What is the most important thing about having faith? Why is it so important?
Where should I begin? Faith gives us access to the Lord. Faith sustains us in the harshest of times and conditions. Faith is what saves us and guides us. The word ‘faith’ is used over 230 in the Bible. Hebrews 11:6 tells us, “But WITHOUT FAITH IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE HIM: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Habakkuk 2:4, Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11, and Hebrews 10:38 all have the same message, “The just shall live by FAITH.”
Can we over emphasize the importance of faith? NO, we cannot. We read in Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace are ye saved through FAITH; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” To have faith is to trust or believe in someone. I suppose the most well-known verse in the Bible is John 3:16. That says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:36 says, “HE THAT BELIEVETH on the Son hath everlasting life: and HE THAT BELIEVETH NOT the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” The Lord said to the repentant woman in Luke 7:50, “THY FAITH HATH SAVED THEE; go in peace.” The verse that the Lord used to bring me to salvation was Acts 16:31, “And they said, BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AND THOU SHALT BE SAVED, and thy house.” FAITH. FAITH. FAITH. It is believing in someone you cannot see, hear or touch. It is simply taking God at His word.
Another word that is very similar to faith is TRUST. To trust someone is to have faith in that person. We are instructed in Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the LORD with ALL THINE HEART; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” This means that we should have faith in the Lord, or trust Him completely with every facet of our lives.
If you have not learned it yet, you will eventually learn that you cannot put your complete faith, or trust, in most things. People and objects always come up short and cannot be trusted completely.
* We cannot trust in money – 1 Tim. 6:17 says, “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy.”
* We cannot trust in man’s power – Ps. 20:7 says, “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.”
* We cannot trust in our own ideas – Prov. 19:21 says, “There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.”
* We cannot trust our own hearts – Prov. 28:26 says, “He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.”
Faith is not only important, it is vital. We put our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ for our salvation. We walk in faith as believers on the Lord Jesus. We rely upon Him in faith every day to guide and protect. We believe on Him, we trust in Him. Proverbs 16:20 assures us that, “…whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he.” Have you put your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ? (276.10)