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Great Faith |
Dear Brethren,
Do we possess great faith, or are we just
fooling ourselves – thinking that we have faith? Adam and Eve
walked and talked with Jesus Christ in the Garden of Eden – they
saw Him face to face - and yet, they did not believe in Him.
They had no faith in Jesus. Just knowing about Jesus is not
faith. Seeing Jesus Christ in person did not produce faith in
Adam and Eve. Why did they not possess great faith?
Jesus spoke of great faith with regard to
a professional Roman army centurion. “The centurion answered
and said, Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my
roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.
For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I
say to this man, Go, and he goes; and to another, Come, and he
comes; and to my servant, Do this, and he does it. When Jesus
heard it, He marveled, and said to them that followed, Verily I
say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in
Israel.” (Matthew 8:8-10)
What was it about this encounter that caused
Jesus to marvel that the centurion’s faith exceeded that of all
the Israelites? The centurion was not afraid to approach Jesus
publicly. Fear wars against faith. “When [Jesus] was
entered into a ship, His disciples followed Him. And, behold,
there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship
was covered with the waves: but He was asleep. And His
disciples came to Him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we
perish. And He saith unto them, Why are you fearful, O ye of
little faith?” (Matthew 8:23-26)
The Roman officer approached Jesus without
hesitation or reservation. He had no doubt that Jesus would
comply with his wishes. Doubt is an enemy of faith.
“When Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the
water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he
was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save
me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught
him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore
didst thou doubt?” (Matthew 14:29-31)
The centurion was not worried that he would be
rejected by Jesus. Anxious concern destroys faith. “Seek
ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all
these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no
thought [anxious worry or concerns] for the morrow: for the
morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient
unto the day is the evil thereof.” (Matthew 6:33-34)
Human reasoning could have dictated to the
centurion that Jesus was a charlatan or a trickster, but he did
not allow carnal rationale to interfere with his belief in
Jesus’ powerful intervention. “The [disciples] reasoned
among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread.
Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of
little faith, why reason you among yourselves, because ye
have brought no bread?” (Matthew 16:7-8)
Faith is knowing to the core of our being that
God will perform the things He has promised to do. Faith is
believing without equivocation that every instruction from God
is for the betterment of all society. God wants us to put our
trust and our faith in His promises. Faith conquers fear,
doubt, worry and carnal rationalization.
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"Great Faith"
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