The Commodity of Heaven

The writer of Hebrews tells us that “without faith it is impossible to please God.” It is also true that a Christian cannot conduct God’s business, “His kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven,” without faith. As Dr. Charles Fowler recently taught my church during a prayer conference, “Faith is the commodity of heaven.”

Faith is simply trusting God. However, that simple definition can cause much confusion. As is rightly stated in Ewell’s Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, “Faith in God involves right belief about God.” It is vital that we have a biblical view of who God is.

God is not who we believe Him to be. If we are to find the truth about God, we must search what the Scriptures say about Him. There are many beliefs and religions based off of false gods, so we turn to the Holy Bible for the right perspective.

This is why the Bible begins with these four simple words:

“In the beginning God…” (Genesis 1:1)

This statement is known as a priori knowledge, which Webster’s Dictionary defines as “relating to or derived by reasoning from self-evident propositions; presupposed by experience; being without examination or analysis.”

What it simply means is there is a presumption of the existence of God as described in the Bible. If one cannot embrace this truth, the first four words of the Bible, then you may as well put the Bible down and end our discussion. But I hope you’ll stick around.

The Bible also declares that a life outside of adherence to God’s commands is one that is under the wrath of God. We are already condemned because we refuse to believe the truth about God. Some may protest and say the truth of God cannot actually be known since it is a belief. If that is true, then nothing we believe without proof can be true.

However, God knew this excuse would be given and inspired the Apostle Paul to address it:

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.” (Romans 1:18-20)

God is not only the Creator of the world, but He also came to earth in the form of a baby to reconcile sinful man back to Himself. The Old Testament required that righteous blood be spilt to pay the penalty for our sins. These were just the precursor of what God would do in the fullness of time. He would send His only begotten Son to die for our sins.

If we do not believe that Jesus in God in the flesh, and accept His atoning sacrifice, then we not only have a wrong view on who God is, but we are also under His wrath:

“He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:18)

Our faith in God must be placed in the Person of Jesus Christ if we are to have “a right belief about God.” We cannot decide whom God will be for us. We cannot design our own God that suits our lifestyle and expect to do business with heaven. We cannot approach a false god and expect heavenly transactions to occur.

We cannot expect such blessings from the God of the Bible because we are using a counterfeit currency. If our faith is not based on the one true God, then it is worthless.

In whom have you placed your trust for eternity? Are you trusting a God of your own design, or have you come to a saving relationship with Jesus Christ? That alone is an act of faith. Everything starts with faith and a right belief about God.

It is because faith is the commodity of heaven.

In Christ
Dave
Ps. 37:4

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    Copyright © 2017 David Jeffers

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