Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
Faith is so important to a Christian, more so than even most
believe. Chapter 11 of Hebrews is called the “Faith Chapter” some call it the “heroes
of faith”, but in reality, it is an example of real faith and how it works. God
said, “faith is the substance of things hoped for”, but what does that
even mean? First, you must define the word “substance” and it means - a
setting under – Vines defines it this way, -it has the meaning of
"confidence, assurance" the giving substance to – Think of faith as
our underlaying foundation. The stranger the faith the stronger they believe
God. These folks were not heroes at all, no believer is a hero, Christians are
what God makes them by grace. Faith is to a Christian like a foundation is to a
house: it gives confidence and assurance that he will stand. Weak faith is like
having a foundation built on sand and when the storm of life comes their faith
folds like a house on sand and gets washed away. Jesus did not build His church
on a small pebble like Peter but built it on a massive bolder in Himself. Jesus
is the only foundation that could make the church solid to withstand the storms.
The folks mentioned in chapter 11 all had strong faith foundations. Our true faith
is confident obedience to God’s Word despite circumstances and consequences. No
matter what, their faith in God and God’s word was strong, their faith in God
was their unlaying foundation to their accomplishments. The measure of our
faith is strength in Him and His word, when the flood water in life come, do we
stand strong. In the “dark ages” of history tens of millions of men, women, and
children died because of their faith in God. When the storms of persecution came,
they did not surrender, they did not lose faith, their house of faith stood
strong as they were persecuted and died for their faith in God’s word. Faith is
just like everything else, it is only as strong as God give it in grace. Those
that have strong faith in the Lord are much blessed of God. Because faith is
only as strong as the One giving it. God said, “For by it the elders
obtained a good report.” V. 2 by their strong faith, and the stronger and
more blessed they were the better report they had from God. God said “Now
the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no
pleasure in him.” Hebrews 10:38 This is why some come and stay a while and
retreated, because their faith is not their strong foundation. The words “draw
back” means – to cower or to withdraw or apostasy – God has no pleasure in
them, because their faith collapsed, or their house built on sand fell. Faith
enables Christians to be great Christians in the Lord and His word, pleasing
God all the way through life. God also said, “But without faith it is
impossible to please him…” every time a Christians faith folds, every time
the floods come, and their house collapses God is not pleased. If a Christian
is not standing in strong support of God’s word, no matter what, they fail. If
we lose sight of Him and His True Being, or if we lose faith in His blessed Word
of Truth, if we fail in faith, we fail God. “By faith Noah, being warned of
God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving
of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the
righteousness which is by faith.” V. 7 Noah never stop building the Ark no
matter what, even if he did not clearly understand what a flood was or why he
was building the Ark people laughed, God spoke, and he obeyed! The best way to
grow in faith is to walk with the faithful, read His word and understand the
commandments and to do as God wants. If you do, God will always be pleased with
your faith. “And these all, having obtained a good report through faith,
received not the promise:” How is your report?
