The Search for Authentic Faith

^"... I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such great faith." Luke 7:9

^“.... when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?" Luke 18:8

As Jesus walked the earth He was in search of something. He was in search of people of faith. Not lip-service faith. Not a faith in what He would do for them or give to them. Not a faith that wilted or faded away at the first sign of obstacle or opposition. He was looking for a simple faith. A childlike faith. An enduring faith. A faith that took Him at His word. A faith that transcended the realities of this world and lived in light of the realities of the next.

I lose sight of the bigger picture at times. My faith falters on occasion because I focus too much on the "seen", the tangible, the temporal. I forget that He is not looking for great exploits, but great faith. Such a faith is not arrived at easily. It is forged and tempered through the trials of this life.I have been thinking of Abraham this week. The Bible says of Abraham in Romans 4:19-21 that:

Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah's womb; yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform.

I've always considered myself a realist - a grounded sort of guy. But realism without the resurrection weakens us. Abraham had the ability to be realistic and simultaneously grow stronger in faith because he understood the promise of God. He understood that it wasn't about this life, but the next. I want to be like Abraham. I want to be a man that can face the reality of death head on and not waver. I want to go out guns blazing, full of faith.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.

- 1 Peter 1:3-9 (NASB)