Walk By Faith

Faith. It is something that is found all throughout the Bible. We can read of examples of faith, such as Abraham offering up his son, Isaac, through faith (Heb. 11:17). We can also read direct statements that we are to have faith; that we are to walk by faith (2 Cor. 5:7), since “the just live by faith” (Rom. 1:17).

Looking further at 2 Corinthians 5:7 it says, “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” That is quite an interesting concept, but, first, what is faith?

One of the multiple definitions that Wordnet provides is “complete confidence in a person or plan”. Another of those multiple definitions is “loyalty or allegiance to a cause or a person”.

That is what our own faith really should be. We should have complete confidence in God and the plan of salvation that He created. We should have complete confidence in Jesus that He fulfilled all that was needed; that He was that one and only perfect sacrifice that can cleanse us from our sins.

Having confidence in the truth is only half the battle with having true faith though, since “even the demons believe—and tremble!” (James 2:19) As with the second definition, we need to have allegiance to God and be loyal to Him.

And what good would going through the action and being “loyal” be if we did not have confidence in God, Jesus, and the plan of salvation? The two definitions on their own are not what true faith is, but together add up to the kind of faith that we need to have.

So when we read to walk by faith and not by sight, it is of course referring to our spiritual walk, since it would not do us much good to close our eyes and decide to cross the street, for example. Of course, when crossing the street we can look around and make sure it is safe. However, we cannot see all that is portrayed in the Bible. For example, we cannot place our fingers into the prints of the nails nor reach our hands into Jesus’ pierced side, as Thomas did (John 20:24-29).

All we can do is trust God and have confidence in what the Bible reveals to us. All we can do is study the Word and use that to be loyal. Since we can’t physically see the things of the spirit, we need to have faith; we need to walk by faith.

Those who walk by faith and not by sight are blessed; As Jesus says in John 20:29, “...Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

                -- John Thrower Jr.