Victorious Faith

What Keeps Us Going

What is it that keeps a person going when all around things are not going well? For some it is sheer determination. They will themselves to continue. Others give up. They see no reason to continue and give up on ever seeing any good in life. For the Christian, what keeps us going is faith. Chapter 11 of Hebrews begins with what many consider a definition of faith. But it actually has more to do with the function of faith rather than the nature of faith. Faith binds the believer securely to the reality of what he does not yet see, but for which he hopes. The word hope means confident expectation. The function of faith then is to connect the believer in God (verse 6) with a reality which is not seen but which is confidently expected to be seen later on.

The Examples of Faith

Such faith (verse 2) was seen in the life of the older ones who lived before Hebrews was written. It was this faith which allowed Abel to sacrifice. It was this faith which made Noah build an ark. It was this type of faith which made Abraham leave his home for a place God would show him. It was this type of faith which resulted in Abraham offering Isaac on an altar. The examples go on.

But this chapter is not complete without the reader placing himself in the position of determining if he has this same type of faith. Are you securely tied to a reality which is not yet seen but fully expect to see some day? What will this type of faith create in you? What short paragraph would be written about your faith? It would begin with “By faith, when you were presented with [a choice], you chose….” Each of us will write our own story of faith.

Your Story of Faith

Christ’s story is part of the journey of faith. Chapter 11 does not go into detail about the emotions experienced by these great examples of faith, but from the Old Testament we know about some of them. Abraham laughed at God’s insistence that he would have a son. Moses doubted God’s concern in the middle of the desert. Jephthah wondered how God could allow a promise about his daughter to go unchallenged. David didn’t always act in faith.

You see, each of us has begun writing our story. Your story is not yet through. The ups and downs of walking with God are not surprising. But it is the final entry in the chapter of faith that matters. Faith grows in hostile and difficult places. There are times when growth may not be obvious. Faith may be slow. But faith is growing and it will be a tough, enduring faith.

Running the Race with Jesus

But chapter 11 is not the end. Chapter 12 begins with “therefore.” Surrounded by these great testimonies of faith, let us throw off the weights which hinder us and the sin which entangles us and let us run with perseverance the race of faith. We do that by fixing our eyes on Jesus who demonstrated a complete and mature faith. When we look at the ultimate example of faith, we discover that we too can be people of faith. We do not lose heart along the way. So write your story every day knowing that you, too, will get an opportunity to insert your statement of faith in God’s book.

Follow Jesus

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