Words Matter

I find it interesting how words change in their meaning over the years. I suppose it happens naturally since we don't really live that long and the original meanings get a bit lost over time, like a generational telephone game.

With these short videos being so prevelant, people with history knowledge are brining an accurate historical context that has been lost to most. Etymology it is called.

Scripture is not immune to this problem. In fact, it is a very real issue, and is even documented in the Old Testament as Isreal forgot it's own history. This was why God kept telling the to practice rituals so the future generations would remember. They didn't do the rituals and their children forgot.

So did we.

The word "faith" has become some stupid phrase meaning whatever you believe... whether or not it is true. It has morphed the word religion into a self-created fairy tale that makes us comfortable.

This is what most of the world believes... including most christians.

The word "faith" is really simple. It means trust... nothing more. Faith in someone is trust in them. It is just not accurate to say otherwise.

On our last cruise, I said that in a Bible study group, and a woman afterward challenged me by saying "I see faith as something different". Of course, she was holding to the worldy changed meaning. She had religion.

Me, I would rather have reality.

So, faith or trust in someone is important. How can you rely or relate to a person you don't trust. An object is the same. If you dont trust a rope, why would you use it to climb down a mountain.

Maybe, if you were desperate. Oh, but many untrusted things are found to be trustworthy when you are desperate.

This, is why God gives us problems... because we like to sit in our comfortable relationships.

Now, faith in God is no different. Yet, like with any trusting relationship it does mean more. It means relationship! A connection, a friendship, a love.

Think about it. If a friend or spouse goes untrustworthy, unfaithful, then the relationship ends, or is in need of serious forgiveness and repair. Faith in God is no different, other than it saves you.

You must see that just "believing" in God means nothing. It saves no one. As scripture even says, even the demons believe... and tremble.

Oh, they know God. They know He is powerful, real, and vengeful. What they don't know is Him. They don't know of His grace, His love, His mercy. He has not revealed Himself that way to them!

So, no faith in Him... they are doomed.

What about us?

It is the same. We must KNOW God, not just believe He is. It isn't just a mental thing either. It is deep, a heart thing, like a close friendship or dare I say... a marriage.

Yes, a marriage between us and God, where He actually imparts some of Himself in our very essence. Then, we slowly grow into oneness with Him.

Please don't deceive yourself. Many will, believing their "faith" in His existance, His salvation, His words, is enough. It is not.

No, Jesus, The Father, The Spirit want REAL raltionship with us. A connection a oneness that is even beyond a relationship with a man and a woman cemented by a vow before God.

If you are satisfied with just knowing about God, do you really think He wants to spend forever with you... intimately?

Would you?

Faith means more. It means you are saved by a deep relationship, a marriage, with the One who loves you more than Himself...

He, like any sane being, simply wants the feeling returned.

Do you love Him?

That word, Love, means more too.

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