(Read Hebrews 11)
My next-door neighbor’s nickname was “Dive.” When we were kids, my buddy walked past his parents and dove headfirst off the dock into a lake. They had to extract him immediately because he didn’t know how to swim. Unlike the “trust” game, where someone stands behind you and you faithfully fall back into their arms, my friend’s behavior wasn’t based on faith. It was the impulsive act of a juvenile who wanted to get wet.
Faith is learned and grows out of experience. We have faith because God first imparted it to us. He gave us the ears to hear Him, the eyes to see Him, and faith to trust Him. Faith pleases God. Since He created us to please Him, when we seek our own glory and pleasure, we work against the nature He created us for. We sometimes discount God’s power because we might not have experienced yet, but that’s the opposite of faith – that’s a show of proof.
Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.
Hebrews 11:1
The word for evidence, “elenchus ἔλεγχος,” only used in Hebrews, literally means “to bring to light” or “to demonstrate.” So faith is proof of the fulfillment of God’s promises. The writer of Hebrews paints a picture of faith as a powerful force in our lives. Faith allows us to live with confidence and hope, even in the most difficult circumstances, by trusting God’s perfect character and promises. More than a passive belief, faith is an ongoing, persistent confidence. It’s not an intellectual exercise or a philosophical argument. It’s trust and assurance.
Faith gives us assurance about things unseen. It opens us up to believe in the reality of God’s existence, love, promises, and power, even though we cannot physically see them. Hebrews 11 highlights the fact that faith is an essential requirement of the Christian life. It is the foundation upon which our relationship with God is built, enabling us to trust in Him, regardless of the severity of uncertainty and trials.
Having faith while undergoing hard times is the sign of a believer. Acting based on faith, despite or in front of hard times, is the true testimony of the active faith of a believer. Acknowledging God’s perfect will brings about the accuracy of our character. When life gets tough, I really feel God’s presence. My faith gives me the confidence that I’m walking alongside Him every step of the way. But what really shows the strength of my faith isn’t where I am in life or what I want—it’s how close I am to God.
After four years of Engineering school and a pile of student loans, our son felt called to go on a year-long mission trip. Rather than jump into the job-searching pool with other engineering grads, he chose to serve the LORD and spread His word. Looking shallowly at the situation, my wife and I disagreed at the time. As his mission progressed, we could see his faith blossom and the glory of God grow. Our son didn’t know what would be in store for him, his life, his safety, or his career, but his faith in Jesus assured him that he was serving Him the way he should.
And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.
Hebrews 11:6
Knowing who God is is not the same as knowing God. Many people, good and bad, of all faiths know of God. Even Satan knew of God and God’s word. Paul highlights the importance of sincerity and diligence in our pursuit of God. We’ll never really know God if we don’t earnestly seek Him. Faith is not merely about superficial acknowledgment; it involves an intimate desire to fully know and experience God.
Hebrews 11 doesn’t imply earning God’s favor through good deeds but having faith that God responds to those who sincerely pursue him. While good works are essential, true faith is often manifested and shown through our actions (James 2:14-17). God can’t be manipulated; He knows when we’re seeking Him out of sincerity and love. It’s about relationships, not rewards.
As Pastor Steve Smothermon said, “Faith begins when the will of God is known.”
One of the purest exhibitions of faith I’ve ever witnessed was in the garage of our Life Group’s home. It was towards the end of the first pass of Covid, and we were 6 feet apart with doors and windows open. We hadn’t gathered for months and needed to reconnect in person. I’ll never forget the pure grace that illuminated the room from one of the women in our group. She began and ended her talk by praising God. She smiled. She thanked God for loving her and being present with her. She thanked God for giving her the faith to know Him and for giving her hope in His promises. Then, she thanked God for giving her the ability to fight. The middle part of her talk was about her cancer diagnosis. It wasn’t good. She battled it courageously for a year or so and ultimately ended up in the glory of Jesus’ arms. One phrase she kept repeating was, “I’m not worried.”
“Worry is the sin of distrusting the promise and providence of God and yet it is a sin that Christians commit perhaps more frequently than any other.”
John MacArthur
In a world of uncertainties and doubts, faith is a cornerstone of our relationship with God. Just as a house cannot stand without a solid foundation, our spiritual journey lacks significance without a firm belief in the existence of God propping up our faith. Our faith shapes our worldview, influencing every aspect of our lives, from how we perceive trials to how we interact with others. So, Christian faith looks much different than worldly faith. As we cultivate a deep-seated belief in God’s existence, we align our hearts with His will, paving the way for a life that pleases, worships, and glorifies Him.
Hebrews 11 is often referred to as the “faith chapter.” It showcases the lives of those who walked faithfully with God, from Abel to Noah to Abraham and Sarah. These individuals didn’t have the complete picture we do today. Yet, their unwavering trust in God’s promises and faithfulness became the hallmark of their lives.
Abraham left his comfortable life at God’s command, trusting in the promise of a new land and descendants. Moses defied a powerful Pharaoh, leading the Israelites out of Egypt based on his faith in God’s deliverance. These stories serve as inspiration, showing the power of faith to move mountains, both literally and metaphorically.
Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,
Philippians 3:8-10
Paul, the writer of Philippians, declared that everything else in his life pales compared to knowing Jesus Christ. All his past religious achievements, wealth, and status were surpassed by the value of knowing Christ. He didn’t downplay the importance of earthly things but emphasized their relative insignificance compared to the more profound relationship with knowing God in the person of Jesus Christ.
Two very close friends of mine who have both stood up to cancer let their faith in God do the talking. They faced their treatments and procedures with faith over courage or strength. It was their relationship with Christ through their faith that gave them the strength, boldness, and tenacity to strike back at the cancer. Like my other friend mentioned earlier, God’s glory glowed from their pure faith. Maybe God is using them to attract others to Him. Maybe God is showing us how we can be in a closer relationship with Him?
Paul’s plotline wasn’t merely the abandonment of worldly possessions or achievements but the acquisition of Christ Himself. He describes everything else as “garbage” or “dung” compared to gaining Christ, signifying a radical reevaluation of values. Having faith in Christ isn’t a target; it’s a process. God wants us to take this journey to know Him better.
Faith is not in itself a meritorious act; the merit is in the One toward Whom it is directed.
– A.W. TOZER
Key Applications:
- Faith allows us to persevere even in challenging times. Trust God’s character and promises even when we don’t see the immediate outcome. Trust God’s character and promises despite your difficulties. Remember this week to trust in Him.
- We can’t always see God’s hand in our lives, but Hebrews 11 encourages us to have a “conviction of things not seen.” Don’t let doubt or fear paralyze you. Make decisions based on your faith in God’s guidance, even when the path is unclear. Trust that He is working in your life, even if you can’t always see it.
Where else in your life can you live out the teachings of Christ? Look for next week’s Devotion.