HEBREWS 11:1-40

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the men of old gained approval. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.

By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks.

By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death; and he was not found because God took him up; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God.

And 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.

By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised. Therefore there was born even of one man, and him as good as dead at that, as many descendants as the stars of heaven in number, and innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.

All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.

By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son; it was he to whom it was said, “In Isaac your descendants shall be called.” He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back as a type.

By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even regarding things to come.

By faith Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.

By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the exodus of the sons of Israel, and gave orders concerning his bones.

By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.

By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward. By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing Him who is unseen. By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that he who destroyed the firstborn would not touch them.

By faith they passed through the Red Sea as though they were passing through dry land; and the Egyptians, when they attempted it, were drowned.

By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days.

By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies in peace.

And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection; and others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground.

And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect.

Heavenly Father, my Lord, my God, I come to you in Jesus’ name thanking You and praising You for the wonders of Your creation. I am amazed not only at how You have created everything that is visible out of that which is not visible… but I am equally amazed at the fact that the writer of the book of Hebrews, and many others, thoroughly understood that fact thousands of years ago; and that the writer, by way of the Spirit’s inspiration, saw fit to so state that fact for the people of his day, and all people of all time, to read and understand. How beautiful!  Lord, I am more than impressed with my heritage as a child of God.  Because I, by faith, have become a descendant of Abraham, through the covenant You made with him, I now share in the lineage of Abraham and of all the children of Israel. By faith, their heritage is my heritage, their history is my history, and their story is my story. So when read of all these wonderful men and women of God that the Hebrew writer saw fit to include in this “Great Hall or Faith” I am greatly encouraged.  And knowing that these men and women were, like me, just feeble, frail, and often fearful human beings in whom and through whom You worked to accomplish Your purposes, well, Lord I am convicted. The fact that, though we often fail You, we are still loved by You, and You still work with us to accomplish Your will is almost mind boggling. Yet, I know You do! And I also know that, while I may never accomplish much of anything for the record books, still, You are working with me, in me, and through me to do meaningful things that You intend to work together for my good and to continually promote the cause of Christ and His work among humanity.  And, Father, I know You know, and I want to express the fact that I, too, know that it doesn’t have to be anything grand and glorious; if even my smallest acts of service or slightest influence for good can in any way meaningfully contribute to Your wonderful plan for the eternal redemption of precious men, women, boys, and girls for whom Christ died, then my life has meaning, purpose, and is a success. Please Lord, despite my frailties and failures, of which I repent and seek to do better, I pray that You use me as You have used the ancients of old to be a living and active demonstration of authentic faith; and, thereby, to make some meaningful difference in this world.  By Your grace and love poured out for me on the cross through the gift of Your only begotten Son, my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I offer these thoughts up to You today… Amen, and amen!

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