Hebrews 11:1-3 states, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.
3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.” Welcome back for another edition of the Handfuls of Purpose series. For the next few weeks we are going to looking at faith in God and faithfulness to God. The eleventh chapter of Hebrews has been called by many as the roll call of the righteous. In this chapter the writer of the book of Hebrew, some say it was Paul and others give other names for the writer, gives a listing of individuals who were faithful to God, and who were counted righteous before the Lord.
As the verses quoted at the beginning of this article state, faith, our faith in God is based on our belief in the assurance in God doing what He says He will do. It is not based on a tangible item. Let me explain. When a Christian states that they believe that Christ is going to return again, or the Christian states they have faith in spending an eternity with God in heaven, this is faith in intangible items. We cannot see a physical heaven, nor can currently a physical sign in the sky of a returning Jesus, but we as Christians have faith in the Bible that states both items as realities. We exercise our faith, and truly Hebrews 11:1 gives us a best explanation of what faith is. Some will say faith is nonsense, and they only believe in the tangible. I would say to them, “Can you see the wind? When you turn the key in your car do you have faith in it that it will start?” The Christian critic would say those two questions are different from having faith in an unseen God, but I say not so. The critic would state that we see the outcome of wind, and that they can also find the engine of the car that is attached to the key they turn to start it. I would ask then, “What about the Bible, or the order in this universe, or miracles, or the historical fact of one called Jesus?” The book of Hebrews definition of faith holds true to anything one will place their faith in.
There is a difference between having putting ones faith in their car or some other earthly possession from putting their faith in the one and only true God. Verses two and three in chapter eleven of Hebrews explain this. First our proper faith in God and the things of God can give us a good report. This report or good statement about us is not just among the people we deal with in our lives, but also a good report before God himself.
Secondly the whole world is framed by the word of God and God Himself, and it is by our faith in the Lord that we can understand it. It has always interested me in the debate between creation and evolution that many will state that the debate is settled and everyone in their right mind believes in evolution, yet the theory of evolution changes in almost every generation. Sometimes there is shallow water evolution, and sometimes there is deep water evolution, and everything in between. On the other hand the biblical account of creation has never changed or been edited. As one who has intensely studied biblical criticism and taught the subject in both the graduate and undergraduate levels, I can assure our readers the Bible has never changed, and it is without error. With this said, our faith as Christians in the creations of God bring us great understanding of truth not just in our own little cosmos in which we function, but also in a worldwide setting.
In conclusion, let me ask you a question. Where is your faith placed? Is it on only what is tangible, or is it on the things of God? I as a Christian understand the convenience of the tangible world I live in, but I truly, by faith, rely on my Lord and Savior who loves me and cares for my well being. May God bless and keep you.
