Where Does Faith Come From?

As a child growing up in my parent’s home, I often times noticed how emotional my dad could be in certain situations.  It didn’t necessarily happen a lot, but there were definite events that brought him to open tears… and I clearly remember thinking that it wasn’t a very manly response and that I would never react in similar ways when I became an adult.

Well… you most likely know what I am going to say next!  And yes… I have become just like my father and if anything… probably more so!  I think the final straw came very early on in Piper’s journey with Alzheimer’s, when an older gentleman who had recently lost his wife to a long-term battle with the disease, gave me a bit of heartfelt wisdom for what was ahead for me. 

He said that the first thing that I needed to do was to lose all my pride because I was going to have to face things and do things that I’d never imagine being called upon to do… and that my wife’s comfort was the ONLY thing that mattered… and you know?  He was absolutely RIGHT!

One of those “things” that I had to deal with and work on, was giving my emotions an outlet as my life was turned totally upside down.  So, while I’d find myself keeping a controlled and intuitive demeanor in the various doctor’s offices and emergency rooms we frequented, the tears would gush forth when we made it back to the privacy of our car in the building’s parking lot.

After she moved on to her new home in heaven, little memories of her would set my tears loose just about anywhere… like while in the grocery store, while driving down the road or when walking the dog through the neighborhood.  But more recently, the emotional responses, which are steeped in the experience of what we went through, extend to needs I see unfolding in the lives of not only people I personally know and care for, but also to total strangers that I see on a daily basis that are struggling with life’s realities.

At times I get emotionally confused when these people… many who profess the Christian faith… so easily fall into worry, fear and temptation instead of considering the promises for their situations that are clearly available to them throughout the Word of God.  Then the good Lord will usually deal kindly with me by patiently reminding me that I may not know the whole picture. 

Not everyone has the same foundational background of faith that I may have.  Not everyone had a spouse that made living Christianity the most highly EXPECTANT and exciting activity in their world… because everyone is different.  We all come from a different family and church-going experience or even believe the Bible differently… or… believe in God at all!

So lately… I have been asking the Lord… A LOT… for wisdom to know the simplest and most practical way to help others turn to God in their times of need.  Then, earlier in the week, I was led to one of my favorite books of the Bible and found a portion of the scriptures, that in modern day English, encourages us by saying,

“So, if you're serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides.  Don't shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ— (for) that's where the action is. (& seek to) SEE THINGS from His perspective.”  (Colossians 3:1-2 / The Message) 

There is a rich vein of revelation and/or informational GOLD in Paul’s wisdom that is unearthed in these verses, but for now… let’s just concentrate on the thought of looking up and being alert to where the REAL ACTION IS… around Christ and the TRUTH of His Word! 

And with that information we have the answer to my emotionally charged, heart-felt question.  Like with a miner living in the northern Sierras of California in the 1850’s, all one had to do to help them find the motherload of gold, was to give them details concerning the location of the rich vein hidden deep within the mountain… and likewise… for the one given to anxiety, worry and fear in this life, their answer is found in the rich veins of Godly gold as discovered and picked out of the Word of God.

But… how do we get them turned on to God’s reality?  Well… that’s simple… by building up their faith in God and in the tangible reality of His Word working in their lives! 

And just how do we do that?  By sharing the faith-giving Word of God with those who are struggling… by precept, practical understanding and most importantly… by personal example.  After all… Romans 10:17 teaches us that,

“faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (EMTV)

I like how one Evangelist whom I’ve met and have attended many of his meetings through the years, practically explained this verse by saying that… ‘Faith comes by hearing and hearing and hearing the Word of God!’ 

In other words, it doesn’t necessarily happen overnight, but is going to take some dedication, commitment and repeated personal effort… but OH!...  the resulting peace and wisdom that comes when one chooses to focus their attention upward… to the place where the ACTION of Christ prevails… is well worth the effort!  Every time we speak out the Word… it works to BUILD FAITH in the ears… and heart… of those who are hearing it… which includes the speaker as well! 

And like my mother always used to say… “Everything in moderation!”  Sharing the Word and its faith-building properties takes time, patience and gentle understanding of the one you are sharing with! 

And of course, it also means that the one sharing the Word needs to know what they are talking about.  It is pretty easy to see when someone who is talking to you knows little to nothing about what they are wanting you to understand.  So… all of it begins with YOU and ME!  The first order of events should be to learn and live our verses above from Colossians 3:1-2 (verse 3 also helps to bring Paul’s lesson all together for the student of the Word).

What do you think about all that?  For me… it is just learning to share my EXCITING and HIGHLY EXPECTANT FAITH with people in need!

How about you?

Have a terrific week!  I was watching a local weather forecast last night and it looks like we have a real potpourri of weather this week.  We are currently under a Heat Advisory but have the possibility of severe thunderstorms tomorrow… with more heat and rain potential after that!  I guess it continues to be the welcome to the EXCITING Tennessee life for me!