Faith is like a pair of glasses

This week’s virtue is Faith.

Hebrews 11:1-3 provides us with a clear but perhaps surprising definition of Faith:

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.”

Today, I just want you to notice two things: First, the writer says “[b]y faith we understand.”  Second, the writer tells us that Faith is not just understanding, but also “assurance of things hoped for.”

I wonder, do you find it surprising that Faith, and not reason, would be the basis for understanding?  That our heart and not our brain is the starting point for true knowledge?  Or do you find it implausible that anyone could have genuine assurance of things they hope for?  After all, isn’t hope called hope, precisely because we’re not sure the thing will come to pass—we just hope it will?

The world likes to talk about “blind faith,” as though people who believe in God are closing their eyes and wishing their way through reality.  But it turns out that Faith is a lot more like putting on glasses—the right glasses, that is true and not false Faith, will help us see more clearly the things that our eyes alone cannot.  That clarity of sight, of seeing the invisible, is what gives us both understanding and assurance.

Have a wonderful day.

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