Walking By Faith
Hebrews 11 has been called the faith chapter for good reason. It teaches about faith, and gives example after example of people throughout history who walked by faith and God honored them. You could call it a hall of fame, but those who walk by faith would not consider thoughts of fame.
The chapter begins with “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of thing not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Think about it, assurance is not the same thing as “I hope so”. Conviction (some translations say “evidence”) is not the same as something I have never seen. In fact, both terms seem opposite of what faith is. It is a total confidence in what God has said, even if it is something not here yet, or something I have never seen. We believe, we trust, because God said it.
“Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6). If we are to walk by faith, first we believe in God, and we believe He means what He says. Second, we look at what God has said in His word, and do it, regardless of what our gut tells us, and then God says we walk by faith. It pleases Him.
Hebrew 11 has many examples of people who walked by faith. Perhaps my favorite is the story of Abraham and Sarah. They lived in Ur of the Chaldees, had grown up there, married, and prospered. Ur is somewhere in modern Iraq. Then God spoke to Abraham and said, “Go forth from your country, and from your relatives and from your father’s house, to the land which I will show you; and I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and so you shall be a blessing; and I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed” (Genesis 12:1-3). Quite a promise, and a shock to the soul out of nowhere!
Think about what a step of faith it was to leave their home. It was about a 700 mile trip, but Abraham didn’t even know that when he started his journey. God told him he would show it to him when he got there!
No maps, no GPS, just take God’s word for it. Plus, Sarah went too, which was perhaps a greater step of faith for her to leave everything she had ever known for a great new land. Imagine Sarah saying, “Where is it?” Abraham replied, “Not really sure, but God will show us when we get there.” Just take God’s word for it! Now that’s faith.
Abraham and Sarah faced many other tests of faith in their lives, but their response was always the same. They listened to God; they took Him at His word and trusted Him. And God says they walked by faith, because ultimately, they were “looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God” (Hebrews 11:10). This is the same city we are looking for, our heavenly home!
