It Is Our Turn Now!

Recently I read Hebrews 11, the Faith Chapter. It is a “telling.”  A description of what faith does and how it works. It gives lots of examples of how “ordinary” people, like us, walked out their faith. By the time I get to the end of the chapter, all I can think is “WOW! That was extraordinary! They laid it all out there!” 

These men and women had confident obedience to God’s Word in spite of circumstances and consequences. Their circumstances were difficult (to say the least), and the consequences were frightening but they obeyed God’s Word and believed Him to do what was right and best. No bargaining or holding back. Living “by faith” was not an “on and off” thing for these folks. It was not a sideline issue in their lives. They were constant and persistent.

Every time I read this chapter, I am personally challenged. I do not expect to face a lion, be stoned, or sawn in two but it is my desire to obtain a good report. I want to have the future perspective that keeps me on my personal journey of obedience.

Three things we learn about faith right off in Hebrews 11 is that it has substance. This means it is a support like a foundation is to a house. Second, it is evidence or a conviction that believes God will keep His word. Thirdly, it gives witness – “obtained a good report.”  That was God’s divine approval on their lives. The folks listed in this chapter understood something in God that others did not, and it enabled them to do what others could not or would not do.

Hebrews 12:1 goes on to tell us that each of us has a race that has been all marked out for us. It talks about a sin that ensnares us so easily. That can be a multitude of different things for each of us but common to us all is discouragement that wants to pull us down and off course.

So, it is our turn now. Obviously walking out our faith will be different for each of us daily.  But we can have confidence that God’s Word is a sure foundation, and we can “obtain a good report” as we daily meet the challenges that come our way with faith and trust in God. Over the course of a lifetime and the long journey of varying landscapes and changing circumstances, we can fix our eyes on our destination, despite our surroundings and highs and lows in life. We can fix our vision on the eternal.

Remember that the God who loves you has good plans for you that nothing or no one can frustrate.

We too can “obtain a good report.”