CCF: The Hall of Faith
Hebrews 11:7-28
Bro. Julius Resulta
Faith is confidence in God that results in our obedience regardless of consequences. In Hebrews chapter 11, we will examine three heroes of faith to show us how living in faith looks like.
Noah: The Obedience of Faith.
By faith Noah being divinely warned of things not yet seen(rain), moved with Godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household. Faith for Noah is confidence in God, that resulted in him building an ark despite of the unknown. A gigantic ark that measures 450 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high or about one and a half football feet long and three-storey high. With his obedience in building this massive ark, Noah condemned the world, the message was clear – judgment is coming and people should repent. Unfortunately, no one believed other than his family, and people rejected the warning. This tells us that when you and I decide to live a life of faith, people may laugh and reject you, but the question is ‘Will you continue to live in faith?’
Abraham: The Life of Faith
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called out to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. When God called Abraham to this journey, he was already 75 years old. Not knowing where he was going and until when. But without delay, Abraham instantly packed his belongings and obeyed God’s instructions. He left everything familiar and everything he knows in exchange for uncertainty. He left his homeland, had to cut family ties, he abandoned comfortable things in embracing total uncertainty.
When every step is planned and prepared before you, it doesn’t take much faith. Abraham, when instructed to go, he did not know all the details but trusted God and obeyed. Faith for Abraham is confidence in God, that resulted in his journeying regardless of the unknown. His obedience does not guarantee him comfort instead Abraham lived like a stranger in a foreign country dwelling in tents. He settled on a temporary dwelling for hundred years. In spite of this Abraham was not discouraged for he looked forward to the future, his heart is in heaven. He acknowledges that his citizenship lies not here on earth but in heaven where God dwells.
Furthermore, by faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac. Abraham without any hesitations or doubt, was determined to offer his only son Isaac as God commanded him. For Abraham, God has a promise that through Isaac, he will be a great nation, but God wanted him to offer and kill Isaac, but because God has a promise to fulfill and He is a promise-keeping God, therefore, God will resurrect Isaac. Faith for Abraham is confidence in God, that he was willing to offer his only son, as a form of sacrifice. Faith is not whether you like it or whether it makes sense but that you know and trust that God will be faithful.
Moses: The Choices of Faith
By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer the affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin. Moses grew up with all the prestige, wealth, and privilege in Pharaoh’s palace. He was the crowned prince and a mighty general but one day as he saw the burden of his people, made an important decision by faith to renounce his identity as Egyptian and embraced his true identity as an Israelite. With this decision, Moses made a conscious choice to suffer affliction with the people of God rather than the pleasures of the world. With this decision, Moses chose the wrath of the King. He went from someone who can be the next Pharaoh with limitless power to be a slave, from someone who had all the possessions to be a nobody. Moses chose the path of slavery because he chose God. He knew that this is what God wants him to do and understood who he is living for.
Dr. Vance Havner said, “Moses chose the imperishable, saw the invisible, and did the impossible, all by faith.” Faith for Moses is confidence in the promise of God, which resulted in him choosing his identity, regardless of the persecution.
To end, there are three principles that we can learn from Hebrews 11 with regard to living a life of faith:
- The heroes of faith are normal men. They are not superheroes with unique and special qualities, they are your average ordinary people like you and me who have flaws and imperfections. But because they exercise exemplary faith in terms of obedience their names are recorded in this hall of faith. By God’s grace, we too are able to live a life of faith.
- The object of biblical faith is God. It’s not faith on faith, not faith on results, not faith on themselves rather it is faith on God. We can have faith on God because He created the heaven and the earth, He is the alpha and omega, He holds the universe on His hand, He is holy, He is righteous and He is sovereign.
- Biblical faith leads you to act. If we profess that we love God and we have faith in Him, we must be willing to act and obey.
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