Faith with Conviction

A jury is handed an case after a 3-week trial.  More than 50 witnesses have taken the stand, some for the defense and some for the prosecution.  They have heard testimony from a few expert witnesses who are known their expertise in one or more facets of the case.  Now, it is their turn to consider all that they heard and return a verdict.
 
Scenarios like this one have played out over and over in courts of law across the land.  The final admonitions to those juries always includes a statement that they must find the one on trial guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.  Supposedly, when they do their jobs properly, the guilty go punished and the innocent go home.  However, the national average for jury verdicts to be overturned on appeal is 5% to 15%.  At the state level, the average is 15%.
 
So, every jury verdict has a 15% chance of being wrong!  How can we have full assurance in our court system?  How can we know, if we serve on a jury, that our verdict will be absolutely correct?  Is it even possible for a jury to know, with full assurance, the truth if not one of them had been present to see the crime committed?
 
Full assurance is exactly what the Bible offers to us and expects of us.  Notice these words from the Hebrews writer, “And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end…” (Hebrews 6:11).  Faith is conviction beyond a reasonable doubt.  Faith understands that there is no reasonable argument against the proposition.  There are many oppositional propositions to attempt to explain the things that the Bible teaches.  However, there aren’t any that can stand against the truth of the propositions of Scripture.
 
So, what is it that provides complete, full assurance on a given topic?  My own desires and wishes are certainly not the answer.  Furthermore, I must make sure that I am not being deceived or tricked into my position.  Obviously, the answer lies in knowledge based on facts and the proper assessment of those facts.  The combination of knowledge and wisdom is the answer.

Paul addressed the Colossian Christians about a great conflict he was experiencing over them.  “For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” (Colossians 2:1-3).  Paul greatly desired that those Christians would come to full assurance in their understanding of God. 

The Hebrews writer gave a further instruction for full assurance, “do not become sluggish…” (Hebrews 6:12).  Don’t get bogged down in the noise of the culture and its attempt to control the message.  Stay with what you know.  Each one of us is the jury of our own lives.  The evidence has been presented and I will render my verdict.

— Mike Johnson