The Adventure of Living by Faith

"The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me" (Galatians 2:20b).

Last May, a 64-year-old physician from Connecticut became the oldest person ever to climb to the top of Mount Everest. The same week, a 15-year-old boy became the youngest person to reach the summit. Remarkably, the same week a 32-year-old blind man from Golden, Colorado, became the first blind climber ever to reach the peak of Mount Everest. He followed the sound of bells fastened to the jackets of his guides and climbing mates. What a great illustration of faith!

You and I have mountains to climb as well. Sometimes we don't see exactly where we're going, but we can make it if we stay close to the Lord, our Guide, and live by faith.

Faith perseveres when the world says, "Give up." Do you feel crushed by a heavy load you're carrying at work, a health problem that won't go away, or a leadership responsibility you carry at church? "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up" (Galatians 6:9).

Faith steps out when the world says, "Stay put." Abraham left his home when God said to move. Joshua and Caleb said, "We can conquer the Promised Land," while 10 faithless others cautioned, "No, we're like grasshoppers compared to the giants who live over there!" Faith moved James and John to leave their fishing boat and follow Jesus. When Joshua led the Israelites across the Jordan River into the Promised Land, the river was at flood stage. He had the priests approach the riverbank carrying the ark of the covenant. As soon as the priests' feet touched the edge of the river, the water from upstream stopped flowing, and it piled up in a heap several miles upstream! With the river cut off, the people crossed safely over the Jordan and their priests "stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan" (Joshua 3:14-17). It was just like crossing the Red Sea 40 years before, except this time, the water didn't part until they stepped into it! Sometimes that's the way it works when you live by faith. It's like one of those automatic gates at a parking garage, which doesn't go up until you take your ticket and begin to move forward.

Faith dreams of tomorrow, when the world says, "Live for today." At the end of your life, what will matter most? "The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever" (1 John 2:17).

Faith thinks of others, when the world says, "Focus on yourself.” The apostle Paul commended the Macedonian Christians because, despite facing severe trials and extreme poverty, they "pleaded . . . for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints" (2 Corinthians 8:1-4). Instead of giving up, they upped their giving!

Faith risks failure, when the world says, "Play it safe." By faith, David defeated Goliath. By faith, Peter stepped out of the boat and walked on the water to Jesus. By faith, Paul took the gospel to the ends of the earth. If God leads you to tackle a task too big for your own strength, don't be afraid. If faith can move mountains, it can move the molehills you face today.

God is able to do more than we can measure, more than we can ask, more than we can imagine. Not by human ingenuity, but "according to his power that is at work within us." Not for our glory, but "to him be glory in the church." Not just for us today, but ""throughout all generations, for ever and ever!"" (Ephesians 3:20, 21).