Faith

The writer of Hebrews describes faith as “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1, NKJV). In modern English it reads: 

“What is faith? It is the confident assurance that something we want is going to happen. It is the certainty that what we hope for is waiting for us, even though we cannot see it up ahead” (The Living Bible).

Hebrews 11 goes on to list many examples. To me, the outstanding one is Abraham. Just think. He heard a message from God, a being that He did not know well. He was told to leave his homeland and travel to a place unknown for reasons undisclosed. By faith he obeyed. Along the journey, his faith was tested. He was promised a son, an heir through whom an innumerable race of people would come to be. Remember, he was old then, and his wife was past child-bearing years. After Isaac was born, the old man’s  faith was tested again when God asked Him to sacrifice his son on an altar in the mountain wilderness. I can’t imagine such a thing. But by this time, Abraham had learned to trust whatever God said. “He believed that if Isaac died God would bring him back to life again; and that is just about what happened, for as far as Abraham was concerned, Isaac was doomed to death, but he came back again alive!” (Hebrews 11:19, TLB).

There are New Testament examples, too. The wise men saw a star which God used to lead them to the place where a “new king” was born. They left their home for an undisclosed destination and were rewarded by finding Jesus, whom they worshipped with grateful hearts and tangible gifts.

And how about Paul? After God appeared to him, he became an avid follower who left home to move from place to place as the Spirit guided him. He taught many about faith. What it meant to follow Jesus. He challenged both Jews and Gentiles to follow in his footsteps, knowing that even through tribulation, they could experience real joy. For example, he wrote to the Christians in Rome, saying: “May the God of hope fill you with joy and peace in your faith, that by the power of the Holy Spirit, your whole life and outlook may be radiant with hope” (Romans 15:13, J. B. Phillips).

And how about you? Are you filled with that kind of faith that fills you with hope? Paul reminded Titus (and us) that “we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us” (Titus 2:13-14, NIV). So no matter what our circumstances, faith gives us hope. The best is yet to come. Are you living with that assurance in your heart and mind?