What's the Opposite of Faith?

What's the Opposite of Faith?

We often say fear is the opposite of faith, but it's not directly so. Fear maybe the opposite of boldness or confidence, it won't be the opposite of faith until the confidence that drove away fear is rooted in our dependence on God.

Boldness and confidence will drive away fear, yet that doesn't mean faith will be present. Lack of fear isn't equal to the presence of faith in God.

Faith is the confidence we have in God as we depend on Him through His word. It is the relationship we develop with Him in response to our knowledge of His love, plan, power and faithfulness. Faith isn't an absence of fear though with faith fear won't be in control.

Confidence can be in the arm of flesh, yours or of another. Confidence and trust may be in money or in wealth and with that fear may not be near even when failure and shame are near remember the parable of Jesus Christ of the rich fool. That you don't feel fear doesn't mean you are safe.

Lack of fear doesn't mean danger is not near. One may just be ignorant of the presence of danger. Confidence maybe out of foolishness, the inability to discern the facts on ground properly in order to take an informed position on issues.

The opposite of faith is also the opposite of confidence in God because faith in God is also confidence in God. Confidence in other things towards achieving the will of God is the opposite of confidence in God to attain His will.

Wanting to attain salvation through ones ability, wanting to expend one's perceived wisdom, power, fame, smartness, efforts or any other means to achieve divine expectations or personal success is the opposite of faith in God.

Laboring outside of God's grace towards attaining God's pleasure or personal goals is the opposite of faith.

Fear then can be an attraction to faith. When we face danger and are frightened we hear from God's Spirit, fear not I am here!

Faith makes us call out to God when we are afraid. Fear leaves when God steps in. That should be the way we deal with our fears.

Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved! The question is why do I need to call upon the name of the Lord? If I don't have the sense of danger that manifests through fear, I won't call.

The disciples of Jesus were in the ship while Jesus stayed back and a storm arose. They were afraid and that danger called upon Jesus and He had to walk on water to go meet them to help them.

Are you afraid of perceived danger? Let your fear be the motivation for your faith. Let your faith call out towards God for salvation and you shall be saved!

Let your fear make you know that you don't have what it takes to handle the situation. Let your fear bring you to realize that God is good and powerful enough to help you. Let your fear drive you to God who can save and supply every need. Let your fear instruct you not to trust in your own arm or in any other arm of man, let your fear push you to depend totally on God. Let your fear make you know that you are safe in God's hands.

So fear that confidence in your own strength or in the promises of man. That's where real danger is. We can of ourselves do nothing. We can only do all things through the strength Christ gives. We can't trust our own wisdom, we should be afraid when we do, but we can trust in the wisdom of God. The arm of flesh will fail! We can't trust in our own goodness, that's why Jesus said none is good except God, we can only trust in the goodness God does through us. We can't trust in our own righteousness, it's all like a smelling rag before God, but we can trust in God's gift of righteousness to help us please God. We can't trust in our givings to get God's blessings, what can we give that'll be enough to receive divine approval to grant us even our breathe for a minute? But we can trust in the sacrifice God made of His Son on our behalf to bring us eternal salvation and redemption from the power of the dark Kingdom!

It is not of works, lest any man should boast!

When we are weak, let's turn to God's strength!
When we can do nothing, let's turn to Him who can do all things!

Let's rely totally on Him and when we have to labor as we'll always need to do, let's labor with His grace...and not with the arms of flesh!
We can't say we are in faith towards God when all we do is trust in ourselves and in other imperfect, powerless and unfaithful men!

The opposite of faith in God is faith in self!

Good Morning!