Jesus asked, "When the Son of man comes, shall he find faith on the earth?" (Luke 18:8) This question has always been in my mind one of the hardest things that Jesus said to His followers. I have struggled with it because nobody who is a Christian wants to think that they struggle with belief. But when you get right down to it, unbelief is one of the main reasons why the people of God don't always act like the people of God.
Recently, I have come face-to-face with the reality that I struggle with unbelief in the area of relationships. This is a harsh reality to admit. It makes me uncomfortable just to write such things. But it is the truth. I struggle when it comes to giving part of my heart to other people. This is especially true in dating relationships although this does show up in other areas too. While I may get close to others, I can have difficult time letting them get close to me. Maybe the reason I react this way is because only those who get close to our heart can break it. This is a defense mechanism that shows a lack of faith in God as the protector of my soul.
The good news is that the Lord has recently started a healing process in me.
Unbelief shows up in three primary areas - what we believe about God and what we believe about ourselves and other people. These thoughts then shape how we live.
David Wilkerson, a well known pastor and voice to the American churches, wrote about the topic of unbelief in his recent letter. His thoughts are the basis for much of this entry. David wrote, "If we allow even small seeds of unbelief to grow in our hearts, we'll end up in a sorry condition." He's absolutely right.
A little doubt can lead to double minded thinking, which robs us of the stability that can be found in a life of true, pure faith. And yet, God never calls us to a blind faith because creation stands as a testimony of His power and goodness.
Pastor Don Coleman said to me tonight that many people don't really understand the true seriousness of unbelief. They see it as just a lack of faith or not doing something that they should do. But he said that this does not accurately capture the entirety of the action. You can't "un" do something unless it is something that you have already done. When we are saved, God gives us faith to become who He has called us to be. God fills our lives with His Spirit. He gives us what we need to believe. And by unbelief, we are walking away from what God has already done in our hearts and lives. Unbelief comes when we refuse to believe what God has already said to us and burned into our hearts. This can quickly lead to depression and bondage.
Faith is the critical element required to know and please God. Faith in Jesus is the building block for the Christian life. If there is any area where we are not walking as we should, it usually results from a lack of faith, hope or love.
