The Framework of My Faith

Life offers many opportunities that demand that we go back to the grass-roots of our faith – sickness, death in the family, loss of our job, and so on. When these kind of situations arise, and many smaller challenges also, we need to re-establish the truth that faith works. Mouthing words, mental assent, motions religious do not produce results – but faith does!

The key verse that gets me back to the framework of my faith is Hebrews 11:6, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”

The Bible never seeks to prove the existence of God, but always assumes it to be true. Certainly nature, God’s second Bible, has many indications that there is a God. The question of the origin of this world and the origin of man has led many to assume that there must have been a First Cause for everything. The Christian accepts the statements of the Bible that it was God who created everything — He is the First Cause. And when we look at the intricate design evident in nature — a leaf, a snowflake, an orchid we recognise that there had to be a Supreme Mind back of creation. The Christian accepts that God is the Master Designer, the Supreme Mind.

However, the best proof that God exists is to apply His Word to life’s situations and see the results. “He lives, He lives … You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart”, so the old song tells us. “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God” (Psalm 14:1), and he gets the results of his belief. Job said, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him” (Job 13:15), and he got the results of his belief: “The Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before” (42:10). It is important to have a belief in the truth that God exists.

What is this God like? How does He view “little old me”? If we have faith in a God who punishes, then we will spend much time approaching Him with peace offerings, for we will live in fear of Him. If, however, we have faith in .a God who rewards, then we will want a close day-by-day fellowship with Him, which will produce a strong faith in Him. What we believe about God does make a difference! In Hebrews 11:6 we are told that we must not only believe that He exists, but also that “He is a rewarder…” If He wants to reward us, then His intentions towards us are good. He does not make us sick, or poor, or frustrated; He wants nothing but the best for us — health, wealth, and happiness.

In the Psalms we find that the people of Israel often sang about the nature of God. Here are some of their statements: “You are good, and do good” (Psalm 119:68). Goodness is one of God’s basic characteristics, and out of His goodness flows good actions. “Good and upright is the Lord” (Psalm 25:8). God is a good God! “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalm 34:8) — there’s our invitation, try Him and see! “For You, Lord, are good” (Psalm 86:5) That’s the God that I believe in. “Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good” (Psalm 135:3). Yes, I’ll do that — for it’s true! “They shall utter the memory of Your great goodness… The Lord is good to all” (Psalm 145:7,9). God is Goodness with a capital “G”! Some scholars even think that the word “God” is derived from “good” – and the above verses flow along with that idea. I well know that others may believe that God is a policeman ever watching to catch us when we do wrong, but since I am in His forever family then He can only be Goodness to me!

When things get tough, when life seems to hand me a lemon, when the pressure of daily living starts getting to me, then I go back to the grassroots of my faith, a faith that pleases God because I believe that He exists and that He rewards me! “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6). That is the framework of my faith.