not physically seen in the present. It is something that wealth, power, prestige, or privilege cannot get for me or for you.
In the midst of a culture where all value is placed upon what is seen; on the assurance and conviction of what one “has” as a direct result of wealth, power, prestige, and privilege we should not be surprised that faith is difficult for us. In fact, we should not be surprised that we have made “faith” into “safety and security” of that which we posses. We have assurance and conviction of what we can see that comes from wealth, power, prestige, and privilege. And the more wealth, power, prestige, and privilege we have the more assurance and conviction we have. The result is we lust after what we can see.
Jesus has come to lay down a new set of rules that equals the playing field where those with wealth, power, prestige, and privilege are actually at a disadvantage because for the first time in their life what they see as a result of what they have are worthless. Its no surprise that people in our culture have a hard time with Jesus or that most churches replace the gospel faith with a call for “safety and security” because we are so caught up in the false security of what we have that we cannot see a “better way” that comes from lusting after something hoped for and something unseen.
Truth shines light into darkness; may this truth shine light into the darkness of your life.
Peace from Pastor P.
