What matters is who you put your faith in. You could struggle with doubt, while another believer is confident in his faith. Neither one is “more saved” than the other. So long as you both put your faith in Jesus, you will be saved.

I don’t like the word “faith.” It’s not the biblical idea that’s the problem. It’s how faith is understood in our culture. Too many people believe faith is blind, wishful thinking.

Scripture, however, defines it differently (see Hebrews 11). Biblical faith is best characterized as trust. We don’t put our trust in something for no reason. We don’t blindly believe anyone. Rather, we put our trust in what or whom we have good reason to believe is trustworthy.

Non-Christians aren’t the only ones guilty of misunderstanding faith. Christians can mistake its meaning in a different way. For example, if a Christian doubts his faith, is he still saved? Is there a certain amount of faith that is necessary to be honored by God? How much faith do you need to be saved?

The problem with this question is that it presumes a mistaken notion of faith. The efficacy of faith is dependent not on the subject who expresses faith, but on the object of faith. It doesn’t matter how much or how little faith you have. It only matters in whom you place your faith.

It reminds me of something I notice when I fly. Two kinds of people stand out to me when I’m on a plane: the frequent flyer and the first-timer. Both often have their eyes closed during taxi and takeoff, but for different reasons. The former finds flying so mundane, he’s sleeping. The latter is so scared, he’s saying his final prayer. One has total confidence, while the other has total trepidation.

Here’s the key question: If both travelers are on the same plane, which one is more likely to arrive safely at his destination? The answer is obvious: both. Whether the plane crashes or safely carries its passengers has nothing to do with any occupant’s emotions or confidence in flying. Rather, it has everything to do with the plane itself: the pilots, the aircraft, the plane’s design, and its mechanics.

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