The “Pastor’s Corner”
by Pastor John D. Harris
10-12-09
Faith
The American Heritage Dictionary defines faith as a confident belief in the truth, value or trustworthiness of a person, idea, or thing. Erdsman Dictionary of the Holy Bible defines faith as belief and trust in God and in the doctrines expressed in the Scriptures. Faith is a central theological concept representing the correct relationship with God.
It is said that Nathaniel Hawthorne announced to his wife one day that he had been fired from his job. “Good,” she responded. “Now you will have time to write a book you have longed to write.” Nathaniel asked, but what will we live on meanwhile. His wife opened a drawer filled with money. She explained to him that she had long had faith concerning his ability to write and to that end, had saved a little money each week and had enough to last for a year. Hawthorne used the time to write, The Scarlet Letter, one of the great masterpieces of American Literature. The power of true and living faith in the lives of people has been revealed throughout the ages.
Some people may be weak in faith (Rom.14:1), while others can be regarded as strong or enabled (15:1). Faith is something that can grow (2 Cor.10:15) or be lacking in some aspects but then become strong in its conviction.
In Charles Swindoll’s book of quotes, persons writing about faith have said: (1) Faith is engaging in the deepest joy of heaven, knowing His unfathomable love for me as I walk through the thorny
Desolate now and (2) Faith is speaking truth in love even at the cost of position or relationship.
Of all the many statements I have read about faith, to me the most powerful one is written in the Holy Bible: Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we can not see. This statement on Faith is taken from the Tyndale Life Application Study Bible .
Please direct all inquiries, questions, comments, etc., to Pastor Harris at mtrosembc@att.net