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Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
This is what the ancients were commended for. By faith we understand that
the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not
made out of what was visible. By faith, Abel offered God a better
sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous
man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks,
even though he is dead. By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that
he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God
had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended
as one who pleased God. Hebrews 11:1-5
I have had the privilege of flying in several single-engine airplanes
and seeing beautiful sights like the glaciers of Alaska and the jungles
of Peru. But on none of those trips did I once think to ask the pilot
what his qualifications were, whether the wings were sturdy, or if the
engine was in good working order. I expect the pilot and his aircraft to
carry me safely. Why is it that people can rely on a plane or automobile
without question, but we sometimes fail to trust almighty God?
To exercise effective faith, we must go beyond simply thinking that
God can do all things. We must actually assume He will do what He says.
Faith is like a spiritual eye for believers: though our physical eyesight
may not detect evidence that God is answering our prayer, we are confident
He will fulfill every promise He makes to us.
As believers, we each have a foundation of assurance built from both
God's Word and our experiences of His trustworthiness. We have no cause
for anxiety or uncertainty because the Lord of the universe is available
to meet every need. That is why Paul says, "Be anxious for nothing, but in
everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your
requests be made known to God" ( Philippians 4:6 ).
We have complete access to a heavenly Father who is personally
interested in our life. He will act on our behalf. Consequently, the
faith-filled believer can approach any situation and say, "I have
assurance in the living God, and I am anticipating His answer."
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