Augustine penned long ago that, “Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe.” Has anyone considered the grandeur of faith? It is fair to say that as finite creatures we have not encountered the presence of God as the saints do now embrace. Hebrews eleven highlights a bit of that splendor in a litany of verses that stress the present and the future of faith. Augustine breathed that experience when he looked ahead to the promise result of faith (Gr.pistos).
Though we see grimly, not in its entirety, we as believers take real glimpses into the face of God. In mercy and deed, we experience a reality that is now at work. We practice what James calls “true religion.” Communal love, communal sacrifice for one another, the feeding of the poor are simple ways in which we explore the “rewards” of faith. Most illuminating though, is the faith we receive when we are nourished in the meal. Yes, a meal that ushers us into the very presence of God. There, faith is at work in a mighty way. For by faith we have been saved and by faith we will be saved until the day when faith will no longer be necessary for we shall see Him as He is. When faith is no longer a necessity, the manifestation and the Person of unfaltering faith will be our guide for all eternity and with Him we will cherish the rewards of faith.
