‘Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.
'By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.
'By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.
'By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But 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 diligently seek Him.
'By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.
'By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
'By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised.' (Hebrews 11.1-11, NKJV)
Before we begin looking at chapter 11, I must lay the foundation of our faith, as outlined in Hebrews chapter 10. We draw near to God in faith that we have been cleansed from sin and saved by grace; we must hold fast to this assurance. As new believers, we are excited about our new found faith; we mustn’t let this enthusiasm fade away, rather, hold fast the profession of our faith. As we will see from reading chapter 11, there is a reward for those who remain faithful. (Hebrews 10:22, 23, 35.)
God is a rewarder of those who seek Him. Throughout chapter 11, we see the progression of faith from the assurance of our salvation, to faith being the power through which we receive answers to prayer. Faith is practical: it is substance and evidence. Faith isn’t ceremony or something mystical. When I am preaching, I like to illustrate faith by jumping on a platform: I am jumping ‘in faith’ that the platform is solid, so that it will not give way under my weight. Faith is confidence, and confidence gives you faith. For many, faith is a fantasy, a ‘hope’ that something may or may not happen. Faith is looking into the future with certainty, that you will receive what you are believing for.
For by [faith] the elders obtained a good report. I want you, through faith, to receive all that you are believing for. By faith, God has twice healed me of cancer. By faith, God delivered me from a communist prison. By faith, I took 400 people to Siberia, and evangelised every major town and city. My greatest desire is that God will write my name in the list of those who have lived by faith.
Through faith we understand the worlds were framed by the Word of God. So many Christians are misled by the theory of evolution. Throughout Scripture, God is referred to as the creator of heaven and earth; that was is seen was made by the unseen. In Mark 11, and also in Luke 11, we are instructed to speak, and the impossible will happen. In John 1, Jesus is introduced as the Word who gave life to all things. When God spoke in Genesis 1, the heavens and the earth were formed.
Faith pleases God. By faith, Enoch walked so close with God, that God received him into heaven without dying. What was Enoch’s testimony, ‘that he pleased God’. Without faith it is impossible to please God, but the converse is also true, your faith pleases God. Trust Jesus with your life. Commit your way to Him. Seek His guidance and perfect plan. Our relationship with God is based on knowing Him. And we know Him through His Word: ‘faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God’ (Romans 10:17). Have faith in God. Faith in His ability. Faith in His faithfulness. God IS a rewarder of those who seek Him.