One of my favorite anecdotes used to illustrate the true meaning of faith as used in the Bible involves a tightwalker, a wheelbarrow, Niagra Falls and a challenge. I’m sure you have heard it more times than you can remember especially if you attended Sunday school or youth group throughout your childhood. But despite its frequent usage, I believe it ranks among the best analogies to demonstrate the lack of faith many possess despite their claims to the contrary. In case you are not familiar with the story it goes like this:

There was a tightrope walker that used to demonstrate his bravery and audacity by walking across Niagara Falls on nothing more than a taut rope. People would come from all around to see this remarkable feat. They watched in amazement as he made his way across the tumultuous water waiting for that one misstep that would send him plummeting to his demise. But it never came. The more he crossed successfully the more the crowd believed in his ability. 

"Who believes I can carry this wheelbarrow across the water?" he asked confidently one day. The crowd had only seen him cross by himself but they were gaining confidence in his ability. They replied energetically, "Of course you can!" And so the man demonstrated his masterful skills over fear and did just as he said he would. Next, he asked, "Who thinks I can push a human in the wheelbarrow?" Again, the crowd cheered. They were ecstatic. There was a pause. The man looked around and asked, "Then someone please voluntary." Each countenance turned solemn. A deafening silence came over the throng. No one volunteered. No one wanted to take the chance. 

The point of this story is telling. The crowd professed to have faith in the tightrope walker, yet when given the chance to demonstrate it they came short. Their "faith" was not followed by action. It was an unfinished faith. There are many today that profess faith in Jesus Christ but they fail to demonstrate their faith by actively living out their profession. Pi’stis (faith) in the New Testament context is a physical action, with assent of the mind and an entire confidence in God’s character and declarations. Failure to achieve this is not faith. It is not enough to say ‘I believe’ in God because "the demons also believe, and shudder." (Jas 2:9). Rather, pi’stis leads to a firm belief in God’s testimony and influences the will, "and leads to an entire reliance on Christ for salvation". It allows us to place our assurance in the bosom of Jesus Christ while He wheels us across the raging waters below. That is faith. That is the pi’stis for which we all should pray.