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. Hebrews 11:1-2 (NIV)
Flesh can certainly be cowardly and demanding – desirous of ease and pleasure and detesting of crosses, poverties and pressures. But true faith faces obstacles and heavy tempests, tackling them and remains standing firm in all the will of God mature and fully assured – with God’s Word as its compass, the Holy Spirit empowering the saint and Christ Jesus at the helm. Anyone can be obedient when things are going swimmingly well. But when the pruning knife of affliction occurs and removes the ease and brings on the pressure, the spirit faints and the heart fails. Strong faith stands enabled through the power of Jesus and weak faith often fails with all its fleshly efforts.
The greatest of adversities of life make true faith shine, adding the patina and lustre to the saint of a well lived life – making us more and more like the Master - enabling us to leave behind the aroma of Christ in lieu of the stench of death in all our circumstances. When we starve our souls we are as the walking dead – dying before we have ever lived – never taking hold of the life that is truly life. Never experiencing the abundance Jesus intends for us to experience. Remember, He came to give us life and life to the full – overflowing and effervescent life – a life filled with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. And this life of faith is available to all through Jesus. Everyone is invited to travel this path to heaven and dying to self and living for Him is the price of the ticket.
Our faith can make even the worst things bearable. Believers must keep our skill sharp and never fail to use the shield of faith. We live well when we strengthen our faith. Nothing touches us apart from the overruling hand of the Almighty God, Who desires for us to rest secure in Him. Everything allowed is working towards a very good end even though perhaps we cannot see it through the tears. God not only restrains our trials and crosses but has determined our greatest benefit in all He allows in the life of His heirs of mercy. He has also not left us as orphans as we have the Holy Spirit leading, guiding, directing and empowering us in the way we should go. There is always glory in our crosses. And by faith we stand, fight and overcome as we keep our feet on the ground and our eyes upward focusing on what is presently invisible – the great cloud of witnesses cheering us on.
Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. We live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. 2 Corinthians 5:6-10 (NIV)