Your BOF

I have been thinking about this passage in Hebrews 11:1, which is known to many. It reads, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." We can quote this verse, but the meaning can be elusive. I pondered the simplicity of these words and yet knew we often can't grasp and hold onto faith. As God often does with me, He gave me a visual. You can take it or leave it, or perhaps the door to your understanding will be opened a little more. I will explain this in a story.

A certain SOMEONE came to know Jesus Christ as Savior. He was ecstatic and joyful, for his sins had been forgiven and he became a new creation. His faith in God soared! He lived in the clouds of faith, trusting God completely. Because of his faith, a BOF (butterfly of faith) came to rest on his head. This BOF was beautiful, just like his faith. It contained beautiful colors and a gentleness. However, it was fragile in that it required protection. The SOMEONE was not aware of this aspect of the BOF because he was a new Christian, but he enjoyed the company of the BOF everywhere he went.

One day, a storm unexpectedly came up out of nowhere. The wind howled and beat against the SOMEONE and he was rattled to the core. His BOF was also exposed to this storm, and because it had no protection, it flew away to find shelter. The SOMEONE was devastated that his BOF had left and cried and cried. He determined in his heart that if the BOF ever returned, he would figure out a way to shelter it. Eventually the storm dissipated, and the sun came out and the BOF returned. The SOMEONE was very happy that his BOF had not left forever. Life was good again and the SOMEONE went on his merry way.

Not too long after the return of the BOF, another storm emerged, more severe than the one before. This storm brought howling winds, hail, and snow, but the SOMEONE was ready. He cupped his hand and held it over the BOF. Even though the hand helped, the wind still whipped around the BOF and the hail hammered between SOMEONE's fingers. The BOF could not withstand the storm, even with SOMEONE's best effort, so he flew away.

Devastated, SOMEONE crashed to his knees, asking God what he could do to keep his BOF protected from the storms that always seemed to come quickly and unexpectedly. In a quiet voice, God told SOMEONE to open his hands. God gently placed an opened Bible in his hands and spoke: "This is where your BOF will be protected. For every storm that occurs, the answer for protection lies within these pages."

My friends, we cannot keep our faith without knowing how to protect it from the storms of life. We don't have to have great faith to be spiritually sound, we just need to know what the Word of God says and apply those words to our storms, whether they are big or small. Protecting our faith requires knowledge of what God has spoken. Know the Word. It's our protection. Blessings.

Deb