Week 10
Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”
Faith is the operating system by which the Christian functions in the life of Christ. Faith connects us to Christ, and faith nurtures our life in Christ. We study the Bible to be informed with respect to God’s truth, and we pray to keep the lines of communication open to our heavenly Father. But faith is the vital energy that keeps us enlivened in the power of the Holy Spirit.
But what is faith? Faith is assurance, faith is conviction, faith is certainty, and faith is affirmation that fuels and empowers our obedience, worship, and service for Christ.
The life of the materialist is lived with a focus on material things. This person requires physical and material proof and certainty. But the Christian has his mind in heaven. He is raised up with Christ; thus, he seeks the things above, where Christ is (See Colossians 3:1). The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 4:18 that he looks not at the things which are seen, “but at the things which are not seen.” The unseen treasures of Christ, which Christ spoke about in the Sermon on the Mount (See Matthew 6:19-21) have captured our hearts. We seek things above, things eternal, and things holy. We love not the things of the world, because they are not of the Father (See 1 John 2:15-16).
It is striking to review in Hebrews 11 the line of faithful saints in the Old Testament. What they went through in their journey of faith is truly amazing and gripping. We might wonder if we could endure such things in our race of faith! And, we might be tempted to ask, “Is this faith race worth it?”
Hebrews 11:1 says that faith assures us that those unseen promises and treasures given to us in Christ are real, and they are worth it. These higher aspirations of the soul yearn for the day when sin is banished, righteousness is fulfilled, and Christ is exalted as Lord overall. Will that day ever come? Faith steps forth as if to say, “You can be assured, fully assured, that what God has promised and prepared for His people in Christ, WILL COME TO PASS!” This is the courage that keeps us going; this is strength that carries us through the valleys of trial and struggle. Faith calls us to believe God’s promise; faith calls us to live in the light of those promises.
Christian friend, God has given to us the great gift of faith; let us embrace it and live with gusto and joy. God cannot lie, and God cannot fail. All that He has given us in Christ is ours both in this life and in the life to come. Let us worship, work, serve, and obey Him with a full heart and a confident soul. Faith is the energy that will carry us forth into and through the unknown regions of tomorrow.
Prayer: Dear Lord, please help me to believe You, even when I struggle. When I cannot see and understand Your way in my life, build up my faith that I may trust You completely, knowing that You do all things well. Amen