Faith Comes Before Understanding

We have to let go of our common way of thinking...

A few weeks ago we talked about faith in the biblestudy class we teach at our church in Holland. We looked at a whole bunch of scriptures together, but the one that stood out for me that evening was Hebrews 11:3,

By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command...

By faith we understand! How we would love to turn that one around! Our human desire is to understand first, so we can believe! Nothing wrong with pure logic, but it is simply not the way it works in the spiritual realm, in God's Kingdom.

Understanding does not come from education or reasoning but from an act of trust: faith! This is such a huge key to gain wisdom! We have to let go of our common way of thinking and accept things in faith first, then our eyes will be opened and we will gain understanding. And once we have understanding we can start to study! I know that does NOT sound logical, but it is just the way it works with God.

The above mentioned scripture deals with Creation (as in contrast to evolution), a topic that has kept debaters, doubters and Darwinists busy for the longest time. Why? Because they want to understand first. That search is without end, because the Bible clearly teaches that faith goes before revelation. I have heard numerous testimonies of scolars, scientists and sceptics who spent their lifetime in search for understanding and finally gave up. At the very moment they gave up their struggle and accepted truth, understanding came!

Next time you read something in the Bible that keeps you struggling to understand, accept the word in faith, accept that the word is truth. And then pray to the Holy Spirit for understanding to come. I am not afraid to promise you that the light will turn on!