There are cliché phrases so common to the Christian tongue, that their true meanings have long been lost in a maze of bewildering perceptions. I can think about some of them, “I am a Christian,” “I’m praying for you,” and “keep the faith.” A few years ago, my children and I were devastated by the very tragic and traumatic loss of my husband and their father. I remember a phone conversation with someone who gave me even more discouraging news, and then tacked on at the end, “I’m sorry I can’t help you, but sister, ‘keep the faith.” Faith? Keep the faith? What is that supposed to mean? I needed practical help and hope, but I was given a much overused, misunderstood cliché to “keep the faith.” It reminded me of the many times when someone comes to us for help, and we could help, but we conveniently recite to them that we are “praying for them”. Thankfully, Jesus saw our need and led my little family to re-investigate faith. This ill-used cliché, “keep the faith,” has now turned out to be a blessing and strength to us. There is a truth about faith that is irrefutably worth keeping and cherishing.
Romans 1:17 reminds us that, “the just shall live by faith.” Live by faith? Live from faith? Live off faith? I’ve found there is indeed something to that. It would probably make sense to first explain what I believe faith is according to the Words of Jesus. Do you remember the story of the centurion in Matthew 8:5-10? After a fitting illustration of humility and the power of authority, the centurion said to Jesus, “speak the Word only, and my servant shall be healed.” This “unchurched” man had come to understand that there is power in the literal words of authority. When Jesus heard what the centurion said, He responded by saying that He had never found such “GREAT FAITH,” not even among His own church folk. We may conclude then that faith- great faith, according to Jesus, is expecting God’s Word to do what it says, and depending on that Word to do what it says. May I repeat that? Great faith then, according to Jesus, is expecting God’s Word to do what it says, and depending on that Word to do what it says. To be sure, that does require prayerfully reading and studying the Bible in order to know exactly what the Word of God says.
Since that is the case, faith is a much more powerful, invaluable possession than we realize. To “Keep the faith” therefore, means something astounding. It means to cherish and hold on to the promises of God. It means expecting God’s Word to do what it says, and it means living life every day in a state of depending on His Word to do what it says. That’s incredible. Think about it in the context of Philippians 4:19, “But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Since God’s Word has promised to supply all my need, then I can expect God’s Word to do what it says, supply all my need. Thus, I can live my life depending on that Word to do what it says. Amen. Look at this promise in 1 John 5:11-12, “And this is the record, that God hath given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son hath not life.” Do you realize the profound impact faith would have on our Christian experience if we would apply Christ’s definition to this promise? God’s Word says that He has given me eternal life, in His Son. As long as I hold on intimately to His Son, I have eternal life. Now I can live my life without anxiety about my salvation, because I am depending on His Word to do what it says. I can just focus on letting Jesus be my Lord, and letting Him live out His perfect will in my life. We can tour the Bible and find the over 3000 promises of God that we can depend on and live off of. His Word cannot fail and “all the promises of God in Him (Christ) are yes, and in Him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.” (2 Corinthians 1:20).
I didn’t get years and years to grasp this concept of faith as Jesus defined it. I had to “get it” cold turkey, and believe it. I could not afford to debate it. I was too desperate to question it. I wasn’t wise enough theorize about it, or to rationalize the difficulty or impossibility of God actually being able to fulfill the promise of His Word. If God could not make good on His Word, I was in deep trouble, and so are all of us. I only had time to chose to believe it and then live off of it. For you see, I had nothing else to live off of. You may or may not believe me, it matters not, because as stated in Romans 3:4, “let God be true, but every man a liar”; God has been faithful and kept His Word to me and my children, even beyond and above all that He has promised.
To my brother who shared the cliché of “keep the faith” with me, thank you, for it led me to a deeper study of faith. I only pray that one day soon all of us who call ourselves Christian believers, will learn and experience the true power and value of those words, “keep the faith.” For faith is indeed expecting God’s Word to do what it says, and depending on that Word to do what it says. What a privilege is ours. What power we have access to. That’s some kind of rare faith, or as Jesus calls it, “GREAT FAITH.” Now, Hebrews 11:6 makes all the more sense, “without Faith it is impossible to please God.” No wonder Jesus asked if when He returns, shall He find faith on the earth? Will He find those who please God by expecting His Word to do what it says, and depending on that Word to do what it says? Will He find such “GREAT FAITH” in us, His children? Will we truly “keep the faith”? By God’s grace, I choose to do, from now until the end, join me.