Afraid?

By Pastor Bob Rhoads

When I was little, I used to be afraid of the dark.  I grew up with a night light and I think I still do in some ways today.  I have been deaf all of my life.  It was not that easy being in the dark when you can’t see and hear at all.  It was most challenging.  When I received Christ at the age 9, one of the first verses I learned was Hebrews 11:1 & 6:

Now faith is confidence in what we HOPE for and assurance about what we do not see.  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.

It took me a while to understand that concept.  How can I have faith into something that I can’t see or hear?  It is like grabbing something in the wind.  I have heard that concept “make a leap of faith” but it didn’t make sense to me.  How can I step forward when I don’t know where I am going?  There must be something more than that, I was sure of it.

The more I learned about Jesus and the more I read His stories I began to see what God has been doing from generation to generation.  I discovered that faith is not just being blind and that it is not just hoping with crossed fingers that I will make it through the day.  I saw how faith is real and there is something that I can believe.  I began to gain confidence in the Hope I have in Jesus.  I began to have assurance in the life God has given me to live and to enjoy.  Sure, there are bumps and obstacles along the way.  That’s what make hiking in the woods interesting.

When I was in college, I got involved with the CRU. Hebrews 11:1 & 6 became real to me as I saw what life brought my way.  I saw God’s hand in this and that.  To have faith, I must know and believe that God exists through His Son Jesus.  If I don’t see that God exists, then I don’t have faith.  I realize that God brought faith to every person on earth, and it is up to them to accept that or not.  How can I deny something that does exist?  God is life.  Life is the existence of God.  Jesus said, “I have come that you may have life and have it to the full.”  Jesus represents God the Father and He brought God’s love into our lives.  Then He went to the cross and died for our sins so that we may live.

If you read on furthermore into Hebrews 11, you will see one story after another of all of those people living by faith. That encouraged me even more on why I do believe by faith in the Son of God who loves me and gave His life for me.  Since I believe, I have been justified in the presence of God.  I can now live in peace because of that hope He has given me.  Now back to being in the dark of night, I no longer am afraid because I know He is watching over me every step of the way.

May you be blessed because of your faith in Jesus today!

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