Faith Is Not Blind

By Reverend Michael Farias

I have learned that if I want to accomplish something, I must have a plan.  I have also learned that I must apply faith to the plan.  I really love it when I have a plan of action and I see tangible results unfolding before my eyes.  Of course, on the other hand, I don’t love it when I don’t see results. During the times when I can’t see results, I must build by faith.  

There are times when we walk according to the plan and there are times we walk by faith.  We need both in our lives.  Just think of Noah.

Noah was given a strategy and a complete set of plans for building the ark.  God downloaded exactly the right specifications in order to fulfill the mission.  The boat Noah was instructed to build needed to float and not leak, and God told Noah how to do it.  Noah simply needed to follow the plans.  No faith was required for Noah to fit the pieces of the puzzle together because he had the specification sheet.

Even though Noah had the plan and the specs, he had something else: faith.  Noah is included in the great faith chapter in the Bible, Hebrews 11.  

By faith, Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household…  Hebrews 11:7 NKJV

Noah built the ark by faith, and he built the ark by plans.

Building according to the plan is an exercise in obedience.  Building when you don’t know if the plan is right is an exercise in faith.

There was nothing wrong with the set of plans Noah received, it was a proven winner.  The ark floated, and it held together, and the mission was accomplished.  The question mark for Noah was the why.  Why am I doing this?  Is it really going to rain?  Why? Is it going to float?  Are the animals really going to board the ship?  Why?  

The world had never flooded before, and Noah is supposed to somehow not only prepare for this unimaginable event, but also save his family, and all of the animals as well.  He must have had so many questions.  We could go on and on speculating about the questions that flooded (pardon the pun) Noah’s mind.

All of the questions didn’t stop him.  His faith propelled him forward.

In Exodus, we can read every detail of the plan that God sent to Moses for the building of a mobile tabernacle.  There are over 5,000 words describing just how it was to be built, and Noah accomplished the mission he was given.

David also received a plan from the Lord. His was for building the temple.  

Then King David rose to his feet and said, “Hear me, my brethren and my people: I had it in my heart to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and for the footstool of our God, and had made preparations to build it.  2 Chronicles 28:2.  

The plan was in David’s heart long before the temple ever got built.  Could it be that God’s plan is first put into our hearts, long before it is ever executed through our hands?  David prepared to build the temple, but it was his son, Solomon, who actually did the construction project.  

David said to Solomon, “the Lord has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary; be strong, and do it.”  Then David gave his son Solomon the plans. 2 Chronicles 8:10-11

We need the strategies of the Lord.  We need God to give us the pattern and the plans.

There are times in the life of a leader where we build according to the plan.  That is the easy part.  There are also times in the life of a leader where we build by faith.  That part is much harder.

Be thankful for the download of plans God has given you to build his kingdom, to advance the cause and succeed in your mission.

You can do it.  You can keep swinging the hammer, pounding the keyboard, or proclaiming the message, even when you don’t see results.

Be encouraged: the rain will come, the boat will float, the tabernacle will be transportable, the temple will be magnificent, and His glory will fill the space.