Hebrews 11 : Faith Hall of Fame
“Faith is a living, daring confidence in God’s grace, so sure and certain that a man could stake his life on it a thousand times.” — Martin Luther
A few days ago, I got very disappointing news. One of my graduate applications I have been looking forward to all year was declined. Words couldn’t express how I felt. It felt like God had let me down. I felt abandoned.
I looked out the bus window I boarded on my way to work, and I kept asking God why He allowed me to experience such disappointment. When I was done ranting in my spirit, He gently reminded me that the refusal doesn’t define my purpose, and His plans for me remain grounded in His love. He led me back to my first article. He was about to give me a new insight into the message. He just needed me to have an open heart. I did go back to read it, and God enhanced my understanding of what it means to find and walk in His purpose. To fulfill your purpose in God, you have to trust Him all the way.
Romans 8:28 (NIV) says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Psalm 37:23 also says, “The steps of a righteous man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way.” Before I go further, we must remember no one is righteous by their work. Jesus Christ took up the sin of the world on the cross, and through this sacrifice, we are made righteous. 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NIV) says, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” Even though we were not present physically at the crucifixion of Christ, by faith, we believe He died for us. By faith, we also believe God was present at the beginning of time, and He created the whole universe. Faith is required to receive the foundation Jesus has laid, and faith is essential to building firmly on this foundation.
The journey of building a purposeful life on this foundation will come with difficult moments and challenges. You will feel vulnerable letting go and choosing to trust God. The flesh can’t handle that sort of inactivity. It always wants action. However, it is crucial never to forget that the purpose of the challenges we face in our walk with God is to equip us for the journey he has set before us. God is more interested in our character development than our comfort. Why? Because life is a race and our faith in God will keep us focused all through the journey. Look at what Paul said in 2 Timothy 4:7 (NIV), “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
Fought the good fight.
Finished the race.
I have kept the faith.
Living your purpose requires not only trusting God when the sun is shining brightest but trusting God even in the middle of a thunderstorm. Have you ever been in the midst of a bad storm? The gusty winds, flashes of lightning and roaring thunder can leave even a person with the strongest conviction disoriented. Even when nothing seems to make sense, God wants us to believe in Him.
Then, He directed me to read Hebrews 11. I needed to see what it means to trust in Him. In Hebrews 11:1–2 (NIV), Paul says, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.” The chapter introduces an impressive list of heroic figures from the Old Testament — remarkable men and women whose stories stand out to encourage and challenge the faith. Some of these heroes of the Bible are well-known personalities, while others remain anonymous. They were all required to persevere in their faith, though final victory was often years in the future; some didn’t even receive what they were promised in their lifetime. The key theme of this chapter is that without faith, they wouldn’t have fulfilled the divine purpose God had for their lives. They had a vision that exceeded the rewards of this world.
Hebrews 12:2 (NIV) says, “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” You can liken “fixing our eyes” to gazing. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines a “gaze” as fixing the eyes in a steady intent, often with eagerness or studious attention. Faith sustains your gaze even in the face of adversity. Hebrews 11: 6 (NIV) says, “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.”
Let’s take a look at Abraham, the father of faith. Make no mistake about it, Abraham wasn’t perfect — like us. Genesis tells us that on two separate occasions, Abraham denied Sarah as his wife (Genesis 12:10–13, NIV) and then Sarah was taken from her husband into another man’s house (Genesis 12:14–16, NIV). The truth is that if God didn’t work with flawed men, He wouldn’t have any to work with atall. Bit by bit, our heroes in the bible learned and grew over time. This is why we can relate to their stories. They were humans like us.
Abraham faced different tests and remained steadfast in God’s promises.
Hebrews 11:8–12 (NIV)
By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise. And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.
By faith.
Obeyed and went.
Even though he didn’t know where he was going.
Hebrews 11:17–19 (NIV)
By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned. Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death.
Just incredible! Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead. That is how much faith Abraham had in God. Abraham’s faith was credited unto him as righteousness (Romans 4:3, NIV).
My friends, don’t get so focused on what you want that you miss the things God has prepared for you. Trust Him enough to let go of your expectations and demands. In Psalm 32:8 (NIV), God said, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.” So next time you in that situation where God asks you to wait far longer than it seems normal, or he instructs you to venture into unknown territory or even give up what you think you absolutely can’t do without, pull an Abraham. Believe God anyway, even in the face of difficult circumstances. It is ok if you are afraid and confused; take it to God in prayer. He knows your needs and understands your desires. Psalm 34:18 (NIV) says, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Draw near to Him, and He will draw near to you.
I boarded my first bus with a crushed heart and alighted at the final bus stop with a smiling heart. With a bounce in my steps, I walked into my workplace with a beautiful tune in my heart.
Nothing can separate us from his love. Not our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow
Memory verse:
Proverbs 3:5 (NIV): “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your path straight.”
Further Bible readings:
Malachi 3:6, Hebrews 13:6, 2 Corinthians 5:7, Peter 5:7, Psalm 9:10, Hebrews 13:8, Philippians 4:19, Mark 5:36
Song of the week: Jehovah Jireh by Jekalyn Carr
Apple music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/jehovah-jireh-live/1529325889?i=1529325903
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/33Ew8vazpkcYhyyNMv8jhj?highlight=spotify:track:7l6yY4kttGsr96vM9vY7XX
Deezer: https://www.deezer.com/en/track/1062617612
Youtube Music: https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=wECqjRj-0W4&list=RDAMVMwECqjRj-0W4
