In 2 Corinthians Chapter 5, verse 7 it states 'For we walk by faith, not by sight.' I'm sure all of us have either seen or heard this verse at some point in our life, but do we really understand what it means? Faith! What is it? Why do we need it and what does it mean that we should walk by it? And why are we not to walk by sight? After all wouldn't it seem logical to walk by sight?

Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language, copyrighted 1996 gives the following definitions: (1) confidence or trust in a person or thing. (2) Belief which is not based on proof. (3) Belief in God or in the doctrines or teaching of religion. (4) Belief in anything, as a code of ethics, standards of merit etc. (5) a system of religious belief: The Christian faith; the Jewish faith. (6) The obligation of loyally or fidelity to a person, promise, engagement, etc. (7) the observance of this obligation; fidelity to one's promise, oath, allegiance, etc. (8) Christian theology. The trust in God and His promises as made through Christ and the scriptures by which mankind is justified or saved. I believe the above can be summed up: Faith is a belief in, devotion to, or trust in someone or something, especially without logical proof.

Herein lies the crux of the problem, the human condition when it comes to faith in God wants something tangible, something it can see or touch and feel, without proof we refuse to believe. God on the other hand requires faith in Him before He will show Himself. God requires faith first; we require proof first to believe. So here we are the human race living out our lives with faith in a great many things we cannot understand, see, hear or touch. (Can you see, hear or touch gravity or radio waves?) Yet we want absolute proof, beyond a shadow of a doubt that there is a creator. If we had that proof, other than His word that He left us within the Bible, then we wouldn't need faith. But, faith in Him is exactly what He requires and for those who live by that faith He shows them daily He exists and is involved in the minute by minute details of their lives.

Faith! What is it? Let's let the writer of the book of Hebrews gives us his explanation: Heb.11-1 'Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.' The verse states very plainly that faith is a reality, something that gives "substance" to things before they become visible to the naked eye. Faith gives reality to things we cannot see, feel, hear or touch. My first step in developing faith was to ask Jesus to increase my faith then to start doing things which required faith. Faith develops and strengthens as we learn how to trust the Savior and by studying His words and actions. As we study and gain knowledge our trust and love grows for Him, the more we learn of God's plan for mankind and His love for us demonstrated by the life and sacrifice of our Lord and Savior the more our faith grows.

As is in any journey we must start by taking that first step, ask Jesus today to increase your faith. He is waiting for you with open arms. We will continue our journey each week and find out where God will take us. In the meantime, please browse and enjoy my web-site and feel free to contact me.