By Faith (Part 2)

"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. 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." (Hebrews 11:1-3, ESV)

 Hebrews 11 begins with this and what an incredible truth to behold. It is completely by our faith that we are able to know God and hope in him, just like those of old. And what's even more incredible about that is they were hoping for the coming of Christ the first time and now we have been blessed with the knowledge of knowing him after his first coming, dying for us, and looking toward his second coming where our redemption and sanctification will be made complete (refer to part 1 here).

The writer of Hebrews then indulges in the examples of the past chosen people of God and how their faith upheld them to accomplish great things for his kingdom, and how their mindset was on the kingdom regardless of what was occurring:

"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. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. 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 11:13-16, ESV)

Though they had their minds and hearts set on the kingdom, that didn't negate them from present trials and sufferings. Some suffered greatly for him and others triumphed on earth, but all was done for him and through him:

"And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon,Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets—who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises,stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated—of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us,that apart from us they should not be made perfect." (Hebrews 11:32-40, ESV)

As we discussed in the previous post, through the sanctification and knowledge that we are already perfected in Christ we can have endurance here and that is clearly seen through the faith we have. For by what else could these people survive these things and why would they want to do so? Why would all but one of the disciples die a martyr's death? And how could they endure it? By faith. Reiterated throughout this entire passage, it was by faith these people suffered but endured and accomplished much for the kingdom of God. I think that is something that we can learn from this. We need to hold fast to our confession as stated in 10:23, unwavering from him as he has to us. We have hope through all things of this world because we are not of it, by the faith we have in Christ and having our minds set on the kingdom of God. Let us not forget that.