On the importance of "faith".

The just shall live by faith. Habukkuk 2:4

Three times in the New testament (twice by Paul and once by the writer of Hebrews - probably Paul) is Habakkuk's declaration repeated that the "just shall live by faith". It was this revelation that rescued Martin Luther from his years long bondage under personal guilt and which led to the Reformation. We are told in Hebrews 11 that by faith the people of God brought down walls, crossed the Red Sea, closed the mouths of lions, routed armies, endured suffering and obtained glorious victories. Our very Salvation rests on faith. But why? What's the big deal about faith? It's hard believing in something so intangible. I don't like it.

At its simplest, faith means to trust in something (like or promise) or someone (like God) to come through - to bring about the promised result. By definition, faith usually comes at the expense of direct evidence. We're called to trust in something we cannot see. At its highest level faith always induces action.

Faith is a concept I've always struggled with. Why can't God just reveal His will and plans for our life directly? Why can't He just appear when we need His help? Why does He hide Himself so? I don't know; but the fact that God does hide Himself is self-evident, and I don't expect that will change much until the Second Coming. At that time the need for extreme faith will end. And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love ( 1 Cor 13:13). Love is greater than faith, in part, because our need for faith will diminish in proportion to God's increasing revelation and direct presence in our lives (for now we see as in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face). The closer we are to God's presence the less our need of faith. Love, by contrast, is the very essence of God's character and therefore eternal.

So until we die and our ushered into God's presence or Christ makes His climatic return, as denizens of the earth, we are called to faith. Why? Because it honors God. Faith in action makes the bold statement, both to ourselves and others, that God is true to His word and worthy of our trust. Like nothing else, faith is our acknowledgment of God's good character.

For more on this, I highly recommend John Piper's essay: Faith: In Hope, Against Hope, for the Glory of God. Link to it here.