Faith Must be Based on the Real Thing

In almost any field of endeavor the potency of faith is acknowledged. To test this theory, in the medical field doctors have conducted “placebo” tests. They would give one group of patients who were seriously ill a medication that was known to be highly effective against the disease afflicting them. The patients would respond as expected. Their confidence in the medication was justified. The doctors at the same time would give another seriously ill group an inert medication or one that was medically nothing more than a sugar pill. The purpose was to see what effect the mind plays in the healing process.

To their surprise, the doctors discovered that often the patients who were given the placebo recovered without any real medication. They believed they were taking a potent medication and responded as well as the patients who were given the real drug. The conclusion the doctors drew was that the mind does indeed have a strong input in the healing process. The faith the second group of patients had in the placebo was so strong that their own minds healed them.

This should say something to the Christian whose faith is a vital part of his life. The obvious thing it should say is that we are healed and we overcome by faith. That is good and it is backed up by Scripture. But there is another less obvious fact that surfaces after careful thought. The less obvious fact is this: with the Christian, faith alone is not enough. The Christian must be sure that he has the right type of faith and that it is based on the right object. In this discourse we are looking at two kinds of faith: subjective and objective. The subjective kind is not founded on anything external; it is simply a belief in an idea. It is self-contained like an intransitive verb. Objective faith reaches out to, and is based on something outside the believer, perhaps even on a placebo – which is not a good thing.

So, contrary to some of our assumptions, it is not faith of itself that gives us the victory over any obstacle or opposition. Wait—don’t leave me; I am not saying the scripture is in error when it tells us that faith is the victory that overcomes the world (1 John 5:4b), but any student of the Scriptures knows that the faith John is talking about is based on God alone. All believers can choose what they will have faith in. Will it be in the plain idea that things will work out for us, or will it be, not in the idea, but in the God who makes the idea practical?  Ideas or concepts are simply mental vehicles that lead the one entertaining them to practical results. It is God alone who gives faith, which is of itself merely a nebulous thought, its invincibility.

We have to accept that faith, whether it is subjective or objective, is of itself limited. Faith in placebos or any other less-than-divine objects can lead to serious consequences at times. A person’s strong belief that he or she can conquer the sin that prevails in the world and in the person’s own carnal nature can never make that belief a reality. An ironclad faith in a false god or a wrong idea cannot raise the person’s dead body to eternal life. Houdini the magician firmly believed that he would come back after death to contact his wife and friends. He has been dead many decades now and has yet to keep that promise.

When Peter essayed to walk on the water at Jesus’ command to “Come!” he had to have more than a strong belief that he could surmount the rolling waters. He had to know that Jesus could make it possible. The belief in Jesus made Peter get out of the relative safety of the boat to walk to Jesus. But Peter could stay above the turbulent seas only as long as he put forth the effort, and he could exert the effort only as long as he believed Jesus could uphold him. The boisterous elements threw him into a fear-induced panic. The fear paralyzed his leg muscles and he began to sink like a stone despite having the Master of the seas there to help him. Fear had negated his faith. “O thou of little faith,” Jesus chided as He lifted Peter up out of the water, “wherefore didst thou doubt?”

In similar manner, we have to first call on the Master and then we have to step out of our boat in faith and walk on the waters that are towering over us on every side. It’s one thing to have Jesus, with His unlimited power and absolute knowledge saying, “Come!” but it’s another matter to trust Him implicitly and to confidently walk on the sea of troubles all around us. When we step out in faith the sea will be still and supportive only where we place our feet. The waters may still thrash wildly all around us, but they can never overcome us. We will not be swallowed up by our adversities, but through the blood of Jesus we’ll trample them under our feet.

God’s power without our faith is like a powerful engine without a transmission. Without the transmission of faith, the power of the Almighty will not be transmitted to our legs and feet to enable us to do the impossible. Before Jesus, who had ever heard of a man walking on water? But now Jesus has come and we perform the impossible every day. It’s so very clear that the  Christian must place his faith only in his God. The bare-bones idea of believing just for the sake of believing, no matter how unfounded the belief, will land us only on the broad way leading to destruction. We will have plenty of company along the way, but our final destination will be a lonely, utter and never ending destruction.

Of what does this faith consist, this faith for rising above the seas violent around us? Faith is 1) to realize that God has all power in His hands and knows all things; 2) to take that knowledge of Him into your mind and let it sink down into your heart: you know beyond all doubt that God is there for you; and 3) not to go timidly, startled out of your senses by every thunder crash. Walk on the waters as if you owned them. 

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If it is a scenery, I appreciate! If communication is a kind of friendship, I desire! If the friend is a kind of heart, I treasure! Once I met, destined to chance! A visit to life, friendship! A blessing, with all sincerity!