Can you have one without the other?
Can you have one without the other? The answer is yes, but to what avail?
Mirriam Webster’s dictionary defines believe as: “to consider the true honest; a state habit of mind in which trust or confidence placed in some person or thing.” It defines faith as: “an allegiance to duty or a person, sincerity of intention, belief and trust in and loyalty to God.”
Belief is a conscious decision to trust that something exists or having firm confidence in some person or thing. Whereas faith is having complete trust or confidence in someone or something, it is the action of belief. The word faith appears in the KJV Bible 247 times. The word believe appears 249 times. It is one thing to believe an airplane will fly, to get on that plane means putting your faith and trust there.
We need to ask ourselves what do we believe in? There are things in our life we believe in but take for granted, like the rising of the sun, or there will be air for us to breathe every day. Simple things like when you turn the key in the ignition of your car it will start. But besides the superfluous things of everyday life what would you say your core belief is? Do you believe in country, family, God? In what do you put your trust?
In today’s society it has become increasingly hard to believe in the things you see with your eyes. AI is now becoming part of every commercial, ad, and everything you see on TV. Even the news media can’t be trusted because it is AI generated.
So where does that leave us? I think the answer is quite simple. It is printed on every piece of currency we have of the United States. “IN GOD WE TRUST.” It seems pretty simple when you get right down to it. It is what our founding fathers believed, and this country has stood strong for over 200 years.
For me the foundation of trust is belief in the Bible. And faith is belief with strong conviction. Romans 10:17 states: “so faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” My faith is in something older than 200 years, even older than 2000 years. It has never been proven wrong, nor a single contradiction has ever been found within its pages.
One of my favorite songs is one by Elvis Presley, titled I BELIEVE. I have even sung it at special events. The words in the song are a little bit on the ambiguous side, but if you believe in God then this song can be a very powerful one.
I believe for every drop of rain that falls
A flower grows
I believe that somewhere in the darkest night
A candle glows
I believe for everyone who goes astray, someone will come
To show the way
I believe, I believe
I believe above a storm, the smallest prayer
Can still be heard
I believe that someone in the great somewhere
Hears every word
Every time I hear a new born baby cry
Or touch a leaf or see the sky
Then I know why I believe
Believe, I believe
Every time I hear a new born baby cry
Or touch a leaf or see the sky
Then I know why I believe
I believe
As parents do our children have any idea what we believe in or what our faith is based on? How do we instill faith in them? The answer is as old as time, by living what you believe! Let them see you read the Bible every day and pray to the God that you believe in, so they can have a firm foundation in faith.
We authors, often write about mystical magical mumbo-jumbo. It is oftentimes fun and whimsical, but we have to ask ourselves should we contribute something to the world besides entertainment? We can lead the way to belief and trust in what our currency states. “IN GOD WE TRUST!”
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believe it in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1
“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17
“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” 2 Corinthians 5:7
“For by grace you are saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is a gift of God.” Ephesians 2:8
“Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised).” Hebrews 10:23
“And all things, whatsoever he shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.” Matthew 1:22
“And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; that believe it’s on me shall never thirst. John 6:35
“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Hebrews 11:6
“For with the heart man believe it unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Romans 10:10
“And they said, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and I house.” Acts 16:31