REFLECTIONS

F aith is not just hoping, believing or somewhat

expecting, but faith is knowing—absolutely
knowing!
written on it! It’s yours and you will see it eventu-
ally!—David Brandt Berg

◆
Faith is believing when all seems past hoping,
Although receiving no glimmer of light,

WHAT IS Leaving the grieving and doubting and groping

To those who are living only by sight.

FAITH? Faith is still trusting completely God’s promise,

When it would almost seem God has forgot,
Refusing to be a weak doubter like Thomas,
Seeking no sign nor bemoaning our lot.

Faith has lost its meaning to us today. Today the Faith is believing in God, and in clinging
word “faith” means kind of a hazy, vague belief of To hopes of a future that one day shall be,
some kind in something or other. Faith is the courage to trust without doubting
Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the substance That all that we hope for we one day shall see.
of things hoped for” and the word translated “sub-
stance” in this verse is the Greek word “hupostasis”. ◆
When the New Testament was translated from the “Without faith it is impossible to please Him:
Greek into English nearly 400 years ago, the trans- for he that cometh to God must believe that He is,
lators were still puzzled by this word “hupostasis,” and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently
as it seemed to be some kind of business terminol- seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6).
ogy not normally used in classical Greek literature.
All they knew was that it meant something fairly
substantial, so they translated it as “substance.”
But some years ago archaeologists uncovered HOW DO WE GET MORE FAITH?
the remains of an old inn in northern Israel. There
they found a small iron chest containing the valu- It is impossible to have faith unless
able papers of a Roman noblewoman who had you have the Word, because your faith is
owned lands and property in Israel. And almost ev- something that is built by faithful study of
ery paper had this title in big letters across the top: God’s Word.
“Hupostasis”! They were all title deeds to her prop-
erties! This Roman woman had perhaps never seen Trying to have faith is a work of the
her properties in Israel, but she knew they were flesh. Accepting faith through His Word is
hers and she could prove her ownership because a work of God’s grace.
she had the title deeds.
Someone promised to give me a car once, and If you’re weak in faith it’s because
they sent the title deed to me by mail. Though I’d you’re weak in the Word.
never seen the car and never driven it, I knew it was
mine because I had the title in my hand. So faith is The very Words of God are mingled
what?—The title deed! “Now faith is the title deed with supernatural power to be released by
to things hoped for” (Hebrews 11:1). If you’ve asked the touch of your faith.
the Lord for something but haven’t seen the answer —David Brandt Berg
yet, don’t worry. If you have real faith, then you’ve
got the title to it in your hands, and your name is

R10
Reflections © 1992 The Family
David Brandt Berg (1919–1994) was founder of The Family.
Visit our Web site at www.thefamily.org.

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R300 GP—March 2004 Topics: death, Heaven, loved ones waiting on the other side, faith