Let's say you want to buy a t-shirt. The first thing you make sure you have is money. Money is the substance you bring for the shirt you hoped for. Now, in the spiritual realm, faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things unseen.
But it really isn't enough to stop at that scripture. If you need a faith boost read Hebrews 11. Here is a snippet then we'll dive back into the faith analogy:
11 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.
3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
6 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.
7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.
12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.
13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:
19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.
20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
Faith is powerful for those who believe. Like money you either have it in hand to buy or you don't. With money you can walk into a store and say I'm going to buy this because I have money. But remember you had the money first. You didn't see the shirt. You may not even have wanted the shirt. But when you decided to get up a login or drive to store you did so with conviction because you had money. On the flip side what is the value of money if you have nothing to buy. It just sits there.
Now think of faith in the same light. Hebrews is saying with faith the things or works were received or done in faith. The faith was the substance of the things hoped for. And just as money is concrete evident of a purchase to be...faith is the evidence of things un seen. Reversed is also true, if you have nothing hoped for...if you have no works then faith just sits there...it is dead! We are called to do works and go forth in the desires the Holy Spirit put in us. But this is another topic for another day...
The great thing is the analogy of faith and money stop there. You need to earn money. By the grace of Jesus, you don't need to earn faith. It is given and grown through the hearing of his word. Yet another topic for different day...
Check out Black Mustard Seed BMS Christian apparel. God gives revelation and often a visual representation comes with that, For this topic I created a faith design imposed with money. This is sure get people's attention and lead a very edifying conservation.
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