Are we on thin ice here? Is this referring to taking a risk? Isn’t this whole issue sounding a bit foolhardy, even dangerous? And what happens if or when the ice breaks? What will people say or think if the risk backfires? Are we talking here about investments in the stock market? I can lose my shirt if my risk fails, can’t I? And marriage? And kids? And job change? And

Canada’s national election that will be over by the time this gets to Bethel’s website. But isn’t it risky to have “that political party” in power? Hmm…

These are just a few “off the top of my head” questions that come to mind. There are a ton of others. But we have only so much space to talk about this subject, and you have only limited time to read and consider. So, let’s get started.

First, let’s agree that we’re not talking in this blog about the stock market! For sure not now, anyway! And we can rule out the national election, for it’s over for a few years. And “thin ice”? Well, that’s gone now in most lakes and rivers, for it is spring. But you know what I mean. The only reference I have for this discussion is God’s Word, the Bible. What are some insights it might contain to help us out?

First of all, there are a LOT of verses in Holy Scripture about “faith.” It depends on the translation one consults. In the venerated King James Version (1611), there are 231 times “faith” is used. But in the New International Version (NIV), the word is mentioned 254 times.
So it’s obvious that this is an important subject. And we’re only talking about the word “faith,” and none of its derivatives.

So how can we easily define this word “faith”? One writer says faith is “the act of believing the things God has revealed about Himself and acting on those beliefs.” Is God true in what He says about Himself? “Faith” says, “Yes.” Can God be trusted? “Faith” says, “Yes.” Can one have confidence in God? “Faith” says, “Yes.” What proof do we have that these “yes” answers aren’t just me stepping out on “thin ice”? We find in the Scriptures examples—so many examples—of people who stepped out in faith and trusted God for the results.

Perhaps the story of Abraham being told by the Lord to take his son, his only son Isaac, to a place and there to sacrifice Isaac. To us, that sounds so barbaric—and it is! But God had a plan, and He needed to test Abraham’s “faith.” To Abraham’s eternal credit, he did as God instructed him, and as he was about to plunge the knife into his son, God “provided” a ram, caught by its horns in a thicket, and at the same time, God told Abraham to stop and slay the ram. And we all understand the picture—that this was a foreshadowing of God’s Son, Jesus Christ, Who would be slaughtered on a Roman cross millennia later! Talk about “faith”!
(Genesis 22) And even before the above illustration with Abraham and Isaac, there’s the story of Noah, who believed God’s instruction to build an ark, for a flood was coming. But remember, up to that point in time, there’d never been rain—only dew! And the construction of the ark took about 75–100 years! Talk about “faith”! (Genesis 6)

I’m reminded of David, a young shepherd boy who stepped out in “faith” when the Israelite army was scared to death, and he dealt a death blow to Goliath, the Philistine giant—over 9’ tall with armaments to match his size and strength. But David had just 5 smooth stones and a slingshot, and one stone did the deed! Talk about “faith”!

Another Old Testament story that I love so much that my wife and I named our daughter after this woman. Her name is Esther. What a story! What faith! In the face of the extermination of the entire nation of Israel, she obeyed God, went in before the king, pleaded for him to not proceed with the genocide, and foiled the evil, lying plot of Haman. You really need to read this in the short Book of Esther. Had the king not extended the golden orb toward her, she would have been automatically killed. She obeyed, she fasted and prayed, and had others join her—and the result was astounding. You must read this story! Talk about “faith”!

The huge New Testament example of faith is shown by Mary, Jesus’ mother. She was just a young woman. We don’t know her exact age, but Bible scholars believe she was somewhere in her teenage years. So, here’s a godly teenage girl being visited by an angel, and being told by the angel she will conceive and have a son. Read this in Luke’s Gospel, chapter 1. And Mary’s response to this news: “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said.” No husband. No natural means of conception. A teenager hearing this not from a Jewish priest in a synagogue, but from an angel! Talk about “faith”!

One of the best-known chapters in the Bible on this subject of faith is Hebrews 11. There you’ll find a long list of people’s names who did exploits for God, suffered for Him too, but all were commended for their faith.

Faith, in its truest nature, is a simple but profound assurance—given to us by God Himself—when we trust in Him to the exclusion of all doubt. We have the perfect peace of perfect assurance. God has heard. God will provide!

Many years ago, E.W. Leggatt, living in Salisbury, Rhodesia (known today as Harare, Zimbabwe), made this insightful observation:

“There is the faith that dares to act, and there is the faith that dares to trust God to act.”