Hebrews 11 is often referred to as the “Hall of Fame of Faith.” The writer starts with his definition of faith saying, Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Read that a few times over. In a culture marked by absolutes and evidence, faith stands as something larger and more profound!
The writer then begins a litany of the faithful who are exemplars of faithful living! These pillars of Judaism are reminders of how faith changes our world, especially for people who are willing to courageously step out beyond the normalcy of life and trust God. The wonder of it all is that not one of these people did it perfectly!
Within this list is a summary overview of Abraham’s life. Read Hebrews 11:8-19. This overview takes a long life and condenses it into the salient moments that we need to see, so we can see them in us.
- A man who leaves the known to venture into the unknown;
- He was a stranger in his own land
- A promise that was slow in coming but fulfilling the first promise of an abundance of descendants
- One whose trust was greater than his understanding, knowing that God would work yet still.
In your life, where are those highlight moments, where faith was seen and experienced? Do you remember all those fears, uncertainties, hopes and dreams that marked those days? Walking in faith doesn’t mean it is easy; rather, it is actually much harder than most can imagine! I think, that is why Jesus speaks about the path is wide but the gate is narrow of those who truly live this way…it is easy until real life happens! That is when faith is lived—in the trenches of life!
