FAITH VS REALITY

I have always wanted to write about this, because I know nearly everyone at a point in his life has had to draw the line between having faith and facing reality. Truly, there is a line between both phenomena. But how defined is the line? Is it a thin line or a thick parallel line? One’s perspective would rather be the judge on this one. Or should it?

Perhaps if we looked into the definition of the phenomena, we will cast more light on our subject matter. On the other hand, there is the possibility of one phenomenon determining the outcome of the other, in a rather unexplainable manner—owing to the supernatural. Trust me there are countless testimonies of miraculous happenings that will shake the foundations of your unbelief. That is if you aren’t a believer in God.

According to the definition of Faith in the Oxford Advance learners Dictionary, 7^th edition, it quotes:

‘’1. trust, complete confidence: put one’s faith in God; 2. strong religious beliefs 3. a religion: spread the faith, the Jewish faith

From the same source, the definition of Reality quotes:

‘’1 The quality of being real or of resembling something that is real: the lifelike reality of his paintings 2 one’s true personal situation and the problems that exist in one’s life; the real world, as contrasted with one’s ideals and illusions: bring somebody back to reality ( ie make them think about the situation as it is, not as they would like it to be).

Now we have a fair idea of what faith and reality are. But the Holy Bible breaks down the definition of faith further and rather deeper than any dictionary could do. This is how the bible defines faith.

‘’Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see’’  (Hebrews 11:1)

On careful consideration, we are looking at contrasting phenomena here. One has complete confidence and trust in the hope of what the outcome will be; even though it is not tangible at the moment. The other deals with absolutes; in the here and now, tangibles, the things that relate to the human senses.  The things that are real, in contrast to one’s ideals and illusions.

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE TEACH?

  

The bible actually teaches that the righteous will live by faith. It says:

‘’For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, Just as it is written: ‘’The righteous will live by faith’’ (Romans 1:17).

As a matter of fact, faith is the prerequisite to actually getting to know God. We are not working based on the ability of our human senses here; but we are operating from the deep recesses of our mind—our inner man. We are not basing our outcome on what our eyes can see (sight) but on the invisible creator of the universe, who created the earth from things that were not visible.

‘’By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what was seen was not made out of what was visible.’’(Hebrew 11:3)

‘’ And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him’’ (Hebrew 11:6)

Now there is the reality to having faith as well. Having faith does not guarantee that things will happen at the snap of your fingers because you believe in God—although it can happen if God wills it to be so—but you may have to play a part of perseverance and long suffering too. The bible records a remarkable story of faith, perseverance and long suffering; as a result of which all the nations of the world are blessed today, including believers. It is the popular story of Abraham.

‘’By faith Abraham, even though he was past age—and Sarah herself was barren—was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise. And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore. All  this people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised ;they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth.’’( Hebrews 11:11-13)

‘’By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, even though God had said to him, It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned. Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead , and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death.’’(Hebrews 11:17-19)

*for further reading on Abraham’s faith and God’s promise to him read Genesis 18:1-15,Genesis 21:1-6, 22:1-19)

The bible encourages us to emulate this kind of faith expressed by Abraham. Abraham was a friend of God because of his faith in him; and God counted it as righteousness unto him. (Romans 4:3, Genesis 15:6).

Our perseverance and long suffering isn’t to make us weary, but it is good for structuring us to be better people. We must maintain confidence while we are persevering and trusting the Lord for provision.

‘’ So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.’’ (Hebrews 10:35-36)

A TRUCE—BRIDGING FAITH AND REALITY

I want to point out that faith is not an adamant belief without deeds. Now I think that’s a fine line between having faith and the reality of things. You cannot have bills, mounting to thousands of dollars and keep piling them, having faith for a miracle, with your legs on a footstool watching cable tv ; and say ‘’God’s gonna handle it’’.  Well it’s okay to say ‘’God’s gonna handle it’’. But if you listen more closely to him, I am pretty sure he will tell you how to invest in your faith. He’s probably giving you sources of your ‘’daily bread’’; enough to utilise and knock off the bills; if only you will get off the couch, switch off the tv and get to work—with ‘’God’s gonna handle it’’ at the back of your mind!

Some folks really like to play smart. And when nothing happens in their lives they try to change their God rather than their ways. Faith is a working principle with God. It is the optic fibre cable that connects our spiritual consciousness in Christ; to God the Father. And because we are connected to God by faith, we are enabled, energized, our capacity is upgraded. ‘’I can do everything through him who gives me strength’’ (Philippians 4:13).

We can construct a bridge that will link reality and faith together, while our deeds will be the structural support for our bridge. I will give you a perfect example. A few years ago, maybe 5 years, our church decided on purchasing a piece of land that will be the site for our permanent church structure—not that we weren’t comfortable where we worshipped, for it was leased to us.

But we wanted a much larger auditorium where we could grow and birth several parishes. The only problem was we didn’t have the finances to carry on with the plan. The piece of land was about #12,000,000 ($80,000) at that time, and the cost of construction was maybe 3 times the cost of the land itself. But thank God for the senior pastor at that time, who managed to convince the congregation to walk in faith and see that the structure was built. We had dedicated prayer warriors pray constantly for direction and provision. 

And within a few months, we raised quite a substantial amount of cash, secured a bank loan—which we serviced within the stipulated time miraculously—and purchased the land. Construction started almost immediately and today, as they say, the rest is history. We have a  ’plush’ church auditorium now, to think how much lack we experienced when we started.

Taking into account this story, we can see that reality was bridged with faith in God to rewrite the future—the expected end. This is what God says:

 

‘’For I know the plans I have for you’’, declares the Lord.’’ plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future’’ (Jeremiah 29:11)

We rewrote our future, given the reality of the challenges that faced us at that time. In faith, we desired an expected end, and then we invested in faith by putting in work to achieve that desired end.

Faith + deeds = expected end (future)

‘’ What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, ’Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,’’ but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action is dead’’ (James 2:14-17)

If our church just hung on in faith that we were going to purchase the piece of real estate, where our property now lies, without thoughts of fundraising and donations and bank loans; would we ever be where we are now? I say NO to that one. We would have just kept looking at the architect’s design and having faith that it will be built soon and the piece of land will be sold to someone else, and we will be just the way we were.

‘’ But someone will say, ’’You have faith; I have deeds.’’ Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do’’ (James 2:18)

Many folks maintain a status quo of expressing faith without deeds. The principle of faith works with input on our own part to achieve the desired result. One doesn’t desire a well-paid Job opportunity in faith; if he doesn’t apply for jobs through available job portals. You don’t start your dream business or company just having faith, without drafting out plans on how to go about it and pursue it. It is absolutely impossible to get the desired results from just sticking to faith alone.

‘’You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together , and his faith was made complete by what he did. (James 2:20-22)

Faith and deeds must work together. There is no separating one from the other. Faith is not always in agreement with the reality of things, it must be accompanied by works unless it is useless.

‘’As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead’’ (James 2:26)

The Final Verdict

‘’ If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.’’(James 1:5-8)

In the absolute wisdom and guidance of the Holy Scriptures, we infer without any doubt that we are children of God. And as his Children, our ultimate goal is to worship the Father and please him at all times. Reality will dispute this fact because it operates in the here and now, the things that are real and tangible. It will pose an argument that God is not real, because he is not tangible—he cannot be seen or touched and cannot appease the five senses. But we know that we do not walk by sight; but by faith—without which we cannot please God. We know that he rewards those that diligently seek him and believe by faith in his existence. 

Therefore, though we are in the world , we are not of it. We are not compelled by the reality of our situations to deviate from the Source of wisdom and solutions—Jehovah.

We disregard the challenges of reality and hang on in faith, through prayers that move the hand of God. Trust him that the deeds (works) to fuel our faith will be given us through divine wisdom by the Holy Spirit; in order to achieve the desired end result.

‘’God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfil? (Numbers 23:19)

‘’ So is the Word that goes out of my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.’’(Isaiah 55:11)

‘’Is anything too hard  for the Lord?’’ (Genesis 18:14)