Focus: The Journey Of Faith

Text: 2Cor.5:7

"(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)"

Faith is a journey. It is a long walk from time to eternity. It is an upward journey, from earth to heaven. Our faith in Christ is meant to influence the whole course of our lives on earth. No part of our lives should be lived outside the sphere of our faith. Our lives are wholly sacred to God. Our faith sets the rule for our daily living. It forms the culture of our lives. Our faith dictates our actions. Our belief informs and influences our behavior.

We walk with our eyes fixed on Jesus Christ "the author and finisher of our faith," according to Hebrews 12:2. Jesus is the goal of our faith. He is the alpha and omega of our faith. In the eyes of God, our faith is already a done deal because of Christ. The end of our faith is clear and certain.

Our journey of faith is certainly demanding and challenging; we are strained, stressed and stretched by it, but it is taking us to a good end.

In his walk with God, Abraham "looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God" (Heb.11:10). Peter talks about "receiving the END of your faith, even the salvation of your souls" (1Pet.1:9). He says, "Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the END for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ" (1Pet.1:13); and again, he says, "But the END of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer" (1Pet.4:7). The author of Hebrews says, "Rejoicing of the hope firm unto the END" (Heb.3:6). He tells us about holding "the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the END" (Heb.3:14). Our future is sure and secure.

Let me share with us from the Scriptures of what our walk entails. According to Paul, we walk after the Spirit, not after the flesh (Rom.8:4). "We walk honestly, as in the day…" (Rom.13:13). We do not walk as men devoid of the Spirit. We walk, each of us, as the Lord has called us (1Cor.7:17). Our calling is different one person from the other, and so, we walk accordingly. We walk in the Spirit, that is, keeping in step with the Spirit of God (Gal.5:16). We live in and by the Spirit. In our walk, we follow the rule of God. God has ordained that we should walk in good works (Eph.2:10). God requires that we walk worthy of the vocation wherewith we have been called (Eph.4:1). Paul says, "That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God" (Col.1:10). Also, "That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory" (1Thes.2:12). 

Our walk is to be different from that of the heathen. Our walk must be orderly. Paul says, "For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies" (2Thes.3:11). Our faith is intolerant of indolence and idleness. Our faith approves of industry and appreciates diligence to duty. We walk in love (Eph.5:2). We walk in the truth (3Jh.1:4). We walk as children of light (Eph.5:8). From the pen of John, we walk in the light (1Jh.1:7). Jesus Christ says, "He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life" (Jh.8:12). "He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked" (1Jh.2:6). "And this is love, that we WALK after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should WALK in it" (2Jh.1:6).

We close with Paul, who says, "See then that ye WALK circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise" (Eph.5:15). He says, "Walk in wisdom toward them that are without…" (Col.4:5). "That ye may WALK HONESTLY toward them that are without…" (1Thes.4:12). We walk not as the enemies of Christ (Phil.3:18). We walk, following good examples (Phil.3:17). Enoch is one of such good examples, for he walked with God for the space of 300 years, and did so consistently and faithfully. Finally, Paul instructs us, "As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so WALK ye in him" (Col.2:6).

I pray for you that your faith will not fail, and that you will overcome the world, the devil, and the flesh, by your faith, and that you will safely arrive on the other side of your faith. The journey of faith can be daunting, and at the same time, exciting. But as we walk or journey with our eyes fastened on Jesus Christ, we shall reach the end of it with unspeakable joy.

by Bishop Moses E. Peter