Convictions Determine Conduct

In summary of Hebrews 11:1 it says, “Now faith means putting our full confidence in the things we hope for, it means being certain of things we cannot see.”

Bottom line:
Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.

What this means to me:
Faith to me means putting my assurance (my confirmation) in the things that I hope for, being the proof of things I do not actually see, but having the conviction of their fact / reality.  It’s a faith that makes me sure of what I hope for and it gives me proof of that which I cannot see.  The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes my life worth living. It’s my handle on what I can’t see.  It’s a conviction that includes all my values, commitments, and motivations. “A belief is something you will argue about. A conviction is something you will die for!"   And it is my convictions that determine my conduct.  It’s what motivates me to act in a certain way.  It is interesting that many in our society have strong convictions about weak issues (football, fashions, etc.) while having weak convictions about major issues (what is right and what is wrong).  I hope that today I can be a man who models my convictions and makes others interested in why I’m so different and for the hope that I have.