The Panther

Issue date: 10/27/04 Section: In The Spirit

In many religious settings you quite frequently hear the word "faith" used. Throughout churches and synagogues faith is preached as a basic fundamental element for spirituality. Many of us are encouraged to have faith when something bad has happened, when we want a good grade in class, or even when we want our favorite sports team to win. Whatever the situation may be, it has the potential to be exercised throughout our daily lives.

In the American Heritage Dictionary, faith is defined as, "confident belief or trust in a person, idea, or thing." This definition shows that our faith may be placed in a countless number of things. Faith is commonly associated with deity as even seen with the Johnson Phillips All Faiths Chapel. On our campus most students profess to have faith in something whether it's spiritual or not. The object of a person's faith is truly what validates it. If someone were to say "I have faith," you would probably respond by saying "in what?" Faith by itself has no meaning unless it is applied to something, and understanding faith in a spiritual
matter magnifies its value.

Faith plays a major role in the foundation of Christianity. The Bible highlights several men and women who have demonstrated great faith. Many of these examples are found in the 11th chapter of Hebrews, which is known as the faith hall of fame. From a woman who bore a child at the age of 90, to a man who built a giant arc because God would flood the earth; faithful people have trusted and obeyed God. Several others have also believed God for the power and victory while refusing to compromise their faith. When viewing the attributes of God, one should understand that He is all-knowing and all-powerful. His Knowledge greatly supercedes even the most intelligent people to walk on this earth. We may seek guidance from God in our daily living, because He alone will not lead us astray.

The biblical description of faith (also found in Hebrews) is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. Easier put, it is the proof and conviction that a certain thing is true. A rational mindset cannot comprehend the dynamics of faith, because none of the five senses are involved. In order to trust God for anything, we must first believe that He exists. Whoever comes to God must believe that He is, and that He rewards those who diligently seek to know Him. Furthermore "Those who do not have faith cannot see past the physical world around them. They are limited by their temporal circumstances and are blind to what God is doing. But those who open their spiritual eyes can see the spiritual realities which transcend this world. Their hope is in God's Strength." Faith in God gives us hope for the future.

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