Faith
The cornerstone of my life and the first and most important “F” value that I have is faith.
Hebrews 11:1 shares a meaningful description of faith as “confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” This faith is the significant and lasting type of faith that indwells the heart and allows humans to live bold and purposeful lives. In the pages of the Bible we see demonstrations of this in Noah building the ark, Abraham and his demonstrations of faith, Isaac blessing his children, Moses’ parents hiding him in a basket, etc. We also still see this in others today.
It inspires me to see the archaeological evidence that is available to us today that we can actually touch and see to remind us of these amazing examples of faith. I love to teach others about what I have and continue to learn. There is so much wisdom that we can use in our lives today that has been passed down to us through these examples.
Researching these incredible stories and people has cemented in me that what is written in the Bible is trustworthy and true. My faith in Yeshua (Jesus) is solid. Therefore, as an act of worship and love, I strive to be obedient to the commands in the Bible to show my faith.
I see my current experience in prison as another opportunity to show my faith. The Bible is full of stories of faith sojourners who set out when God asked them. What they all have in common (along with modern faith-filled adventurers) is that they become a catalyst for good. Even those who cannot imagine in their lifetime the impact that they have on future generations. God puts them and us in motion for good.
God is the creator, capable of seeing the big picture of the world. We are the created, only able to see a slice of that vision. I will go where God has prepared a place for me. I too want to be a catalyst for the goodness of faith to be realized where it is needed the most.
This idea of Creator and created is famously captured in the book of Job in the Bible. Job 38:1-7 says “Then the LORD answered Job out of the storm. He said: ‘Who is this that obscures my plans with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me. Where were you when I laid the Earth’s foundation? Tell me if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? Or what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone-while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?’”
In the Bible we see that Job also faces some unexpected challenges. He is a person who follows God faithfully but then suddenly loses everything-property, children and his health. Job’s friends tell him that he must have done something wrong. They insist that he brought evil upon himself. Job still refused to stop being faithful.
The book of Job shows us that we live in a beautiful and exceedingly complex world that can be difficult to navigate and understand at times with our limited perspective. That is where our faith helps us to navigate this life. God does have the complete wisdom and vision to help us to live a life of incalculable purpose, despite our circumstances or how our limited knowledge can understand them.
Without faith, there is simply no hope. Faith is what speaks to my heart and gives me the perspective to know that I can further goodness happening in the world no matter where my journey takes me or the circumstances around me. I know that I can always live a life of purpose, even in the times that the results are unseen to me but very real and meaningful to God’s purposes and wisdom. This is why faith is the first and most important of my values that I live by.