Hebrews 11:6. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Some people say, “I used to believe and go to church, but not anymore.” Tragically, this is not uncommon. Even among those who still attend church, many do not genuinely believe in God or trust in His power. Their faith is superficial, and their hearts are far from Him.
This is why Jesus lamented over the spiritual condition of His people when He asked, “However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8). Jesus foresaw a time when genuine faith would become rare.
Many attend church faithfully, but deep inside, they do not live in the reality of God’s presence. They follow rules, perform rituals, and carry the name “Christian,” yet they have not encountered the living Christ. What they practice is not a living faith but a lifeless religion. Jesus warned us about this kind of life, describing its dangers in Matthew 12:43-45:
“When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation.”
This is the tragedy of a religious life without Christ. The heart may appear “cleaned up” on the outside—attending services, keeping traditions, and avoiding visible sin—but if Christ does not dwell within, the soul remains empty. That emptiness attracts greater bondage, deeper suffering, and restlessness, allowing evil spirits to make it their home.
No matter how long someone has been involved in church, if they have not tasted the grace and peace of God, their Christian life will become burdensome. The Word of God will seem irrelevant and powerless to them because they have never experienced it as “living and active” (Hebrews 4:12). Over time, their walk grows dry, joyless, and exhausting, leading to discouragement and despair.
What God desires from us is not empty religion but faith: “Without faith, it is impossible to please God” (Hebrews 11:6). God wants us to believe in Him wholeheartedly and love Him with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind (Deuteronomy 6:5).
Our Heavenly Father grieves when we approach Him with cold, routine religion rather than living faith. Listen to His words of lament over His people:
“The multitude of your sacrifices—
what are they to me?” says the Lord.
“I have more than enough of burnt offerings,
of rams and the fat of fattened animals;
I have no pleasure
in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats.
When you come to appear before me,
who has asked this of you,
this trampling of my courts?
Stop bringing meaningless offerings!
Your incense is detestable to me.
New Moons, Sabbaths and convocations—
I cannot bear your worthless assemblies.
Your New Moon feasts and your appointed festivals
I hate with all my being.
They have become a burden to me;
I am weary of bearing them.
When you spread out your hands in prayer,
I hide my eyes from you;
even when you offer many prayers,
I am not listening.
Your hands are full of blood!” (Isaiah 1:11-15)
God rejects lifeless rituals because they do not flow from a heart that trusts Him. When we follow a religion without living faith, we cannot understand spiritual truths or experience the fullness of what God has freely given us through His Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:12). Our lives remain separated from His glory (Romans 3:23), and we are left vulnerable to discouragement, doubt, and defeat. This is the strategy of Satan.
However, there is hope. God works powerfully in the lives of those who truly believe that He is real and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). When you believe in Christ and rest in His promises, you please God.
He delights when you enjoy what He has freely given through His Spirit—assurance of salvation, forgiveness of sins, answered prayers, guidance from the Holy Spirit, and ultimate victory over the evil one. When you fully trust Him in every situation, you bring joy to His heart.
God is not impressed by outward appearances; He looks at the heart. Come before His throne confidently, just as you are, seeking His grace and help. He will fill you with strength, renew your faith, and use you to bring His salvation to the world—just as He did with those who came before us, the people of faith who trusted Him completely.
Choose faith, not religion. Choose to trust God’s power, not your own effort. Choose a living relationship with Christ, not a lifeless routine.
Prayer. Father, I thank You for the gift of faith in Christ, which gives me confidence and assurance in my salvation. Help me to live a life that pleases You, holding firmly to Your promises. Teach me to trust You more deeply, to walk by faith and not by sight, and to rest in the power of Your Spirit. In Jesus’ name, Amen.