Faith Isn’t Theoretical

Faith requires an unwritten ending. 

Last week, I shared a little bit about our journey of faith with you. 

The story didn’t have a nice, neat little ending with 3 points and an illustration. 

No, that story had a very open ending. So open, in fact, that it can go any number of directions. 

While there is a fairly big part of me that fights what I’m about to say, another part of me believes – dare I say knows – that this is the right perspective to have as a follower of Jesus: wherever He wants me is where I should be. 

Wherever. 

And if we’re honest with ourselves, at some point along that journey, we intuitively know that it’s going to require that we go through the valley. 

The desert. 

The hard place.

The really, really hard place.  

While the valley doesn’t feel good, it is good. 

That is, if we let it be. 

The valley takes all shapes, sizes, and forms. We’re individuals, after all, and our valleys vary as much as our personalities. 

For Daniel, it was the lions’ den. 

For David, it was a cave. 

For Moses, it was the bed of the Red Sea and the desolate wilderness. 

For Esther, it was the king’s chamber. 

And for my family and me, it was taking the step to sell our home, embark upon The Truth Tour, and trust God as we take steps without having all the answers.

My friends, our story has an open ending for a very good reason. 

It’s still being written. 

And so is yours. 

Faith forces us out of our comfort zone. 

While I wrestled with this concept of sharing this journey with you (and I’m still not entirely sure I’m 100% onboard with it!), I felt convicted to let you take a peek inside it nonetheless. 

We are doing our best to take God at His Word. 

I am actively learning to trust in His provision. Direction. Protection. 

But if I’m being candid with you, I sometimes don’t trust Him. 

I’m not proud of that. 

It isn’t that He’s untrustworthy, it’s that I’m unfaithful. 

That’s not a good testimony, dear reader. 

I should trust God with all that I am. 

Proverbs 3:5-6 tell us as much.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart

And do not lean on your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge Him,

And He will make your paths straight.”

I can tell you that prior to the past few years, I had an academic faith. 

I “knew” that God provided. 

Well, I knew it theoretically. Philosophically. Through someone else’s story. 

Unfortunately, in 21st Century American Christianity, it’s very easy to find ourselves locked in this position. 

We are so incredibly blessed in this country that people like me often only see faith in this way. In a book. In stories. In movies. 

But not in real life. 

That is, unless we have the privilege of walking out our faith alongside Him in a very real way. 

But even if He doesn’t …

One of my favorite stories in the Bible is that of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 

If you don’t know it, you can find it in The Book of Daniel, chapter 3. 

But to summarize, these 3 teenage boys refused to bow down in worship to the statue of the maniacal King Nebuchadnezzar, as he had decreed. 

When it was discovered that they were disobeying the order, they were summoned by the king. 

When confronted by him, the young boys responded with some of the most amazing words you’ll find anywhere in the Scriptures (Daniel 3:16-18, NIV)

“Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, ‘King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.’”

Did you catch that?

“Even if he does not.” 

They had no idea if God would intervene, yet they remained faithful. 

What if we were all so bold and fearless?

I imagine the state of our world would be much, much different. 

Putting academic faith behind us. 

My friends, I know that some of you have been walking boldly in faith for some time. 

Others undoubtedly have an academic faith like I once had – and still fight. 

Some of you may have no faith at all. 

Regardless of where you find yourself, I encourage you to take steps toward faith today.

The world is dying to hear truth and to see God work in the lives of His people. 

Don’t be afraid to let Him get to work in your life. 

Conservative, not bitter.
Todd