Assurance

Hebrews 11

​“Faith makes all things possible; love makes all things easy.”
D. L. Moody

“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.” Hebrews 11:1–3 (ESV)

Here in the familiar and famous chapter of Hebrews 11, we learn that faith is confidence in God that leads to obedience to God. True faith is based on what God says and is demonstrated in what we do. People with faith do things for God, and God does things for them.

We see through the list of those written in this Hall of faith that faith is not a luxury; it is a necessity. It is for common people and not just great leaders, even the unexpected and unexceptional.

We learn that you need faith for worshiping as well as for working, walking, waiting, and warring. In any area of life where you ignore faith, you will sin.

“But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.” Romans 14:23

“Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 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— 38 of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. 39 And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40 since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.” Hebrews 11:36–40 (ESV)

The phrase “others” in this passage reminds us that we can live by faith and appear to be defeated. Not everybody who trusted God was delivered or protected. But the important thing is not God’s deliverance; it is God’s approval.

The Hall of Faith includes countless OT saints, many of them nameless, who endured the unendurable because they saw the invisible. We who have seen the fulfillment of their faith are challenged to be people of faith like them.

Faith in God gives you the ability to endure when others are giving up. Where does this faith come from?

“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” Romans 10:17

“For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” Romans 15:4.

Are you growing in your faith? Are you growing in your love for and obedience to Christ because of your time in His Word?

Know today that the more time you spend with Jesus in His Word, the more faith you will have in His promises and His salvation. Faith is trust in the unseen, not the unknown. Faith is necessary for trusting God and accepting His salvation.

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