Following Faith

Where are the toppling Jericho walls? The parting of the Red Sea? The glorious temple? The pillar of fire? The eagle’s wings that renew our strength?

We want to see.

But did Matthew see? How much did Peter see?

They left all and followed.

And learned.

And worshipped.

Following faith precedes knowledge faith.

We know the promises through following faith first and not first knowledge faith. Jesus does not give us promises apart from himself.

The eagle’s wings are his wings, his strength exchanged for ours. The pillar of fire that shepherded the Israelites? They were the feet of God. The parting of the Red Sea? That was his breath. The angel wrestling with Jacob? That was God in a condescended form. The prophets didn’t just have a message, they breathed and ate the words of God.

Jesus gives us himself. He is not just a gate to a paradise on the other side. He is not a key to unlock promises. He is the paradise. He is the promises.

I AM the Vine, the Way and the Truth and the Life, the Resurrection and the Life, the Good Shepherd, the Bread of Life, the Morning Star, the Bridegroom, the Gate. I AM.

And so how can we expect the promises, the knowledge faith, the seeing apart from following faith?

In weakness, he is our Strength.

In darkness, he is our Light.

Do we expect to know, really know him as Light before we enter the dark? Do we expect to know him as All before we have nothing? Do we expect to know him as the Thirst-Satisfier before we thirst? We are not given a pack of promises; we are given him. And that means experiential. Living. Treading. Paul uses the word “walk” for much of the Christian faith, “walk by the Spirit.”

by Brian Jekel

We know him by following faith, walking with him. We have an intimacy that is wrought by experience. Husband and wife who have gone through the conflict have probed into the crannies of each other’s hearts. The soldiers in combat have a comradery soldered and welded by fire. I want to know Christ in the fellowship of his sufferings, his resurrection, his service, his compassion, his power, his authority. I want to know Christ. I want that nothing of his experience—cross and resurrection—that I cannot share in because that means there is a part of Christ’s heart I won’t know. I want to know Christ.

We know him by following faith in the manner he reveals himself. Like any other person, we can’t ask to know him after our own image, on our own terms. He is a person. He is God. Wild and free and holy and pure and burning. Humble and weak and meek and gentle and compassionate. Jesus is the one who was born in a manger. Not the whirlwind or earthquake of political power and triumph, but in the still small voice of a babe. So we have both the fires of experiences but we have the Spirit dwelling in us in the mundane every day. The Fire of God, within us and among us. The Anointing Oil, within us. The Voice of God, within us. The Counselor, within us. The Teacher, within us. The Wine of Gladness, within us. The Eagle’s Wings Strength, within us.

Greater but quieter.

When we want the walls of Jericho to fall, we have the Spirit himself tearing down strongholds within us and through us and among us (1 Cor. 10:4-5). Marvel. Greater. But quieter. 

Following faith, we know him. Jesus himself, his Spirit in us, united to the Father. 

Matthew and Peter?

Following faith led to boldness, a bold trust in the heart of the Father, the greatness of Christ, and the power of the Spirit. The religious leaders were astonished and recognized “they had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13).

Be with Jesus. He is our Promise (1 Cor. 1:20-22).