“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1).

Now this verse might actually suggest that we live by blind faith. Our idea of “hope” and “things not seen” would instantly trigger some to suggest that our faith is about things we don’t see and are simply hoping for; what better description of blind faith can you get?

But their are a couple of obvious misses with this suggestion. Notice Heb. 11:3 which says:

“we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of what is visible”.  

That is not guess work or blind acceptance.

First, God’s Word explains in Genesis that God was the direct cause of everything that exists. Second, we have the physical world around us as proof. Third, science has validated that our world is complex, highly sophisticated and intimately detailed. In this sense science validates what the Scriptures claim. My argument is not with science but how some interpret that science and do what we are accused of doing, they superimpose their presuppositions that excludes a personal Creator and drives the formation of our existences in opposite directions. This becomes, in fact, our conviction of things we did not see come into being (because we were not there) but it certainly is not blind faith. There is abundant evidence that there is a real world, it truly does exist and that we interact with it not in any fantasy world but in real life.

The idea that “faith is the assurance of things hoped for” feels different but not really. We are not just randomly, ad hocking unsubstantiated ideas and projecting a future that has no grounds in reality. The Bible not only speaks to the things that have happened (the past) or just speaks into the present (now) but it also predicts the future. There are numerous future events that the Bible says will happen (throughout biblical history) and God has fulfilled all of them. Our “hope” is grounded on the faithfulness of God to keep His promises and because He consistency follows through on what He said He would do we have “hope” or confidence (not wishful thinking) that He will also do what He has promised and predicted in the future.

And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him  

– Hebrews 11:6

In His grace walking with Him,

Pastor Brad Little