The Conditions of Faith
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.” -Hebrews 11:6 NIV
There is only one way to please God…faith.
And there are two conditions for faith:
1) You must believe that God exists.
Many meet this condition. Countless numbers of people believe that there is a God. Truth be told, if this were the only condition of faith, many people would meet this requirement for even the demons do (James 2:19).
But that is not where faith stops. Faith is not simply about God’s existence but His character. Notice the second condition of faith.
2) You must believe that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.
God’s nature is that of Rewarder.
Sadly, many in our culture and even in Christian circles have come to understand God as Punisher, but that is neither true nor a condition of faith.
It takes no faith to believe that bad things will happen. It takes no faith to believe that God will not come through. It takes no faith to believe that God exists but wants my suffering.
Faith believes that God both exists and wants my best.
This is why it is critical that we view God in light of Jesus’ revelation to us as a Father who loves to give good gifts to His children (Matthew 7:11).
The enemy loves to twist thoughts about God and try to pervert our views of His nature. The enemy tries to get us to believe that God will not come through, doesn’t care all that much, and is quick to reprimand us for wrong. Even though the Word of God says that He is “slow to anger” (Exodus 34:6).
Has your view been that of faith or of doubt? Don’t doubt God’s goodness or His desires to come through for you! Don’t let any sense of past disappointment temper your faith.
Are you anticipating good today or anticipating evil? This may give a picture of your view of God. You believe He exists, but in faith, will you also choose to believe that He is a Rewarder of those who seek Him?
May we seek Him today with the eyes of faith, joyfully anticipating good to happen because of God’s nature and deeply intimate love as our Father.
Wes Raley