THE WALK OF FAITH Devotion #3 of 8

"For therein [the Gospel, v. 16) is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith." (Rom 1:17; Gal 3:11; Heb 10:38; Habakkuk 2:4)

DEFINITIONS Walking

In Scripture, our manner of life is depicted as a "walk." This is an appropriate word because life is directional and requires the involvement of our persons. We are headed some place, but we are not being carried along. Further, progress is being made in relatively short increments; like steps. When we speak of the "walk of faith," we are speaking of a manner of life, at the daily-decision level, that is motivated and maintained by faith. Objectives, delights, responses, and expressions are all dominated by personal faith. The point in our walk is not to cover a lot of distance in a short time-- although that may happen. It is to arrive at the appointed destination! Walking is not aimlessly strolling. The walk of faith is a pilgrimage through this world. We are citizens of heaven, and have been constituted "strangers and pilgrims" in the world (1 Peter 2:11). Those that are walking by faith "abstain from fleshly lusts that war against the soul." They do so because they are walking through an alien world in quest of their homeland.

FAITH

Faith essentially has to do with the unseen realm. It perceives a God that is "invisible," dwelling in light that no man can "approach" (1 Tim. 6:16). Faith is not concluding from tangible evidence that living for God is wise. That is not faith! Faith is launching out toward heaven without any earthly reason for doing so. It is taking God at His word, believing that this world is going to be destroyed. The seen militates against faith, and is generally at variance with the realities faith perceives and holds. Faith is substance! Other versions translate the word "substance" as "assurance" or "persuasion." I believe there is a reason why other translators use the word "substance." It is true that faith is the assurance that the message of the Gospel is true FOR US! This does involve a settled persuasion of the realities of God, Christ, and our eternal inheritance. But faith is a stronger word than that. Faith circumvents the senses, convincing the heart without involving the senses. It substantizes spiritual realities to the soul. Thus they become even more real than things that are seen and touched. Faith is evidence! The world considers evidence something "in the hand." The "evidence" of the lush fruitage of Canaan was the sample grapes of Eschol. The "evidence" of Christ's resurrection to Thomas was the Lord's hands, feet, and side. The "evidence" of Abraham's wealth was treasures Eliezer opened to Rebekah';s parents. But to the child of God, faith itself becomes the evidence. When the reality of the things of God bursts upon our spirits, that is our "evidence" of their reality, and of their availability to us.

-- TOMORROW: THE PREEMINENCE OF FAITH --