Chapter 10 ended with a powerful statement: “But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls” (Heb 10:39).
What is true, life-giving faith, and how does faith play out as a key behavior of perfect unity with God and keep us from shrinking back in fear?
“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible” (Heb 11:1-3).
Consider the biblical heroes who absorbed and lived that assurance in situations that demanded giving up, starting with Abel, the son of Adam.
“By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks” (Heb 11:4; Gen 4:4).
God did not measure the monetary gifts of Abel and Cain, but rather the level of faith that went with a greater sacrifice, monetary or otherwise.
“By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him” (Heb 11:5-6; Gen 5:22, 24).
Enoch had such great faith that he literally walked with God, and God suddenly took him up to heaven, avoiding the experience of death.
And then, of course there is Noah:
“By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith” (Heb 11:7).
Noah was a regular guy, considered eccentric by the world for building his ark. But the rest of the world had become totally evil and depraved to the extent that God was so disgusted and appalled at their behavior that he vowed to wipe out the human race. Only Noah and his family were considered righteous and no one else survived the great flood that followed (Gen 6:5-8).
True faith comes in many forms, but the blessing of God that results from faith is consistent from generation to generation. The title of this blog is not a typo; it is a lame pun on my part. But it harkens back to an old hymn that captures this truth:
“Lord, we are able, Our spirits are thine. Remold them, make us, Like thee, divine.
“Thy guiding radiance Above us shall be A beacon to God, To love, and loyalty.”
Mark 10:35-40;
Words by: Earl Marlatt and Harry S. Mason
Hurry back for Part 2 and the faith shown by Abraham and Sarah!