“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1
Hebrews 11 is without doubt, THE chapter in the Bible on faith. And it speaks of the confidence and sustainability of the strength each of the characters of the Old Testament we have come to admire. It is quite the list — a “Hall of Faith.”
Something each of these men and women demonstrated in their lives was an assurance of the mighty God who has promised to deliver, to provide, to comfort, to protect, to heal, to save and to strengthen. All of them remained focused not on their circumstances, but instead on things above.
Living by faith means living it up. Living by faith means living in response to who God is and not what I want. Sure, I ask for God to perform miracles both big and small, but my faith in response to who God is can be seen when I don’t get what I want. God has nothing but great things planned for me and despite my circumstances, I trust, through faith, that whatever it is, it’s better than anything I could ever dream. So I live it up . . . lift it up . . . trust in that which I cannot see and press on in the hope of the promise made that you will deliver, provide, comfort, protect, heal, save and strengthen me.
The men and women of Hebrews 11 never received what they were promised. They were, however, commended for their faith. “God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.” (Hebrews 11:40)
“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit whom he has given me.” Romans 5:1-5