Faith

    
     I had never before met anyone who had not at least heard of the word "faith".  Of course, Roy spoke limited English, and he had shown up alone at class that blistering Wednesday night in August.   My husband, Don and I were teaching a summer ESL Bible study, while the regular classes were on hiatus.  Roy was from Korea, and he had studied English there, but he had never read the Bible before.  He was eager to learn, you could see it in his expressions.  After reading the account of the creation in Genesis, Roy said, "No one ever taught me this before.  All I ever heard about was...." and he began to explain evolution to us.  "Evolution!" Don answered, and Roy shook his head.  We told him we had heard this theory, but we believe the explanation of God creating the world, speaking it into existance.  "We cannot prove that God created the world, but we believe this is true--we believe by faith."

     "What is "faith"?" Roy asked, his face open, his question sincere.  We used the Bible's definition of faith in Hebrews 11:1, "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."  Roy was amazed, and so were we when we looked at faith through his eyes.  It is astonishing that we believe that God spoke the world into existance, that He made a covenant with Abraham and Moses and then with a small group of people and gave them His perfect law.  It is incredulous that the Creator of all things allowed His chosen people to deny Him, kill His prophets and then sent his Son to die as a sacrifice for our sins.  It is unbelievable how much He loves us, His creation.  But I do believe....I am sure of what I hope for and certain of what I do not see.  After we read about faith, it was time to go home.  As we were suggesting scriptures for Roy to read, he asked, "Where can I read more about faith?"  The question itself was the beginning of faith.http://www.facebook.com/jerri.harrington