The State of Missouri is known as the “Show me” state. It implies that if you make a statement of intent that relies on the future to bare out what you have stated, Missouri implies that it will believe it when it sees it. Sort of like a doubting Thomas who in John 20:24–25, after being told by the other disciples that they have seen Jesus, tell them he also has to see Jesus to believe what they’ve told him. And as we know from Scripture, Thomas sees Jesus.
But therein lies the difference between faith in your fellow man and faith in God. The difference is that you want your faith in man to be confirmed, much like Thomas in saying he has to see Jesus to believe what the other disciples have told him; but anyone who has true faith in God won’t ask for any confirmation of what He can do beforehand. A person whose faith is truly in God doesn’t ask to be shown beforehand, nor does he need to be reasoned with before he might give his faith in God.
Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Verse 3 goes on to say, “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.” God is the assurance of things hoped for, giving us the conviction of things not yet seen. If a person says, ‘I can do this,’ the natural reaction is to ask him to show you. Faith in that person in a particular deed is not established until he shows you. But a true believer’s faith in God has been established despite not experiencing anything tangible to be convincing.
And God demands we have faith in Him. Sticking with Hebrews 11, Verse 6 says “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”
As far as outcomes are concerned, keep in mind Romans 8:28 which says, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose,” implying that the outcome of your faith in Him results in a good one. Your love with God is for you to have faith in Him. God sees your faith in Him as part of your love in Him.
It is interesting that in a “Show me” state like Missouri, there are over 6,000 active Christian churches. Even Missouri does not have to be shown anything as far its faith in God is concerned.
But therein lies the difference between faith in your fellow man and faith in God. The difference is that you want your faith in man to be confirmed, much like Thomas in saying he has to see Jesus to believe what the other disciples have told him; but anyone who has true faith in God won’t ask for any confirmation of what He can do beforehand. A person whose faith is truly in God doesn’t ask to be shown beforehand, nor does he need to be reasoned with before he might give his faith in God.
Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Verse 3 goes on to say, “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.” God is the assurance of things hoped for, giving us the conviction of things not yet seen. If a person says, ‘I can do this,’ the natural reaction is to ask him to show you. Faith in that person in a particular deed is not established until he shows you. But a true believer’s faith in God has been established despite not experiencing anything tangible to be convincing.
And God demands we have faith in Him. Sticking with Hebrews 11, Verse 6 says “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”
As far as outcomes are concerned, keep in mind Romans 8:28 which says, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose,” implying that the outcome of your faith in Him results in a good one. Your love with God is for you to have faith in Him. God sees your faith in Him as part of your love in Him.
It is interesting that in a “Show me” state like Missouri, there are over 6,000 active Christian churches. Even Missouri does not have to be shown anything as far its faith in God is concerned.
