What is authentic faith? A hoping for the best? Is this how you think of faith? Authentic faith is the confident assurance in events not yet seen (Hebrews 11:1). Faith is not a call to believe in things when common sense tells you not to, faith is not a mindless stab in the dark, it is not even a crossing of the fingers and hoping for the best. It is not a leap into apparent nothingness, it’s a word that speaks of reasoned, careful, deliberate, intentional thought. Thought upon what? God and his promises! If you are absolutely gripped by the coming realities that have been promised to you by God, then how you live your life in the present will be radically different than if you did not possess that certainty. This is what faith is. It is positive certainty expressed in action. Authentic faith is not merely believing in God. It is believing God. Taking God at his word, living in obedience to it, whatever the cost.
It is an abiding assurance in God and His promises that animates you to persevere in your obedience to Him. Do you want to be to be a more consistently obedient, steadily persevering Christian? A stronger Christian? A more courageous and outspoken Christian? Then you need to strengthen your faith! Is your faith weak? It is owing to the fact that you don’t know the object of your faith well enough.
But when Jesus Christ becomes bigger, or better yet, your understanding of who He grows bigger, your faith will become increasingly stronger. But how does that happen? By immersing yourself in the faith-arousing Word of God. Read of Jesus Christ!
The same powerful Word that long ago brought the universe to life is the same Word that can bring you to life and furnish you with a faith that is truly and authentically Christian.