“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him’ (v.6)

In this chapter the writer reminds us that, while the object of faith by its very nature cannot be seen, its presence has a vital impact on our lives and character (v.1).  Real faith produces startling results.  We are treated to a historical recap of people of faith in the O.T. and their impact on history itself.

An example of faith is the act of creation.  It is one of those things that was not seen.  No one was there and no evidence available today can demonstrate its origins.  Throughout history various theories of origin have been postulated, including the modern theory of macroevolution.  The believer, however, shapes his or her view of origins by revelation and so understands that all that is came into being by God’s command.

Perhaps some of the best examples of faith are found in the lives of Noah and Abraham.  Told by God to build an ark, Noah sets to work building a huge boat miles away from any source of water.  He is ridiculed and spent 120 years in its construction, and yet through his faith in God, the future of all humanity is saved!

Abraham, was so confident in God’s promise to give him offspring by Isaac, that he concluded God would raise his son from the dead.  He places the wood for the sacrifice upon the shoulders of his son, and leads him to a place where the sacrifice would take place.  When asked by Isaac where is the lamb for the sacrifice, Abraham responds; ‘God Himself will provide the lamb for the burn offering, my son’ (Gen 22: 8).  What faith, and surely an O.T. prophecy fulfilled in the death of Christ, our sacrificial lamb!

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Questions: 

How do you know you have faith? What do you have faith for? How does the faith of Noah and Abraham influence us today?

Pray:

Lord, in the words of the father of the demon possessed boy about to be delivered, I do believe in you and your Son, and yet please, by your Holy Spirit, help me in my times of unbelief. For your glory (Mark 9:24). Amen.