Speaker: Dr. Harold J. Sala | Series: Guidelines For Living | Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” Matthew 14:31

The English evangelist George Whitefield once asked a coal miner in Cornwall, England, what he believed. “Oh,” said the miner, “I believe what my church believes.” Then Whitefield asked, “And what does your church believe?” “Well,” he answered, “the church believes what I believe.” Somewhat frustrated he asked, “What do you both believe?” “We both believe the same thing,” replied the man (as related by George Sweeting in Who Said That? (Chicago: Moody Press, 1995), p. 188).

Right! If you don’t know where you are going, how will you know when you arrive at your destination? A. W. Tozer insists that faith is a journey—not a destination. For some, spiritual truths crystallize very quickly. They see themselves as they are—needy and lost without God; and the promise of Jesus Christ, who said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6) becomes a lifeline to safety—a bridge that they quickly cross. But for many the journey from despair to faith is not so easy.

Actually Jesus taught that there is a price tag attached to faith, and should someone not be willing to count the cost, he is better not to join the ranks of the pilgrims who walk by faith, not by sight. Luke records how Jesus told the story of a man who wanted to build a tower. He asked, “Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, ‘This fellow began to build and was not able to finish’” (Luke 14:28-30).

At the time, large crowds were following Jesus, embracing His teaching, clamoring for the bread and fish that He had provided. There is a cost to following, he taught. Was Jesus actually discouraging people from following Him? Or was he saying, “Look, here is want I demand of you, and if you are not willing to take up your cross and follow me, don’t talk the language and think that you have made peace with God.”

OK, you say, is that true today? For many today there is a price attached to faith in God. To become a Christian is like signing your death warrant. In other cases your life is not in jeopardy but your rise to prominence in your company is threatened. You are not sure that corporate headquarters would appreciate someone who can’t bend the rules.

The book of Genesis tells of the night that Jacob wrestled with God and cried out, “I will not let you go unless you bless me!” That night God touched Him and changed His name.

On a tree at Forest Home Christian Conference Center is a metal inscription noting that it was at this point that a young man known to his friends as Billy Franklin ceased to wrestle with his doubt and made the commitment to follow Jesus Christ without reservation. You probably know that person as Billy Graham.

There is a closing thought I leave you with. God is patient, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to life. It’s OK to search for the truth, to understand the terms and conditions upon which you cast yourself on the mercy of God, but once you are fully convinced of the truth, fully persuaded that Jesus died for your sins, and that He was buried, and He rose again the third day, and you still refuse to embark on the journey of faith, you turn back towards the darkness instead of walking towards the light. And that, friend, is a danger that offers no hope or help. Faith is not a blind leap in the dark but walking towards the light.

Resource reading: Genesis 32:22-32