An Engineer's View: GOD'S LAW OF FAITH

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Engineers have a different way of looking at things. We like to “operationalize” them. That means we like to take an abstract thought and put it in a form in which it can be measured. You have to admit, faith is an abstract thought! It is God-given, heart-driven and supernatural entity and Christian faith is unknown except to the believer and to God! (I will not attempt to tackle the unbelievers “faith” in the non-existence of God because you can't measure how much you disbelieve. You either believe or you don't.)

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There are many laws of science: Newton's 2^nd law of Motion describes the effects of gravity (and all acceleration) on everything. The first Law of Thermodynamics allows us the measure heat and work and the “Law of Conservation” of energy means that total energy in a system can neither be created or destroyed. (No perpetual motion machines). All these laws are really “God's Laws” as discovered by each particular scientist. These concepts were originally a “hypothesis” which remained to be tested. Experiments were set up to test the validity of these laws and the results showed that the hypothesis were not “null”. (You can't “prove” hypothesis, but only test for negative results).

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Today we will test a law that was presented by the “greatest of all scientists”, the Creator of all. It is called “God's Law of Faith”. It was conceived by God and explained by Paul to the Romans of the First Century:

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Romans 3:27 (KJV) “Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.”

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For this exercise I will draw an analogy between “Christian Faith” and “Electromotive Force” which is measured in “voltage” and is a measurement of the “potential difference” from one electrical circuit to the next. We commonly call this “voltage” and many of us are familiar with the “shock” of grabbing 110 volts which drives most of our household appliances. Our bodies offer a resistance to the voltage, completes the circuit and causes current to flow, likely from one hand through our chest to the other hand. You see “voltage” is only “potential”. It is “ready” to do something, but actually doesn't do it until a resistance (you) is introduced to complete the electrical circuit.

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As sinners, like voltage, we have the “potential” to have a saving faith. What stands in our way is that we offer a “resistance” to that potential. That “resistance” is pride, self-indulgence and false knowledge which all descendents of Adam were born with. We all have that inborn resistance. There is no one without it. No, not even one! Whenever we reduce our resistance by opening our hearts to God, we can feel the “current” flowing. What's called “current” in electromotive theory is called “love” (Greek: agape) in Christianity. We love our God and our neighbor. We love God so much that we want to change our “resistance” and become more submissive. The lack of resistance is a variable called “acceptance”. We accept God's love and forgiveness and now want to do things His way!

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Voltage drops with the introduction of resistance. Likewise, faith lessens when resistance is increased. To keep our faith joyful, we need to reduce our resistance (to God's laws). Conversely, faith increases as we decrease our resistance (increase our acceptance) by opening ourselves to the call of the Holy Spirit!

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Work is the transferring of energy across a distance. In the case of voltage the “work” done is dissipating current in your body and making you jump! In Christianity “work” is trying to “do things” to earn your Christianity. Works as a means to saving faith is “null”. There is only one “work” which God allows for faith (salvation). That work is “faith”.

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In physics “energy” is the capacity of a system to do work. Your energy consumption is measured by how much “power” you use and power is the work you do in a given amount of time. For electrical systems it is measured in kilowatts. Since we see that “faith” is spiritual “work” then we have to expend some “spiritual energy” when we're faithful! Our faith is increased by prayer, meditation, reading God's word and helping others. How well do we use our time in faith? What is our “spiritual energy”?

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1 Thessalonians 1:3 (KJV) “Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;”

James 2:17 (KJV) “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.”

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If your battery is “dead” there is no voltage. Likewise, if you works are “dead” your faith is zero. Just as a generator gives us voltage, God is the author of faith. He also gives it impetus... the driving force:

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Hebrews 12:2 (KJV) “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

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However, you have to “take action upon it” to create work! To understand voltage it is understood as the “potential” to cause current flow. So what is hope? The Bible defines it best:

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Hebrews 11:1 (KJV) “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

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Faith is substance, an essential nature, of the “things hoped for”. Your hope is that Jesus Christ paid vicariously for your sins! That has substance and can be validated. You didn't see the sacrifice yourself, but you believe it because of the testimony of hundreds of witnesses who did see it! It's similar to electromotive potential. You can't see voltage, but it does have substance. You have “faith” that if you plug a toaster into the receptacle that current will flow. It works, but you believe the scientist who operationalized it.

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With voltage you can verify it using a voltmeter and you can measure current with an ammeter. Resistance can even be measured. “Faith” is measured by “works”! If you're not putting any effort into your spiritual life there is little evidence of faith.

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Voltage is a variable. It's not always the same for all conditions. Resistance may cause voltage to drop. Resistance is caused (for instance) by wiring too small to carry the load. Likewise, faith is a variable! Here are some biblical verses showing that not all folks have the same amount of faith and faith wavers at times:

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Matthew 9:29 (KJV) ”Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.”

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2 Thessalonians 3:2 (KJV) “And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith.”

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1 Thessalonians 3:10 (KJV) “Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?”

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Luke 17:5 “And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.”

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2 Corinthians 10:15 (KJV) “Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men's labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly,”

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2 Thessalonians 1:3 (KJV) “We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;”

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Faith increases (grows), drops to zero, accelerates, and can be measured. Now that you can see that “faith” is a variable (as is voltage) we can compare the two concepts further:

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When electromotive theory was accepted as a science it had to be operationalized. Variable names were coined: current (measured in amperes), electrical potential (measured in volts) and resistance (measured in ohms). Likewise, when “faith” is operationalized we name the variables (God did this for us). God simply calls the variable “measure of faith” and it is plotted on the vertical axis. The horizontal axis is plotted in time called by God “Christian Walk” or “Living by Faith”. It is a time variable just as voltage change is measured over time. Whereas (voltage) = (current) x (resistance), the Christian formula is (Faith) = (Love) x (Acceptance). These are strange, but biblical units! “Faith” is analogous to “Volts”, “Love” to “current” and “acceptance” is the reciprocal of “resistance”. The “measurement of faith” of course is proportional to the “love of God”!

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We get voltage by a generator of some type or possibly a charged battery. How do we get faith?

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Romans 10:17 (KJV) “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

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We have a constant voltage when we attach a constant resistor. We vary the voltage by changing the resistance. Likewise, the more we “work” learning God's will, the more faith we have. We “hear” the word of God by listening to the teacher, the preacher or our mind as we're reading. It costs money to produce voltage, but conversely we learn that the “work” of faith itself is still a free gift from God! At some point in time you have a measurement of faith which establishes you as “saved”. It is when you finally submit (accept) and realize you can't do it yourself. “Salvation” is a practicing unshakeable belief in Jesus and his sacrifice on the cross.

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Ephesians 2:8 (KJV) “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:”

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Colossians 2:7 (KJV) “Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.”

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Acts 16:5 (KJV) “And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.”

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I want to point out here that faith is not of short duration lasting only for the time it took you to be saved. It is a long-term and durable. It is practiced for a lifetime. Like voltage when it is turned off, the system is dead; faith when there is no works, is dead!

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Sometimes with voltage there is a leak in a circuit. An unknown resistance is draining your voltage. You may think that you have 12 volts, but when you crank that engine, you're fooled. Nothing happens. Likewise, your unshakeable belief in Jesus is “unfeigned” or “true” faith. You are not putting on a show nor living a double life as heathen and Christian.

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2 Timothy 1:5 (KJV) “ When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.”

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If we were to create a simple electrical circuit we would have ONE car battery, wiring and a load, called resistance. With “God's Law” we have “ONE FAITH?! There is only one way to believe in Jesus and we are all to be unified in believing in him:

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Ephesians 4:5 (KJV) “One Lord, one faith, one baptism,”

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Ephesians 4:13 (KJV) “Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:”

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The Graphic Explained:

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Now we'll examine the graphic. It is Faith on the vertical axis plotted against time on the horizontal axis. I've already named it “God's Law of Faith” based on Romans 3:27 and Hebrews 12.2. The subtitle is “Whole Earth Faith” because all of us are predestined for heaven. God's desire is to save the world.

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Romans 1:8 (KJV) “First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.”

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Since we have shown that the “measure of faith” is a variable, it is plotted on the vertical axis just as voltage would be. The vertical axis is called the “dependent variable” because we depend on God for our faith just as voltage would depend on what's in the circuit. The units are calibrated from “negative faith” called “doubt” all the way to “God's infinite faith” which exists without bounds. He is the author of our faith and our own faith is a gift from him. Hence, his faith is of such a magnitude that it is enough to cover all mankind! (Ephesians 2:8).

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Romans 12:3 (KJV) “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.”

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Romans 12:6 (KJV) “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;”

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These two verses show that faith can be measured and God gave each of us a different amount of faith! I would suppose that he did this because each of us has a will which takes a different amount of “convincing”. We are given the example of the great faith of Abraham many times in the Bible. His faith was great! It was so great that Paul used Abraham's faith as an example to the Romans.

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Romans 4:16 (KJV) “Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,”

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Romans 4:12 (KJV) “And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.”

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Romans 4:20 (KJV) “He <Abraham> staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;”

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Faith is to convince the “will”, which is a mental faculty where we all deliberate, choose and decide. It is a philosophical term yet it applies to theology as well. The “will” can be “strong” and takes much prevenient grace from God, so God in calling us must give us a strong dose of faith. Look at Paul and what it took! God struck Paul with blindness, but it was effective in changing his doubt to faith! Others grew up in a Christian home. We chose God based on the faith of our fathers, which in turn, became our faith!

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Using our voltage analogy we all have to make choices. Do we turn on the power or not? Most Amish use their will to choose gas lights over the modern convenience of electric. They “will” that! There are factors that drive them to make that decision. It has become their culture and law. They have a society which strongly influences their decision to go electric or not. If they choose power, they're shunned. Their decision is not made freely!

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However, God gives us “free will”. We are totally at liberty to decide our destiny. He tells us why we should choose him, but he does not force us to. God does not want automatrons serving him. He wants loving disciples. Consequently, we can “turn on those lights” or not because, unlike the Amish, no one has told us that we must! We always exercise “free will”. It is not something that we have until we're saved, then it is gone. After salvation we still have the free will to continue with God or to abandon him. Although God will “never leave us or forsake us”, unfortunately Christians often abandon God. It takes faith to persevere. As it takes “voltage” to keep our lights on, it takes “faith” to keep our spiritual light glowing.

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We can have “negative” voltage. We tend to think that voltage is always positive, but sometimes the leads are on backwards. The lights still burn, you still have 110V, but there's something that you can't see there. Current is flowing backwards. With some appliances they “care” about the direction of current flow. With other appliances they don't care. It depends on their internal wiring and electronics.

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With mankind there is a kind of “negative” faith. It is called “doubt”. It is broken up into increments as well. It can be “skeptical”, “undecided” or “disbelief”. These are labeled on the graphic as “agnostic”, “uncertainty” and “lost”. The current flows in a different direction! “Love”, the spiritual flow of faith flows backwards. Rather than love flowing from you toward God and others, love flows from you to you. Your self-love is called pride! That is just like having your spiritual battery connected to the wrong poles. Something is awry. It may be difficult to detect, but others, with the right discernment, will soon see that your “love polarity” is against God's will.

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Unlike some appliances in our “voltage” example preceding, which don't care about polarity, God does care! He wants... no commands, that your faith be wired correctly so that your love flows outward. He tells you that the greatest commandment is to love God and to love your neighbors. He even tells you how much. You are to love them as much as you do yourself. If your faith is wired backwards you are in “resistance” (just like in our voltage example) and are lost. You are in rebellion against God. Your allegiance is to self.

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On the horizontal axis the increment of measure is “time”. It is calibrated in very tiny increments. It's what your “faith” is at this moment. God's grace covered you at the time of salvation, but this is a new day! God defines the horizontal axis as your “Christian Walk”.

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2 Corinthians 5:7 (KJV) “(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)”

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Faith is “your hope” in things unseen, so your physical eyes will do little good. Your inner eye, your “heart” is the guide by which you walk. Faith is paramount! If we live our life just obeying rules and doing good, our love is to no avail. Our walk and our works must be to the glory of God because we love him, the primary component of faith (Faith = love x acceptance; where “acceptance” is the reciprocal of “resistance”,; and “acceptance” = “belief”):

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Galatians 3:11 (KJV) “But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.”

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We accept Jesus if we only believe! Hence, the new formula is Faith = Love x Belief. Let's go with that final formula analogous to voltage = current x resistance, but in an opposing sense.

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We have now defined “faith” versus our “Christian Walk” over “time”. If we look at the “work of faith” in lieu of the “potential of faith” we can compare this to electrical “power” which is plotted as a function of “work” over time. It's called “energy”. The utility company keeps track of the energy we use so that we can be charged for it. With our “faith measurement” faith varies with time. The more work in faith we put into the system the more energy is in the system. That system is “God's Way”. Unlike power for which we're charged, spiritual energy does not cost. In fact we run the meter backwards! We expend our energy for God! (You could actually do this in your home if you had a power generator attached to your main electrical line). Our spiritual energy (If the curve was “faith work” is the area under the curve, shown in blue on the graphic. We want to have “great faith” to keep our spiritual energy high, thus making ourselves pleasing to God. Here's some verses about having “great faith”:

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Lamentations 3:22-24 (KJV) 22 “It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. 23They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.”

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1 Timothy 1:14 (KJV) “And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.”

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Matthew 8:10 (KJV) “When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.”

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Matthew 15:28 (KJV) “Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.”

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Luke 7:9 (KJV) “When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.”

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James 2:5 (KJV) “Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?”

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With negative faith you are spiritually lost! You are not a Christian and you must accept Jesus to be saved. Paul was working against Jesus by killing the early Christians; Stephen for example. He certainly was expending negative spiritual energy and had a highly negative attitude toward Jesus and his followers. Most of us never consciously worked against Jesus, we just had “no faith” which is zero on the vertical axis. We never had antipathy for Christ, we just never considered Christ as out savior, and if we did, it was just a thought, not a display of any faith.

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Deuteronomy 32:20 (KJV) “And he said, I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end shall be: for they are a very froward generation, children in whom is no faith.”

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Matthew 17:17 “Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.”

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Mark 4:40 “And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?”

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Luke 9:41 “And Jesus answering said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you, and suffer you?”

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John 20:27 (KJV) “Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.”

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1 Thessalonians 3:10 (KJV) 10 “Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?”

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The Holy Spirit, God's presence on earth, provides faith to give us that initial “boost'. Just as we have to supply a large initial current to get a big motor moving, the Holy Spirit has the exact same spiritual “boost” to lead us to salvation. We exercise our free will, debate with ourselves and the deceiver whether to accept Jesus and if we reduce our resistance (believe) we accept Christ (Ephesians 2:8 quoted earlier).

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We now have a “little faith”! Since faith is based on the knowledge, understanding and application of God's Word, our faith is not yet great. Even the early disciples had little faith because they were still learning while (and why) Jesus was here. His patience with them was nothing but divinely graceful!

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Matthew 6:30 (KJV) “Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?”

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Matthew 8:26 (KJV) “And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.”

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Matthew 14:31 (KJV) “And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?”

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Matthew 16:8 (KJV) “Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread?”

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Luke 12:28 “If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?”

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Abraham, being of “strong faith” is the contradiction to those “weak in faith”:

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Romans 4:19 (KJV) “And being not weak in faith, he <Abraham> considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb:”

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Romans 14:1 (KJV) “Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.”

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There should be a change when we accept Jesus. When we turned to him we are grievous in our sins and feel an elation when we're forgiven!

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Philippians 1:25 (KJV) “And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith;”

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Although this particular verse is for those seasoned in the faith, it does not diminish the fact that there is a joy of faith in the heart of the believer, especially the new Christian. This is likened to the newly started electrical motor. Once it's moving by itself the speed immediately increases. It's sort of like the motor has been freed of its constraints and has a joy of moving (forward we hope) if it is wired correctly.

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Once the motor gets to moving it reaches full speed, the voltage levels out and the motor begins to work effectively, now being at an efficient speed and power level. Likewise, the Christian, once excited in the joy of the Lord, is motivated to “begin a new work” which is in him! Although their faith started low they have an eager desire to learn more in Christ and to demonstrate their faith by works in Christ. Their new life is sincere and enthused. It is true belief in Christ. They begin to talk about, witness to and teach what Jesus has done for them. (II Tim 1:5 quoted above).

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Like variable voltage, our faith can be adjusted. It can go up or down. We can work harder for the Lord or put little emphasis on the assurance we get by working for the Lord. We may increase our faith and become faithful in a few things:

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Matthew 25:23 “His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”

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As a new Christian you now have “faith”! It's not a mature faith, but it begins to show in your life. You may quit doing the physical sins and clean up your act. You begin to be more conscious of others and begin to commune with a different more Godly group of friends. You may even begin to tithe!

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This is sort of like how a new electrical system works. Initially that circuit may be 200 amperes coming into the house, but you're only using a few lights and a microwave. You have voltage and it powers a few things, but there is much room for many more appliances to be added.

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As man seems to have only the capacity for so much faith due to limitations caused by Adam, electrical systems are only designed for a certain voltage and appliances being driven use that peak voltage. In measuring faith Abraham was like the “peak faith” for the Old Covenant. You can see Abraham's faith as the high point on the curve in the graphic. Jesus expected his apostles to have more faith than had been charted to date. Jesus said that if their faith was stronger, they could move trees, even mountains. The amount if faith it would take to do that would be extremely small, the size of a grain of mustard seed!

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Luke 17:6 “And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.”

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Matthew 17:20 (KJV) “And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.”

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1 Corinthians 13:2 (KJV) “And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.”

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It's a shame we don't use our full potential for faith! God would be so pleased if we were so certain of our salvation and what he can do for us. That full potential is called “full faith” on the graph's vertical axis.

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Acts 6:5 (KJV) “...and the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost...”

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Acts 6:8 (KJV) “And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.”

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Acts 11:24 (KJV) “For he <Barnabas> was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.”

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Stephen met resistance in his working for Christ. He had some who went against him, but Stephen was “full of faith”. He was the first martyr for Christ. He became a martyr because he gave his life for Jesus' sake! It took great faith to not back down; to stand firm in his loving belief in Jesus.

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If we have a new appliance of some type it usually has electronic components. There may be some unforeseeable resistance manufactured into the circuit. The circuit works for awhile, but heat may build up and short-circuit. The circuit board fails although it was designed right, performed to its utmost and worked very diligently for awhile. That board did all its maker expected and is held blameless. Sometimes there are just things that happen and manufacturers realize this. They call it “burn-in time”. It sacrifices itself so it doesn't get out there in the world. When it dies, another circuit board replaces it. It is tested and makes it! (Paul certainly was there once Stephen had died).

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As we said before, Abraham had “great faith”. We showed it on the apex of the curve; the highest point! However, it was still below “moving trees” and “moving mountains”. Well it seems that at least in one instance we underestimated the faith of Abraham! He had “perfect faith”!

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James 2:22 (KJV) “Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works <Abraham's> was faith made perfect?”

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If you remember the story, Abraham, by faith, was set to sacrifice his own son to magnify (and obey) God. This was a foreshadow of Christ's being sacrificed on the cross by his own Father for OUR sins! Abraham's faith, in this instance, was perfect! That faith is the maximum ever to be expected by mankind and was exceeded only by God himself. Our goal should be for perfect faith. We may never achieve it, but that's the goal! Our “capacity” for great faith depends on how diligently we run the race.

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In electronics a “capacitor” stores a “charge” so that when it's needed, extra energy is there! If you remember when we gave the electric motor an initial “boost”, that was done by a capacitor.

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In our own lives we sometimes need that extra “boost” of faith! The “capacitor” which provides that is the Holy Spirit. We're not expected to do it ourselves. With prayer, fasting and reading God's word, the Holy Spirit provides that “spiritual boost' that we need to get over whatever mountain (resistance) we're facing!

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Lastly, on the vertical axis we find God's “infinite faith”. He's all powerful (omniscience) to not only create a universe, but provide the faith for all mankind! God is like a nuclear power station which provides for the entire world. No, he is greater beyond degree!

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Often an electrical device slows or performs ineffectively for an interval. We don't necessarily know why, but some strong resistance is causing it. We go ahead and let it run, but schedule it for maintenance. We don't throw it away because it's too valuable of an asset. We have confidence that it is intact and durable enough to somehow make it through its life-cycle.

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That's exactly how are faith works!

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1 Thessalonians 3:5 (KJV) “For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.”

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The “tempter” is that “strong resistance” in the electrical example. He is Satan, the great deceiver. Satan, just like a dirty contaminant, sets out to foul your faith. He attempts to denigrate Jesus by deceiving a faithful follower. Satan will put some thought in your head or roadblock in your way to make you falter. He is just like the dirt in an industrial environment. It builds up slowly then becomes excessive enough to cause harm.

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As we're tempted we may question our faith: Is our belief sincere? Does God really exist? Why did he let my health fail? Why did my child died” Is it worth being sinless and missing out on all the fun?

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Matthew 21:21 “Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.” (See also Matthew 14:31).

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We don't go all the way into doubt, but we are indecisive. We are in the area of “doubt” below the “zero” level of faith labeled “uncertainty”. Thomas and Peter demonstrated times of temporary doubt. You may also. Your faith may roller-coaster downhill and bottom out. The “capacitor” which we identified as the Holy Spirit kicks in and turns you around. God will protect you because you have faith. It was not just for one time, but you have lived it. Although your “voltage” has dropped so low you may even skip church and start doing some sins, you just need a “boost”. You need “assurance”.

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We'll go back to that appliance which had “burn-in”time. Before it was shipped to you the inspectors applied voltage to it and let it run for quite some time. Why? Just to see if it fails, because it, like you as a new Christian, fails the most when you are new. Why do they test it? So a faulty appliance does not get to the buyer. This is called quality “assurance”.

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Likewise, when you show some doubt, you just need some “assurance” . You need to know for sure that you're saved!

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Hebrews 10:22 (KJV) “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.”

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Here we're told in Hebrews that if we are sincere we can have “full assurance of faith”. We doubted before, but now we're certain. “Assurance” of our salvation comes with reflecting on God and his promises. We may go to the altar for public prayer because we want to demonstrate to God that we are sincere. We also want some more “power”. We can use the combined “voltage” of our congregation to help us get that “boost” we need from the Holy Spirit. God tells us that when two or more pray we are powerful. Communal prayer adds power to our needs!

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Once we have the assurance of our faith we can now “continue in our faith”!

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1 Timothy 2:15 (KJV) “Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.”

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1 Corinthians 13:13 )KJV) “And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.”

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1 Corinthians 16:13 (KJV) “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.”

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Hebrews 10:23 (KJV) “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering;”

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Colossians 1:23 (KJV) “If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;”

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Acts 14:22 (KJV) “Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.”

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When an electrical circuit is started, makes it through the initial surge and resistors are all where they should operate, the circuit is stable. It operates as it should and is reliable in doing so. It does what is expected with little loss of power. It is efficient!

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That's how it works when our faith is stable. We're what God wants us to be and we're doing what God wants us to do. We don't have such deep peaks and valleys any more and we're at peace with the Lord. The work of salvation is enjoyable and fruitful! We have become an “efficient” Christian! We are “sound in the faith”.

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Titus 1:13 (KJV) “This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;”

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Colossians 2:5 (KJV) “For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.”

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2 Timothy 4:7 (KJV) “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:”

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Paul likened “faith” to running a race. He was enthralled with the Greek Olympiad and was a profound sportsman! Those who finish the race “kept the faith”. They are sound sportsman and are stedfast in their faith! Unlike Lot's wife they keep their eye on the prize! They put all the energy into the race as is humanly possible. They want the glory of winning!

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Since we're not talking races, but electrical systems, as an analogy, that is akin to operating at optimal efficiency without wasting power. There are computer systems which act as a highway to supply energy when and where needed to avoid waste. They finish what's required then wait until they're needed again. Systems such as these will ensure mankind extends our energy supplies as long as possible.

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In our spiritual life it's the same. We direct our energies where God wants them to be. We optimize ourselves and seek God's guidance (as the computer system) so we do the most for God as we can. We don't waste our time by dragging down the efficiency of our faith work by being a roadblock to God's will. When it's all said and done... we've done God's will. Life's all over, but we're still faithful!

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Luke 22:32 (KJV) “But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.”

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We have lived a life of “unfailing faith”. We were not beguiled by the tempter nor left the track on which the race is run. Our “voltage” (faith) lasted to the end to power everything. Our works were honorable and our name is in the “Lamb's Book of Life”. God rewards us with an eternity in heaven. Why? We have been righteous throughout or lives. Our circuits never burnt out.

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Romans 4:5 (KJV) “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.”

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We are called to be set apart, sanctified, and to be holy as God is holy. We have ran a good race”. We have been the “good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:23)!

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God seals us and only we have the power to break that seal. We do have a free will and we're not an automatron (a robot). We, however, can be swayed by all the resistances which we meet in life. Resistor can be added to resistor until our faith (voltage) begins to decay. It can start with one sin and one leads to another. God has no place in our life.

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1 Timothy 6:10 (KJV) “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”

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1 Timothy 6:21 “Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen.”

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So far we have only erred. We're not lost, but which way are we destined?

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For failing circuits and computers we have “error codes”. We have a partial failure of the system and a number pops up telling us where we're failed. We know the codes and correct the problem.

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Likewise, with faith, we are checked by the Holy Spirit when we have erred. If we are faithful we listen to the corrections provide in God's word and change the direction in which we're headed. The word of God has commandments to keep... our faith error codes. Love is the greatest of them all. If you don't love, both God and your fellowman, that is a dire “error code” and you're faith is ready to crash!

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Acts 13:8 (KJV) “But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.”

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A sorcerer works for Satan. He is there to turn you away form the faith, to “turn-out the lights” in your spiritual life. I know one girl whose sorcerer was a married atheist man she chatted with on the internet. He withstood her faith and turned her away. She is no longer a believer. She was deceived of her faith.

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Your faith may die down to where you are no longer “certain” of your faith or possibly to out and out doubt:

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2 Timothy 2:18 (KJV) “Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.”

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1 Timothy 4:1 (KJV) “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;”

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1 Timothy 5:8 (KJV) “But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.”

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You can see there what calls a Christian to lose faith. It is because of lies about the faith. The resurrection is as much of being a Christian as is salvation. Where would be the hope if Jesus died so that you may lie moldering in the grave?

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1 Corinthians 15:17 (KJV) “And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.”

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“Seducing spirits and doctrines of devils” may rob your faith. The modern religion which denies that someone has to pay for your sins is attractive, but deceptive. The doctrine that “A good God would never send a person to hell.” is a lie and a seducing doctrine.

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You can see on the graphic where the dotted line dives that as your faith (voltage) drops you are in apostasy: you've abandoned your faith! Your battery is dead. Your generator no longer provides any power. Your equipment is doomed to the junkyard. Your soul is damned to an eternal hell.

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1 Timothy 5:12 (KJV) “Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith.”

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Is there any turning it around? Can you restore the burnt out equipment? It depends on the damage done!

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2 Timothy 3:8 (KJV) “Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.”

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Reprobate? What is it? It's to abandon all faith and send your soul to eternal damnation. You are so calloused in your sin and lack of faith that God has given you the last chance, just as the engineer examines the damaged generator and says there is no hope in rebuilding it. Your lack of faith has sentenced you to that infernal bone yard called Sheol, the home of the dead.

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Romans 4:14 (KJV) “For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:”

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When Jesus forgives your sins it as if your sins had never been. Likewise, if you are reprobate, it's as if you faith is void. You will be cast into the Lake of Fire, not by God, but by your own disobedience! You see, it takes someone to keep all that electrical equipment running when you're generating power and using that electricity. Likewise, you are accountable in keeping your own faith alive. It is a gift of God, but it is maintained by you. The “energy” you put into your faith work is important so that spark will not die out.

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I know you're not an electrical system. Your faith is not measured in voltage. God is way beyond any system we can imagine and is in fact a supernatural person after whom we're copied. However, the intent is to get you to think rationally about your soul! Although philosophy deems religion irrational, God is about the most rational entity (being) in the universe. Without God you are the fuel for that perpetual heat engine. With God you will live in a mansion which he has prepared for you. It won't be lighted with a power system, but will glow with the Light of God... what's called Shekinah!