Pleasing God

It has been written that without faith, it is impossible to please God (see Hebrews 11:6). Practically all believers will agree with that, and some may even quote the first verse of that chapter to serve as evidence that they understand what faith is, and how it works. Even after having that verse memorized for years, it still didn't connect with me as to what that looks like until after having my eyes of understanding opened regarding the demonstration of faith that Jesus speaks of surrounding his interaction with the Roman centurion.

"When Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, and saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel." Matthew 8:5-10.

Here, it can be seen that faith is not simply a matter of believing that what God has said is true, but it also involves relying upon the word of God to accomplish that which the word of God says. This may sound simple enough until a person is brought to the test as to whether they will rely upon God, or rely upon their own strength to fulfill his word. The most famous example of this from Scripture is Abraham and Sarah. God gave Abraham the word that he would be the head of a great nation, and that his seed would be as the sand of the sea. But because Sarah was barren, he took matters into his own hands (at the behest of Sarah), and impregnated Sarah's handmaid, Hagar. Because of this, when the word of God came to pass, and Isaac was born, Abraham needed to be tested to see if he had cultivated the faith that pleases God. This could have very well costed Isaac his life, but if it had, God could have resurrected him from the dead.

This is why it is written, "know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham." Galatians 3:7. Those who have this faith are the ones who are the fulfillment of the promise God made to Abraham. In contrast to this, we are also warned, "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils." 1 Timothy 4:1. At the same time, the final victory of the people of God is documented in the Revelation. "Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." Revelation 14:12.