What is faith?  King Henry the Eighth’s throne came with the title “Defender of the Faith”. Jesus prayed that Peter’s faith would be strong. The Bible tells us that faith can move mountains. We are told that as followers of Christ, we have been given a measure of faith. The Bible tells us that we must believe that God is, and that He rewards those that diligently seek Him. Faith comes by hearing, and by hearing the word of God. Without faith, it is impossible to please God.

It is possible to lose our faith. Something can happen that is so meaningful and painful to us that it causes us to walk away from the faith. Paul said that he kept the faith. All the things Paul went through, shipwreck, rejection, beatings, imprisonment, loss of position, none of those things moved him. Paul truly kept the faith.

I am speaking to those of you who have lost your faith. You no longer believe in a God you cannot see, or speak with, or touch. You have thrown away your Bible because of something that happened to you. Perhaps your child died, perhaps you were waiting on God and just got weary of well doing, and perhaps the things of this world became too important to you. Whatever may have caused you to walk away, know this: you have a Father in Heaven who loves you very much. God’s love is not based on our actions, but rather it is based on who He is. I do not like to end a sentence with a preposition, however, in this case the word “is” represents God’s mighty power as big as when he told Moses to tell Pharaoh that “I AM” sent him.

God is love. Your Father knows the very number of hairs on your head. Your Father, like the story of the prodigal son in the Bible, is waiting for you to come home. In fact, Jesus said he would leave the ninety-nine to go after one lost sheep. Never doubt the One who knew you before you were formed in your mother’s womb. Your Father wonderfully and fearfully made you. He has a great plan for you.

If you have been mad at God for a long time, ask yourself “why”? Whatever happened or did not happen, did God really cause it? God so loved this world that He sent His only begotten son, Jesus, to die on a cross, so that we might be reconciled to Him. Is this the kind of God who puts sickness on a child? Why would God do that? The Bible tells us in Matthew 7: “If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” How much more does our Heavenly Father know how to give than our earthly parents? When God gave us His son Jesus, there was nothing else comparable with that gift.

I can hear you now saying your words are nice, but it has been too long. God would not forgive me know. I say to you that you never truly knew God. Your Father has collected every tear you have ever cried and kept them. Your Father knows every wrong that has been done in your life. Your Father is aware of every promise He has ever made to you, and if you did not see it, you did not wait long enough. Our Father moves at His speed not ours.

When Lazarus was sick, his sisters sent for Jesus to come and heal him. Jesus did not arrive on their timetable. In fact, Lazarus died before Jesus arrived. Do you think Jesus did not know this would happen, or He did not care? Jesus knew, but He had a greater purpose. Martha said to Jesus, “If you only had been here earlier, you could have healed him.” Jesus said, “I am the Resurrection and the life.” Jesus called Lazarus from the grave, from death, and Lazarus came forth alive and well. Jesus showed that even death was not greater than His power. There may be some dead things in your life, but Jesus can bring them back to life again.

Remember this: if someone you love was not healed, and they are now in Heaven, don’t you want to join them? If there are some dreams dead in your life, don’t you want them brought back to life?  If there are some promises dead in your life, don’t you want to see them come true?  There is nothing impossible with God!

Come home! Your Father in Heaven is waiting and so are your brothers and sisters in Christ!