God: The Object of Faith
By Dan Qurollo
Burke County
Over the last several months we have discovered how insecure many of the things in which we place our trust truly are. A robust economy was brought to a grinding halt overnight. Our concept of business as usual was suddenly and unexpectedly changed. For many this time has been a time of significant challenge because their trust has been placed in the wrong thing.
Faith is often mistakenly regarded as something elusive and difficult to define. Some mistakenly regard it as a blind leap in the dark that has no basis. Simply put, faith is an unwavering confidence in the nature and promises of God. By its very nature, faith must have an object.
Faith is only as strong as the object in which it is placed. One may boast he has an incredible degree of faith. If his faith is placed in an object or person that is weak or limited, the degree of faith he claims to possess becomes irrelevant. For example, a person may believe with all his heart that a broken chair will hold him up. However, the object of his faith negates the degree of faith he claims to possess, regardless of how passionate he might express his faith.
Psalm 20:7 begins by stating, “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses.” Here are individuals who place their trust in a variety of tangible items, all of which would be thought to ensure security and safety. The more horses and chariots an army might have, the more secure both the army and the people they were defending would often feel.
Our trust is frequently placed with tangible objects. It is placed in jobs, paychecks, possessions, and relationships – all of which are tangible. While these things are not automatically wrong in and of themselves, they must not be objects of our faith.
In contrast, the psalmist stated, “But we will remember the name of the LORD our God.” Rather than placing our trust in that which is tangible and therefore limited, believers must place their faith in God. That is the essence of biblical faith. A simple test to see where your confidence is placed is to examine how you respond to the loss of things. The one whose faith is in God will not be deterred. Those whose faith is in other things will find themselves anxious. You may be facing an incredibly challenging situation: trust God wholeheartedly.
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Dan Qurollo is pastor of Morganton Baptist Church. You can visit them online at www.morgantonbaptist.net, on Facebook, or on Youtube.
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