" JESUS, the AUTHOR and FINISHER of our Faith "

   What is faith and where does it come from ?  GOD's WORD has a great definition for faith in the book of Hebrews Chapter 1 vs.1& 2 - Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not yet seen. For by it (faith) the elders obtained a good testimony.
     Without faith, in our everyday lives, we could not exist. Think about all the things that you just take for granted, everyday, that just work. You sit on human made chairs and by faith you plop down on them never giving it a thought that they may collapse under your weight. You drive over bridges, also man made, and never give it any thought that the bridge may collapse under your car. I'm not a person that likes heights. Now I have flown from PA to LA and back, in beautiful weather, and I was blessed to get the window seat during certain parts of the flight. My nose was glued to the window. I thought I would be afraid to be up that high, but the sun and the clouds were so beautiful, I couldn't take my eyes off of them. Coming home, I landed in Phila.at night and as we circled to land the first thing I thought of was that Phila.looked like a huge Christmas Tree from the air. The lights of the city from that height was breathtaking.  But I have an awful fear of going up in a skyscraper, you know, one of those with the windows that go all the way from the floor to the ceiling. I can sit here, in my chair, and think about walking up to the window, with the toes of my shoes touching the window, and looking down I start to break out in a sweat and get dizzy, just thinking about it. So faith is a part of every ones daily life.

     Now I would love to give you the entire 11th Chapter of Hebrews, it is rightly called the Great Faith Chapter, but instead I am going to give you the highlights and let you read the rest for yourself. Of course I gave you the definition of faith in Hebrews 1:1 & 2 and I also want you to know that GOD says in vs.6 - But without faith it is impossible to please HIM, for he who comes to GOD must believe that HE is, and that HE is a rewarder of those who diligently seek HIM.   So without faith we cannot please GOD and without faith we cannot be saved. The book of Ephesians Chapter 2 verses 8 & 9 says - For by grace (GOD's) you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of GOD, not of works lest anyone should boast.  This says that even our faith in GOD is not of ourselves, but that GOD gives us the gift of faith to believe in HIM and in the gift of HIS SON, JESUS CHRIST.

     If you read the 11th.Chapter of Hebrews, nearly every verse starts with the phrase " By faith " and then it mentions a name of one of the Old Testaments great pillars of the faith. Now none of those mentioned were perfect, far from it, they were all sinners in need of Salvation. Jacob, Gideon and Samson were all too human and even Father Abraham slipped up quite a few times, but they all had one thing in common, their faith in the ONE TRUE GOD and HIS promise of the MESSIAH, the LORD JESUS CHRIST.
     As I said above, we all have a type of faith, but not the godly type of faith. GOD knows all of time at once. HE can see Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden at the same time HE can see Samson pushing down the pillars of the Colosseum of those who had poked out his eyes and made him a slave. GOD can see you right now where you are and 20 years from now HE knows what you will be doing and with whom. HE can also see the LORD JESUS CHRIST coming back for HIS Bride, the Church, and Satan being thrown into the Lake of Fire.  GOD's ability to see all of time at the same time also enables HIM to see who will come to the faith and believe. HE knew when Moses brought the children of Israel and others out of Egypt, that Pharaoh would never believe. No matter how many miracles Moses performed in front of Pharaoh, he would lie to get the plagues stopped, but refused to believe in the ONE TRUE GOD. So GOD used Pharaoh to get the children of Israel out of Egypt, to show Israel that their GOD was the only way they were ever going to get to the promised land.

     The same goes for us today. GOD knows the heart of them who will believe. HE expects us to give out the Gospel to every tribe, tongue and nation, but HE knows who will believe and who will not. When a person is asked to go to church by a friend, a believer, and that person goes, he sits there and listens to the Preacher giving out the WORD of GOD. All during the service, GOD the HOLY SPIRIT is trying to get the persons attention, trying to break through the years of hard heartedness, the callous that has grown across the heart of the unbeliever. Also, a tract is given to someone, they put it in their pocket or purse. It is forgotten, until the jeans are washed or the purse is cleaned out, the HOLY SPIRIT again is working to soften the unbelievers heart.
     A seed begins to grow, a thought comes to the mind of the unbeliever, what if this is true, what if I am this awful sinner that this tract is talking about or this Preacher is talking to. The heart breaks, faith begins to bloom and they pray to GOD, through the LORD JESUS CHRIST for forgiveness and to be saved.  So even our faith comes from the ONE WHO loves us the most. Those mentioned in the 11th.chapter of Hebrews were - stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented - of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, GOD having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us Hebr.11:37 thru 40.

     Since the LORD JESUS CHRIST is the author and finisher of our faith as Hebr.12:2 & 3 states - Looking unto JESUS, the author and finisher of our faith, WHO for the joy that was set before HIM, endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of GOD. For consider HIM who endured such hostility from sinners against HIMSELF, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. What was the joy that JESUS could see, that was set before HIM, when HE was nailed to the cross, after HE had already been whipped nearly to death ?  IT WAS YOU !!!  HE saw you and me and all those who would believe and put their faith in what HE was going through on the cross..... For GOD so loved the world that HE gave HIS only begotten SON, that whosoever believes in HIM shall not perish but have everlasting life.....the blood that HE would shed for the sin of all mankind. No amount of works or liturgy could ever save so much as a single hair of our heads.
     So take the faith that GOD is giving you right now at this moment, don't delay, for today is the day of salvation. HE has not promised us any more than the breath we are taking right at this moment. Bough your head, confess to GOD through JESUS CHRIST, that you are a sinner in need of the SAVIOR, ask HIM to come into your heart and save you. HE will, HE saw you while HE was on the cross !!!
Your servant in CHRIST,
Julie