Faith is...

"For faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen."- Hebrews 11:1

This morning I read Hebrews 11.  I've read it before, but some things stood out to me this morning.  The substance... this means "the actual matter of a thing... that of which a thing consists."  Therefore, when we hope for something, faith is the matter that what we hope for is real.  Ultimately, faith is a sign that we believe in the eternal promise of Heaven and our reward.  This is demonstrated as the author goes through the Faith Hall of Fame.

Faith makes us believe in creation... that God merely SPOKE it into existence.  Think he can't handle your situation?  He SPOKE and the world was made.  Faith makes us realize that our story isn't over when we die.  Abel was killed over a more perfect sacrifice, over jealousy, but the "dead speaketh".  The first murder of mankind... and we still talk about it.  Faith makes us believe that God is God, and there is no other.  Faith makes us believe that he will reward us, if we diligently seek Him.  This isn't a cat and mouse game.  Diligently means, "constant in effort... attentive... painstaking".  I'm not sure about you, but I'm not always constant in effort, attentive, and I like to avoid pain at all costs.  Faith lets me know that even in my mistakes, though, He's still God.

Faith makes us do things that we could never imagine.  Look at Noah, building an ark for a flood when noone even knew what rain was.  And you think what God is telling you to do is crazy?  Faith makes us obedient, just as Abraham was.  It also makes us move out of our comfort zone.  Faith makes us look for that city whose builder and maker was God.  (Wow... that verse gives me chills.  I've said before on here, sometimes I just long for home.  Not my house, but my eternal home, where there won't be any sadness or death or sickness...)  Faith delivers us, just as Sara delivered Isaac, who brought forth a multitude of descendants even though he was good as dead (that amazes me... again, that Abraham would be so willingly lay his son down on that altar.  But isn't that precisely what our Father did for us?) 

Faith makes us embrace His promises, and confess them, even though we may be nowhere close to them at this moment. Faith makes us unafraid, just as Moses's mother was unafraid as she lovingly hid him in the bulrushes (another miracle... she gave him up, only to get him back.  Isn't that just like God?) Faith makes us able to stand up for what we believe in and be willingly to give up pleasure for a season, as Moses did.  Faith makes us receive those we do not know, just as Rahab received the spies, and inherited a place in Christ Jesus's blood line.  Faith makes us be strong.  Faith makes us seek better things.

Faith is strong.  It is what helps us through difficult situations, and it helps us to please God.  He smiles when He sees us stepping out in faith, knowing that it is hard for us to do. Relinquish control?  That is hard work! 

If you haven't read this chapter, I urge you to do so.  It makes those Bible characters you heard about when you were little come to life.  Thank You, Father, that we can be faithful because of Your example. Great is Your faithfulness...