I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you. Ephesians 1:18 (NIV)
The story of three people on a plane from yesterday reminds us that the strength of your faith does not affect your arrival in heaven, but it makes a huge difference to your experience on the journey.
Paul prays for believers that we may “know the hope” to which God has called us. You may be wondering, Isn’t assurance presumptuous? How is it possible for a sinner to be confident before God? But John Wesley wrote: “Bold I approach the eternal throne and claim the crown through Christ my own.” Is it ever appropriate for us to say this?
If salvation rested on our work, assurance would be nothing but pride and presumption. It would be like saying, “I’m confident that I have what it takes.” But salvation does not rest on our work. It rests on Christ’s work. Far from exalting us, Christians’ assurance exalts Christ because it is confidence, not in what you have done for Him, but in what He has done for you.
God calls you to grow in faith. The Scriptures speak about pursuing faith (2 Tim. 2:22), being strengthened in faith (Col. 2:7), putting on faith as a breastplate (1 Thes. 5:8), faith growing more and more (2 Thes. 1:3), being encouraged in faith (1 Thes. 3:2), and supplying what is lacking in faith (1 Thes. 3:10). So we have good reason to join with the disciples in praying, “Lord, increase our faith” (Luke 17:5).
On a scale of 1 (very weak) to 10 (very strong) how would you rate your faith?
