Sermon by Pastor Nathan Johnson, August 10, 2025
In a world that often seems to have lost its moral compass, where decency appears to be in short supply, and where long-held values are under constant attack, how do we as people of faith navigate these turbulent waters? How do we stand firm when society seeks to dismiss, demean, and divest us of our dignity and contributions?
The answer lies in a profound truth that has sustained believers for millennia: faith. But not just any faith – a faith that is rooted in something far more substantial than wishful thinking or positive affirmations.
True faith, as described in Hebrews 11:1, is “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” This isn’t mere optimism or a leap in the dark. It’s a solid foundation upon which we can build our lives, a substructure that supports everything else.
Consider for a moment what you’ve built your life upon. Is it worldly success? Material possessions? Reputation? While these things may seem solid, they all have expiration dates. They’re unstable, uncertain, and ultimately unsatisfying. But when we build our lives on faith in God, we’re standing on the only truly unshakeable ground there is.
As the old hymn reminds us, “On Christ, the solid rock I stand; all other ground is sinking sand.” This isn’t just a catchy phrase – it’s a profound truth that can anchor us in life’s storms.
But what exactly are we putting our faith in? The Bible tells us that without faith, it’s impossible to please God. And the first step of faith is believing that God is. Not that God was, or might be, but that God is – present tense, active, alive, and intimately involved in our lives.
This God isn’t a distant, impersonal force. He’s a God who works behind the scenes, orchestrating circumstances we can’t even see. How many times have we looked back on our lives and realized that God was managing, arranging, and preventing things on our behalf, even when we couldn’t perceive it?
Faith gives us the assurance that even when life seems chaotic or hopeless, God is at work. It provides us with a transcendent outlook – a perspective that sees beyond our current circumstances to the eternal realities that await us.
This faith-filled perspective doesn’t just impact our view of the future; it transforms how we live in the present. When we truly believe that God is real and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him, it changes everything. We begin to live not just for the temporary pleasures and successes of this world, but for something far greater and more lasting.
But let’s be clear: this kind of faith isn’t always easy. It doesn’t mean we’ll never face despair, despondency, or depression. Even Jesus experienced sorrow and grief. The difference is that when our faith is built on the right foundation, these challenges don’t have the power to crush us.
Moreover, this faith gives us hope beyond what we can see or experience in this life. It points us to a better place, where we’ll be better people, experiencing God’s presence without interruption. It reminds us that the tangible blessings we enjoy now – houses, cars, even our physical bodies – are temporary. But what God has prepared for those who love Him is eternal and incorruptible.
So how do we cultivate this kind of faith? It starts with recognizing that faith is a personal matter. You can’t ride on someone else’s coattails into heaven. Each of us must choose to trust God for ourselves. Your parents or grandparents may have been great believers, but that only exposed you to faith – it didn’t grant you salvation.
Choosing faith means forsaking all else and putting our trust entirely in God. It means saying “yes” to what God has done for us through Jesus Christ. When Jesus died on the cross, He paid the debt for our sins, our rebellion against God. But that payment only becomes effective in our lives when we choose to believe and accept it.
In practical terms, living by faith means waking up each day with the conviction that God is real, that He’s working on our behalf, and that serving Him is worth it – even when the immediate circumstances might suggest otherwise. It means choosing to please God rather than conforming to the shifting standards of society.
As we navigate a world that often seems hostile to faith, let’s remember that we’re not alone. We’re part of a long line of believers who have faced similar challenges throughout history. Like them, we can choose to stand firm on the unshakeable foundation of faith in God.
So today, wherever you find yourself, whatever challenges you’re facing, remember this: God is. He’s real, He’s active, and He’s intimately involved in your life. Choose to trust Him. Build your life on the solid rock of faith in Christ. And watch as that faith becomes the evidence of things not yet seen, the assurance that God is working all things together for your good.
In a world of uncertainty, let faith be your certainty. In a society that seeks to dismiss and demean, let faith be your dignity. And in the face of forces that seek to divest you of hope, let faith be your unshakeable conviction that the best is yet to come.