By Faith?

1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the people of old received their commendation. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. 4 By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks. 5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. 7 By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith. 8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. 11 By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore. 13 These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14 For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15 If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city. ~ Hebrews 11:1-16

By Faith, what a curious statement in this day and age. It seems that many people have faith in nothing. Webster's defines "faith" as: strong belief or trust in someone or something : belief in the existence of God : strong religious feelings or beliefs : a system of religious beliefs. Here the author of Hebrews defines faith as: the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. In either case people today appear not to believe in anything they can not see or explain. Yet we have a litany of instances in God's Word of people follow God just because they believed He would keep His promise. So how do we have faith in a God that we can not see? How do we have faith in a God that seems to be absent, in light of all that is going on in the world? We look to the person of Christ! We look to the miracles, to His words, we look to the empty cross, to the empty tomb, to the ascension. We look to Pentecost when Christ sent His Holy Spirit to live in and among us. Look at creation itself, at the wonders way we and all things are made and integrated together. Look at the promises of God and how He has kept each and everyone of them. Look to the promises we have yet to receive. Be assured that God is faithful be convinced that He is real and intertwined in our lives. Whether you feel Him or not know that He is there! Look at all the instances in His Word where people struggled and suffered for His sake and how He always brought them to, through and past it. Look to the day you will come face to face with Him! Oh what a glorious day that will be. read the last sentence in the passage above and let it pour over you like refreshing water flowing over a mountain water fall, "God is not ashamed to be called OUR God, He has prepared for US a city! Oh what a glorious day that will be! Amen. <><