Commended For Faith

 DEVOTION

TO HEBREWS

COMMENDED FOR FAITH

Heb 11:1-4

11:1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. 4 By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.

NIV

We have entered the most famous chapter of this letter to the Hebrews that gives us all the evidence, with all the witnesses of those who were people of faith that pleased God. First, right out of the gate, we are given this great passage which has been quoted mostly in the King James Version; Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. The point is the same in all translations. Faith is hope in the firm foundation of the deed that has been done without seeing it, this is how the Greek renders this verse which the various translations give us that essence. First, what are we hoping for that is certain? In two words, eternal life. However, as this is all-inclusive within itself, the truth includes the fact that Jesus is coming back for us, and when he does, those of us who would be fortunate to be alive, will simply rise up in the air, floating up from wherever we might be, disappear in a sense, but yet be invisible so that the rest of the world will see us ascend into the clouds, just as the disciples watched Jesus ascend. If, on the other hand, we die before that happens, then we will rise from the dead, whatever condition our bodies might be in, whether they have completely decomposed to dust, or we have been cremated and our ashes are in some urn or even scattered in the wind, through the power of God, our bodies will rise from whatever grave to meet Jesus in the air. Our hope is in the certain event that we have yet to see, but it is going to be a fact, for we have all the evidence we need, the very word of God. We are going to see many of the ancients commended for their faith. But we first want to focus on the fact that it is by faith we understand the universe was formed at God’s command. Interestingly, we are also told that by faith the universe we see, that is all the suns, which we call stars, and all the planets, all the black holes, and galaxies far away were never there until God spoke them into existence. Everything was void and without form, everything, there was nothing but water that the Spirit moved over. The only place that was real, was where God was, whatever that looked like we have no idea, but by faith, we believe God was there, somewhere and then he started to speak, and everything happened that we now can see. If we do not think all this is true, then our thinking would be foolish, and without faith. We know deep within ourselves everything that is said about creation is true because of the witness of the Holy Spirit who dwells within us. He testifies to our spirit that our faith in what is real, even if we cannot see it yet, is right, and we are being commended by God because of our faith.