Trying to understand Faith

An earlier comment from Fellow Believer got me thinking about Faith.  What exactly is it?  I’ve never been one to worry.  I’ve always had “faith” that things would work out for me.  And they have.  It doesn’t mean I’ve been without pain or sadness, just that when it was over, I was normally thankful for the events in my life that caused the hurt.  A relationship that went bad and hurt you, only to find it wasn’t right for you.  Hopefully to find someone that fit you so much better (which I have found).  But that is just an example.

The point is, faith is difficult to put your finger on.  For most, I believe they see faith as the idea that everything is going to be alright.  But that isn’t true.  John the Baptist was killed because a girl danced really well.  He had faith.  But everything didn’t turn out alright.  So what should we have faith in?

Now God is the obvious answer.  And we definitely should.  But I don’t think God’s plan for us is what we think it is.  Maybe faith is accepting God’s will and living a life that is focused not on us, but on all those around us?  Maybe faith is welcoming the pain we all try so hard to stay away from?  

We don’t live the life God had planned for us.  Even those that seem to, fail.  We live our lives with a faith that takes us to Heaven at the end of our lives.  But our faith should be about bringing Heaven to earth.  There is so much Joy to be had here.  And I believe the pain only makes the Joy that much sweeter.  So let’s stop seeing Jesus as the free pass to Heaven after we die, and start seeing him as the free pass to serve God.  As the man who sacrificed himself so that we would be worthy to even attempt to be the image of God.  And yes, the man who sacrificed himself, so we could defeat death and reach Heaven after our time here is through.  

PS.  I would like to thank Fellow Believer and everyone else who comments on my blog.  Its gets me thinking and debating, and I believe this is something we all must do to learn and grow as followers of Jesus.  Thanks.