Faith and Fantasy

By C.& J. Lee

“Now faith is the substance of things

hoped for, the evidence of things

not seen.” (Heb. 11:1.)

Much has been said and written, and there has been much speculation, concerning what faith really is. All church-corporations, with their different confessions of faith and human regulations, claim of their members unquestioning belief in what their founders and leaders present, and that person who in any way deviates from this rule is often accused of not having the true faith. But the faith which the Holy Scripture speaks of is altogether unknown to most people.

Here the apostle gives us an intimation of the meaning of faith. It is “the evidence of things NOT seen.” And the apostle Jude encourages his contemporaries to “contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” The goal of faith belongs to the future, and the believers are urged to contend for its attainment. Here it concerns the faith in God’s promises and their fulfillment.

If we understand that these promises signify a glorious change of both heaven and earth and everything living, then we immediately realize that the belief in these promises embraces things which are NOT NOW visible. These things are not only invisible to us, they are not yet in existence, for they belong to the future and their appearance is dependent upon God’s ability to create as well as to carry out His promises. Therefore, if we do as Sarah did, judge “him faithful, who had promised” (Heb. 11:11), then we wait with patience for their realization and concentrate upon our efforts to walk the new and living way, which leads towards the new creation, made known in the Word of God. If we follow this road towards the goal, then we gradually grow into the new creation and fit there when the work is finished.

Many people believe that the “things not seen” already exist somewhere in the universe – preferably “above the stars” – and that when we die the veil is taken away so that the “immortal soul” is given unhindered view of that glorious creation. Such faith is of an entirely different kind than the faith our text speaks of, and we will try to illustrate this by a couple of examples.

We know that highly imaginative fiction writers have invented fables and numerous stories about monstrous things, troll-kings in the mountains, fairies and hobgoblins, etc., also how such tales have been believed and looked upon as reality by many, especially in times past. Now, however, this is considered superstition among civilized people. But when it comes to fantastic paintings of heaven with its imaginary glory “up there”, then millions of so-called Christians are still standing on the pagan’s level, looking longingly up towards the cold, starry sphere, fantasying about the blissful dwellings they believe they will occupy in the future.

Why are they looking toward the stars for their future home? The foundation for the thought that the home is located there is exactly the same as that of the troll-legends. It is fantasy and nothing else. You can see the mountain, but without imagination you can't see any trolls there. We can see the stars, but without imagination no one could see any golden city above them. In both of these cases it is the imagination of the stronger mind (the fictionist’s) pressing itself upon the weaker mind and these impressions are often falsely called faith. The person who does not understand Jehovah’s promises concerning the future is easily influenced by fantasy-paintings and is convinced that they embrace the reality.

Christ has said that “heaven and earth shall pass away” (Matt. 24:35). Can an intelligent person imagine that there would be any lasting happiness in a home which is doomed to perish? And who should want to believe that the Almighty Creator could be so unmethodical as to bring forth an indescribably glorious home for His faithful and later burn it up? (See 2 Peter 3:10 – “. . . the . . . heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.”) Those who are waiting to go to heaven after they die and to stroll along on golden streets should reflect for a moment over these circumstances.

Now let us try a different picture. “Faith is the substance of things hoped for.” What is the hope of the believer according to the Scriptures? That God’s promises will become a reality. “Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.” (2 Peter 3:13.) We wait for new heavens and a new earth; but we do not see anything thereof today. No, they belong to the future. What God has promised, that He certainly will keep, and His creative-power is not diminished. The living creation gives us daily proof of this. The things which are not seen belong to the coming creation and faith in the arrival of this creation and removal of this world of evil and death, which is included in the preparation for it, reaches into the future and leads the believer to work and struggle harder for his belief. Perhaps a picture from everyday life could throw light upon this struggle.

***A farmer is given charge of some wasteland. Maybe it has been mismanaged for a long time and is completely covered with weeds. It is a sorrowful sight, but he sees the possibility of improvement, and in his mind he visualizes fertile ground with rolling fields of grain as well as many other farm products. His faith in its possibilities is firm and unshakable; therefore he goes to work clearing the land and preparing it for sowing, whereupon he sows his grain and then struggles to keep the field free from weeds and bugs in anticipation of his faith’s goal -- a rich harvest. He can’t see the crop, but he believes it will be forthcoming, and this spurs him to work and struggle. He has complete confidence in what he hopes for, and although the crop is invisible in the Spring, yet it comes up at its appointed time.

But think if, instead of working and struggling for his faith, he should be content with simply foolishly believing, what would the result be? A field full of weeds in the Fall as well as in the Spring, and no crop.***

When God through the Messianic power clears the earth of all the works of the apostasy and re-establishes His everlasting and incorruptible kingdom, then the things which are not seen will come forth and become a magnificent, living reality.

“For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.”

(Is. 61:11.)

Therefore, let us not neglect to contend for the faith if we have become partakers of it! The weeds of iniquity flourish and the intrigues of delusion work continually to prevent the scepter of Christ from being raised over the circle of the earth. May we all take our stand on the side of truth and justice, until faith’s victory is won!

-- S. & S. , 18/26