The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see. Hebrews 11:1 (MSG)
Have you ever struggled to define what you believe? Maybe you have even questioned the existence of God altogether.
On a recent flight, I found myself seated next to a man reading a book on spirituality. We struck up a conversation and when I mentioned I was a pastor, he admitted he was intrigued with spiritual matters and had studied all the world religions. Despite his interest, in his heart he was an atheist. “I really wish I believed in God and I often find myself envying people with faith,” he said. “But I just don’t believe.”
I thought about this for a while. As I looked out the airplane window at the clouds, an analogy came to mind.
Several weeks before I was in the airport waiting for a flight when CNN reported a plane had crashed in another continent halfway around the world. As my plane arrived and passengers were boarding, I felt a bit of fear and doubt. For a moment I reconsidered getting on that plane. After thinking about the consequences, I decided to trust and believe that the pilot would get me home safely.
Faith is like that. It is deciding to put your trust in Jesus.
My conversation with this man made me realize that many people have the wrong concept of faith. Faith isn’t something you come across by chance; it’s a conscious decision to trust.