Deep Roots
Within the last month or two, we have seen at least two prominent Christian figures leave the faith. The Bible warns us of a “great falling away” during the last days. Some versions use the word “rebellion” while others use “apostasy.” The original Greek word is “apostasia” and it means “a falling away, defection, apostasy.” (Strong’s Concordance). Basically, it means to abandon or leave the faith. I don’t know why these two people left the faith and it’s not my place to try and guess. For those of us who are still walking in faith, though, we need to stay strong. But how do we do that?
The first thing we need to do is ask ourselves “Why do we believe?” This may seem like a basic question, but it is important to fully understand why we believe. We need to make sure our beliefs are firmly rooted in the Word of God and not shallowly planted where the storms of life can blow us over. As I’ve written here, I went through some difficult times that challenged me in my faith. In the end, I chose the LORD and His ways because I couldn’t imagine my life any other way. I didn’t like who I was. Only He could change me. I recognized my sinful ways and my need for Jesus. Only He can save.
The roots of some people’s beliefs may be shallow because their beliefs lack truth. They may have been raised in a Christian home, so they believe they are Christians. Some may think living a good life is the Christian way, therefore they believe themselves to be Christians. Others may believe that by attending church a few times a year and participating in traditional practices they are living a Christian faith. The truth is, you are saved when – and only when – you “confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead…” (Romans 10:9, ESV).
Once we understand why we believe, then we can focus on what we can do to strengthen our faith. Though God is the One who grows our faith, that growth cannot happen without us doing what we need to do. We need to draw close to the Lord. He will not ignore us or ever leave us, but rather He will draw closer to us (see James 4:8). Think of it this way: if you are in a relationship with someone, whether it’s platonic or romantic, the more time you spend with your friend, the closer you two grow. So, how do we draw close to Him?
We draw close to Him through prayer. There are different forms of prayer, such as intercessory prayer (praying for someone else), prayers of gratitude or thanksgiving, prayers of petition (where we present our requests to the LORD), and so on. Prayer is vital as it is the way we communicate with our Heavenly Father. In his book, Prayer, Timothy Keller writes “Christian prayer is fellowship with the personal God who befriends us through speech,” (pg. 52). Going back to our relationship example, you grow closer to your friend through conversation. You share hopes, dreams, concerns, everything with each other. Prayer is our connection to the LORD.
Another way to draw closer to the LORD, is to study and memorize His Word. It’s important to study, not just read, but study His Word, because it’s crucial to understand context. Many times, Scripture is taken out of context (whether purposely or not). For example, in the Old Testament, God is known as a jealous God. Many interpret this verse to mean he is jealous of us, when in fact it really means He is jealous for us because He loves us so much (see Exodus 34:14, John 3:16).
Studying Scripture also reveals God’s Truth, while obliterating the many mistruths and outright lies many people quote as facts from the Bible. For example, one well-liked, yet erroneous mistruth is that life will be easy once you are a Christian. Yes, Jesus promises us an abundant life, but it is important to understand what He means by “abundant.” It is also important to remember that we, as His servants, are not greater than our Master, which means the world will hate us because it hated Jesus (see John 15:20). How is life going to be “easy” if the world hates us?
As important as it is to study the Word of God, it’s also just as important to memorize it. When we memorize Scripture, we are storing His Words in our hearts so that we don’t sin against Him (Psalm 119:11). Memorization of His Word also serves as our Sword of the Spirit (see Ephesians 6:10). It is our weapon as we fight the spiritual battles of doubt and unbelief, which do occur.
Finally, drawing close to the LORD requires intentional worship. Worship is more than singing a couple of songs during church once a week. We worship Him with our spirit, mind, and body. Romans 12:1 instructs us to “present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God” because it is our “spiritual worship.” By living a holy life, we are worshipping the LORD. By living a holy life, we are taking care of the Lord’s temple. By living a holy life, we are following the example Jesus set for us. Worship Him not only with your mouth, but with your heart and actions as well.
Rooting our faith in the Truth and drawing close to God will help us stay close to Him, but there is one final act we can do to strengthen our faith: Love God. Jesus commanded us to love the LORD with all we have – heart, soul, and mind (see Matthew 22:37). Everything we do, we should do it to serve the Lord.
We will have times where we struggle with doubts and unbelief. One prayer I have recently truly understood the meaning of is “I believe. Help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24). It’s not that I’ve lost my faith in God, it’s just sometimes the circumstances in life require me to believe in something more than what I can see or touch or think.
It’s easy to allow these suggestions to become a to-do list, something to check off each day. Don’t do that. Be intentional with your time with our Heavenly Father. Faith is believing in God and everything Jesus did for us on the cross and through His resurrection. True faith fosters a relationship that is to be nurtured and cared for, treasured, and held in awe. Root your faith in the Truth. Draw near to Him through prayer, study, and worship. Love Him with everything you have.
