by Vance Havner

Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1

Faith sometimes means a calm, quiet, passive, humble confidence that goes on its way, resting not in itself but in the Faithful One. But there is the other aspect, when faith becomes “an affirmation and an act that bids eternal truth be present fact.” There is a reckless, almost fierce, faith that laughs in the teeth of circumstance and shouts, like Paul in the storm, “I believe God,” and affirms, though a legion of demons mock, “Let God be true but every man a liar.”

The affirmation and act that bids eternal truth be present fact is no dainty, hothouse sort of thing. Present fact can be awfully stubborn, and things as they are look woefully unlike what God says they may be. “A sense of things real comes doubly strong” sometimes. Bidding eternal truth be present fact may seem the wildest of fancies. But all children of Abraham do well to remember that he “hoped against hope” and considered not the impossible.

If present fact looks hopeless and eternal truth seems far removed, remember that Abraham saw them become one because “he believed God.”

by Vance Havner