Living by Faith

Behold the proud, his soul is not upright in him; but the just shall live by his faith.

Habakkuk 2:4

Habakkuk describes a way of life. More than just a metaphor to describe the journey, “living by faith” provides a deep contrast to the way of pride. The disparity deepens when you consider that the soul of the proud is not “upright” and the life of faith is the life of the “just”. In plain speech, Habakkuk describes the difference between the right way and the wrong way to live. It’s fairly easy to see the sins of the Babylonian kingdom in the late 7^th century B.C. as described in Habakkuk. But, when we look in the mirror it’s a different story.

So how do we live by faith? It’s tempting to reduce our faith to inner beliefs that lack tangible expression. That’s not the kind of faith Habakkuk describes. In the words of Eugene Peterson, faith has to do with “marrying Invisible and Visible”. Living by faith requires transformation. It begins with a difficult surrender. A proud life is a closed life. Authenticity and vulnerability are the great enemies of pride. The life of faith is an open life. It is a bold trust. Have I placed my whole life in God’s hands?  Am I willing to take God’s Word to heart? Peterson goes on to describe faith as a radical reorientation “in which God’s presence is the dominant and defining reality”. When God’s presence gives meaning and direction to decisions, goals and relationships the life of faith begins to take shape.