The Webster dictionary defines faith as the unquestioning belief, especially in religion. That definition has some weakness. The Bible defines faith as:
“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (Heb 11:1)
How does one arrive at such a faith that one is assured of things hoped for and is convicted that even things not seen will be a reality. The Bible gives an answer:
“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.” Romans 10:17
Faith develops when one hears the word of God. When one sees what God claims He can do in His word. Abraham started walking in relationship with God and his faith developed from sometimes doubting to a complete surrender to the directives of God. This is the assurance of things hoped for talked of in Hebrews 11:1. Faith has to deal with the object of faith. It is not just unquestioning believe. These believe must be based on facts that the object of faith is actually true. One may have unquestioning faith that a stone can hear and help during trouble. However, much that person will believe that stone to be hearing and that it will help will not change the fact that it can’t hear and help. Faith is violational commitment of an informed intellect. That is why Yahweh of the Bible calls man to come and reason with Him. It is not faith in a false object. That is why the writer of Hebrews continued to say:
“And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6).
God has given able evidence that he exists (Romans 1:19-21). Whatever He has claimed to do for us is there clear in the Bible to be proofed whether it is right. When He claims, “I am Yahweh your healer.” Have you proved that He heals? Or you believed that He heals unquestioningly? When He claims, “I am He that gives you power to get wealth have you proved that promise to be true? That is what will make you have unquestioning and firm assurance in what the word says, God has not declared come to me and don’t question! He wants one to come with all the questioning and end up like Abraham who ended up without question. That is faith settled and secure in the word of God.
Is such a faith relevant in the modern world? Yes indeed. When one knows that God is faithful one can claim what God has promised to be a reality in his life. When one has doubt as concerns the faithfulness of his God; one may not claim the promises of God upon his life. Faith that is the calling of those things which are not as if they are is relevant in the modern world (Rom 4:17).You claim the promises of God because you know He is faithful that as promised.