A Leap of Faith

This article was originally published here, on August 28, 2009.

Many struggle with the idea of taking a leap of faith. They assume that taking a leap of faith is the same as taking a leap in the dark. However, nothing could be farther from the truth. Faith is the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things not seen (see Heb. 11:1).  Faith does not exist without cause.

There are many evidences that could be given that would demonstrate the reality of God. However, these evidences are never accepted as definitive by skeptical minds. There is an agenda to the doubt--truth suppression (see Rom. 1:18-20). They don't want to take a leap of faith, because it will be a leap into the light, and they love the darkness (see John 3:19).

Taking a leap of faith requires repentance and trust. It requires that we truly believe that Christ died in our place, was pierced for our transgressions, paid our sin debt, was buried and was raised again to life on the third day. It requires that we have a holy hatred toward sin, because the Spirit brought into our consciousness, through conviction, God's hatred toward sin and the pending righteous judgment that we face.

I used to believe having "faith" was the same thing as having an opinion, but now I know that isn't the case. As a professing atheist, I was arrested by the gospel. The Spirit brought conviction of sin into my heart. I knew that I had offended a holy and righteous God, and I trembled at that reality. The Spirit also brought a hope to life in me, even in the midst of that conviction, that through Jesus' death and resurrection I could be forgiven of sin and be welcomed into the family of God.

I felt like I was caught between a rock and a hard place. I loved my sin: the sin which was destroying me, the sin which had made me by nature an object of wrath, sin which had separated me from my Creator in this life and the sin that would condemn me in the next. Yet, I needed to be cleansed, to be forgiven. Hope called me to take a leap of faith. By the grace of God, I leaped into the light. Have you taken a leap of faith, yet?