Heb.11:13. These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
The Christian life is not a formula, it’s a relationship. It’s not a how to, but a Who to. Having said that, there are some what’s and how’s as we learn to live out our relationship with Christ. In verse 13 we see a little bit of how faith operates. It’s a process that when acting in faith, we are usually not even conscious of, but at least part of these realities are happening. I chose the King James version because I like the way it says it.
This verse refers to the old testament saints referred to at this point in Heb.11 who were looking for the Messiah and His Kingdom. Notice the sequence. They saw the promises from afar. In other words, they heard God speak, (the PROMISE. Remember faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God) but what He spoke seemed so unlikely, far off in time, in light of the situation of their lives. Yet, in spite of everything they were PERSUADED that if God said it, it must be true, and therefore they EMBRACED the promises. This is believing in your heart.
What happened next completes The Spirit of Faith 2 Corinthians 4 talks about. They CONFESSED that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. This is the Confessing with your mouth what you believe in your heart. This is the Work of faith. James says, faith without works is dead. The act of Confessing what you believe gives life to faith; to the thing you believe in. Without that daring act, faith is lifeless. It is simply believing what even the demons believe. True faith (living faith) always invokes the ability of God. Believing is seeing. The world operates just the opposite way. Jesus said He was the High Priest of our confession. I don’t think that just means when we confessed Him as Savior.
Tomorrow we will talk about the unconditional commitment of faith.
Have a great day walking in faith. Acting like it is so, when it isn’t so, in order for it to be so, because He says it’s so.
Faith Means We’re Sure by: Susan H. Peterson/Thomas Campbell
Faith means we’re sure of what we hope to get;
We’re certain of the things that we do not see.
By faith we know that God made the world;
What’s here now was not made from what was seen.
Abel by faith offered God a better sacrifice;
And Enoch, too, by faith died not, but from this life did rise.
Though they are gone, they speak this word:
That without faith, none can please the Lord.
It was by faith that Noah built the ark,
When warned by God of things that were yet to pass.
Since he had faith, God did spare his life,
And made him an heir of His righteousness.
Abraham, too, when God said to leave his home behind,
Obeyed and went, though he knew not the land he was to find.
Though they are gone, they speak this word:
That without faith, none can please the Lord.
It was by faith that Abr’ham had a son,
Then offered him to God as a sacrifice.
Faith upheld Moses in Egypt’s land,
And faith let a lamb pay the firstborn’s price.
By faith the people passed through the sea as on dry land,
And faith was why the walls of Jericho just could not stand.
Though they are gone, they speak this word:
That without faith, none can please the Lord.
All these still lived by faith until they died,
Receiving not the things that had been made known.
They only saw them as from afar;
They knew that their country was not their own.
God therefore was not ashamed to be named as their Lord;
For they believed that He was real and would their faith reward.
Oh, give me faith to trust Your Word,
That by my life I may please You, Lord.