Faith is essential to salvation. The Bible clearly states that people without faith cannot be saved. It’s because only those who have faith can obey God’s word and keep the commandments and decrees that God has established for our salvation.

God created the visible and invisible worlds. The world of faith is also invisible, so there is no way to know whether our faith is big or small in ordinary times. Through the teachings of the Bible, let’s find out when and how our faith is revealed and what kind of faith we should have.

Test and examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith

Everyone may have conducted an experiment to test whether a substance is acidic or alkaline, during their school days. We cannot tell whether a solution is acidic or alkaline. However, when we dip litmus paper into a solution, the color changes, so we can see if the solution is acidic or alkaline.

Faith is also invisible. Then, how does God test our faith? We are also in a testing situation, just as litmus paper is put in a solution. In such a specific situation, the degree or size of each person’s faith is revealed. Those who believe that God is always with them do not waver under any circumstances. On the other hand, those who just follow the people around them cannot help but run out of faith someday.

2 Co 13:5–7 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test? And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test. Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong . . .

The Bible advises us to test and examine ourselves every day to see if we are in the faith. If we are abandoned by God as faithless ones, we are also excluded from salvation. We have to always test ourselves to see if we put our faith into action today and clearly prove whether we have faith. The Bible awakens us that everything that does not come from faith is sin in God’s eyes (Ro 14:23).

If we believe that God dwells in us but our faith changes or disappears in various circumstances, it shows that God does not dwell in us. No matter what our situation is, we must always walk on the path of God’s covenant—the path of the promise God has given us.

Situation where faith is revealed

Ponds are frozen hard in midwinter. There are stones, small pieces of iron, wood chips, and leaves on the frozen ponds. In this state, we cannot tell which of them float and which sink in water. However, when spring comes and the ice melts in warm temperatures, their original substances are revealed. Stones and pieces of iron sink in water, while leaves and wood chips float on water.

Things in the invisible world reveal their identity when such situations come. That’s why Jesus gave us the following teaching:

Mt 7:24–27 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

In normal times, a house built on sand and a house build on rock look strong. We build our houses of faith, and we cannot know whose houses are built properly until an external circumstance occurs. However, when we are exposed to various environmental factors—when the rain comes down, the streams rise, and the winds blow, then our faith reveals itself—whether our house of faith is built on rock so it can stand firm or on sand so it will collapse.

God gives us various circumstances where all the invisible things we have can be revealed. That’s why God has told us to always test and examine ourselves to see whether we are in the faith.

Always examine yourself to see who helps and guides you and whether you stand firm in the faith that Father and Mother have given you. There is no reason for us to live a life of faith unless we have the right faith in God. We come to church not just to attend worship services and to have fellowship with one another. The reason we worship and learn God’s word every Sabbath day is to ultimately have faith and do what God says, so we can go to the eternal Kingdom of Heaven.

God tested the faith of the Israelites in the desert

God gives us circumstances where we can see the invisible world. The Israelites’ 40-year journey through the desert is a good example. They lived as slaves in Egypt for 400 years, where they witnessed God’s power when He brought ten plagues upon Egypt and they also saw Pharaoh king of Egypt, who held supreme authority, surrendering to the power of the Passover. Additionally, they experienced the amazing power of God that divided the Red Sea so they could cross the sea as on dry land and utterly destroyed the Egyptian army that had been chasing after them. After experiencing the deniable power of God personally, they had faith in God, who led them through time and history, and came to the desert.

However, it was totally barren. In the wilderness, they were no longer oppressed by Pharaoh and forced into hard labor under the supervision of the harsh taskmasters, but there was no food to eat and no water to drink. In the desert without food and water that were essential for them to survive, they ran out of the food they had brought with them and their journey took longer. When they came out of Egypt, they thought it would take about one month for them to arrive in Canaan. However, as they entered new situations, their thoughts and attitudes changed completely.

They had witnessed the power of God many times and claimed to have faith. From then on, however, they began to grumble and complain, being agitated by those around them. In favorable circumstances, they all seemed to have faith, but in the desert environment they ran out of faith, forgetting everything—God’s power and authority, His promises, etc.

We must remember the lessons from the Israelites’ 40-year wilderness journey. Their 40-year journey through the desert is not just a historical event that took place for 3,500 years, but it is a copy and shadow showing the path of faith we must walk. Through the Bible, let’s compare our faith with theirs and find the difference between them.

Dt 8:1–10 Be careful to follow every command I am giving you today, so that you may live and increase and may enter and possess the land that the Lord promised on oath to your forefathers. Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. Your clothes did not wear out and your feet did not swell during these forty years. Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the Lord your God disciplines you. Observe the commands of the Lord your God, walking in his ways and revering him. For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land . . . When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you.

The words of Deuteronomy 8 are not only given to the Israelites. Through the case of the Israelites, God reveals His will to all people around the world, just as He said, “What I say to you, I say to everyone” (Mk 13:37).

God examined the Israelites in various situations during their 40-year journey through the desert. He caused them to hunger and thirst, made them fight against the gentile nations, and exposed them to the temptation to worship idols. It was because He wanted to ultimately bring them into the land of Canaan flowing with milk and honey, by testing and refining their faith.

However, the Israelites grumbled whenever they were in a difficult situation; they praised God only in favorable circumstances. God was just listening to whatever they said. He found out what was in their hearts—what kind of mindset they had toward Him.

When they were exposed to the external environment, their faith was immediately revealed—whether they had built their houses of faith on rock or on sand. God did not acknowledge them as those who had faith. That’s why the Bible says they were not able to enter Canaan because of their unbelief (Heb 3:7–19).

The faith of Joshua and Caleb who did not waver under any circumstances

Only those who have faith are worthy to enter the land of Canaan. After the Exodus, Moses sent twelve spies to explore the land of Canaan, following God’s command. They were the leaders from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe. However, when they returned from exploring the land, ten of them fell into the logic of the situation. They made a bad report about Canaan, saying that they went into the land where the cities were fortified and the people were of great size so they couldn’t attack them. God created all those circumstances to test their faith, but when the Israelites heard the bad report from the spies, they grumbled against Moses and against God, losing their faith and getting frustrated.

Only Joshua and Caleb tried to silence the people, saying, “Their god has left them, but our God Almighty is with us. We will swallow them up.” As for the people twenty years of age or older, who saw God’s power and miracles when they came out of Egypt, none of them were allowed to enter Canaan, except Joshua and Caleb.

Nu 14:26–30 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron: “How long will this wicked community grumble against me? I have heard the complaints of these grumbling Israelites. So tell them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Lord, I will do to you the very things I heard you say: In this desert your bodies will fall—every one of you twenty years old or more who was counted in the census and who has grumbled against me. Not one of you will enter the land I swore with uplifted hand to make your home, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.’ ”

Falling into the logic of the situation means losing God. However, Joshua and Caleb never lost God, but always walked with Him. They believed that God, who created the universe and everything in it, would easily accomplish the things of the earth, which is just a tiny grain of sand. Here we can see their great faith. They always thought of God and never forgot that God was guiding them. As they had such absolute faith in God, they received the promise that they would be able to enter the land of Canaan.

Today, we are walking the journey of faith in the spiritual desert, and God tests us to see if we have faith great enough to enter the heavenly Canaan flowing with eternal milk and honey. In circumstances where God humbles and tests us, our faith is completely revealed—whether it is built on the rock or sand. Then God finally leads us to the glorious world where we cannot help but praise Him. As the people of Zion, let us follow God who loves us quietly and leads us to the path of life until the end, not forgetting the lessons from the Israelites’ desert journey, so we can enter the eternal Kingdom of Heaven.

Without faith it is impossible to please God

Until we go back to our eternal heavenly home, our faith will be tested in all kinds of situations. Whenever that happens, let’s think of God, just as Joshua and Caleb did. Taking a look back at what happened in the desert for forty years helps us understand what kind of faith enables us to enter the heavenly Canaan.

Heb 11:1–6 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead. By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.

The Bible says that without faith it is impossible to please God. When Jesus healed the blind and the sick who came to Him, He was pleased with their faith, saying, “Your faith has healed you,” “According to your faith will it be done to you” (Mt 9:20–30).

What if we fall into the logic of the situation and forget everything about God, after studying God’s word every day, praying diligently, and keeping His laws? God will feel so anxious, won’t He? We must not lose our heavenly home or turn away from it because of our present situation. We must proceed toward Heaven, believing firmly that God is always with us and helps us.

3,500 years ago, God brought the plagues upon the whole land of Egypt, and let all the plagues pass over the Israelites who were living there. God, who has established Zion and dwells with us in Zion, is our Father and our Mother, and They lead us to the eternal Kingdom of Heaven. I earnestly ask all of you, God’s children, to keep this faith till the end and to give true comfort and peace from God to all people who tremble with fear in the various circumstances they encounter.