~ Faith ~

by Dewey Fox

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.  [HEB 11:1] [KJV]

“God makes a promise, faith believes it, hope anticipates it, patience quietly awaits it”

~What is Faith~

                As recorded above in Hebrews 11:1, “faith is hope,” and it’s something we can’t see. It is like the wind; we hear it, we see the result of it, but it’s invisible. It’s also something down in our soul that tells us about God and His will for our life. Even in time of trials as James says we know that there is a God and He is there for us, available just by calling upon His Name. Because faith is knowing that God is always there for you. You will never get a busy signal. He has enough lines that He can take care of the whole world at one time. No body else can make that claim, after all, He created the world and everything in it.

                Faith is keeping on when your body and mind tells you to quit. We are to fight the good fight of faith and have eternal life just as recorded in I Timothy 6:12; Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.  [1TI 6:12] [NAS]

                While researching and studying for this devotion, I ran across the following illustration.

Don't Give Up!!

     The successful life prescribed by Christ requires faithfulness until death: a hand on the plow with no looking back, steadfast perseverance; racing hard for the tape, fighting the good fight of faith. The devil loves it when we simply relax our efforts. He has a good day if we become discouraged.

     There are temptations to overcome, disappointments to handle, personal sins that beset us, burdens that depress us. And Satan is standing by urging that we quit trying. But wait; Christ is present. "Consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you may not grow weary and lose heart" [Hebrews 12:3]

     Someone once asked James J. Corbett, at that time heavyweight champion of the world, what was the most important thing a man must do to become a champion? He replied, "Fight one more round." The Duke of Wellington said that the British soldiers at the Battle of Waterloo were not any braver than Napoleon's soldiers-but they were brave for five minutes longer.

     That is about it for the Christian. A secret for success is: "fight just one more round. Be brave for five more minutes." It is the difference between defeat and victory.

~Fought the Good Fight~

                As Paul tells Timothy when we finish the race we know that, I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith;  [2TI 4:7] [NAS]

                Let me encourage you to “Keep the Faith,” and then we will know that we have fought the good fight and have finished the course to eternal life.

Brother Dewey E. Fox