We don’t have enough faith. Right now in our world when we say we don’t have enough faith, it isn’t about anything else around us, it is only about our hearts and the endless searching for something to fill a void. Unfortunately, people, money, ideology, degrees, and vocation don’t fill us up, and instead we turn to fear. Fear makes us act against our best interest, and it alienates us from one another. We want to get angry and rise up out of fear, but Jesus reminds us in the passage below, that the only reason to rise up is to walk toward Jesus in faith.
22 Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23 And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24 but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. 25 And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. 26 But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” 28 And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” 29 He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Mt 14:22–33.
Just like Peter, when we focus our lives on Christ the battery of the sounds of the world fade away and our focus blocks them from our purview. The life of faith doesn’t concern itself with opposing viewpoints or struggles, instead it looks to Jesus for help, guidance, and truth. Unfortunately, everything keeps coming at us. The news grabs for our hearts, opinion makers yells at us, we begin to worry about our livelihood, and things don’t turn out the way we want. They all grab for our attention and tell us that our feelings need to be heard, our fear reaches up and grabs us to pay attention. Before long we find ourselves sinking, just as fear wants.
The good news shines through even in the darkness of fear. Faith in the loving hand of Christ Jesus pulls us up when we sink into the depths of fear. We have choices, fear or faith. Faith isn’t just about wearing a Christian themed t-shirt, nor is it about proclaiming your politics, rather faith is a bold proclaimation when no one is watching and your focus is fixed upon Christ. When you fix your eyes on Jesus, you see the hand reaching out to you and reminding you that faith serves as the antidote to fear of others, faith drives out division and injustice, faith guides us toward building God’s kingdom here on Earth.
Faith won’t focus on how the world is burning around us, instead they will offer peace for those affected by the flames. With faith the people of God pick one another up and help guide our eyes to Jesus, forsaking everything else and calling out for salvation from the ills of our world. Faith is the antidote to the poison of our world.
Horizon Community Church 