Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. — Hebrews 11:1
At the outset of this great chapter known as the Hall of Faith, we see faith clearly defined. Faith is the substance and faith is the evidence of an unseen work of God manifested in a life of hope. In other words, faith has substance, is evidence, and can be seen.
What follows in this great chapter is a list of names reading like a Who’s Who of the Bible. Though the experiences range from building an ark, as Noah did, to being sawn in two, as Isaiah experienced, the common thread among these giants of faith is their hope in an unseen God involved in every aspect of their lives. Faith dictated their actions, because their faith had substance. Faith enabled them to stand alone and choose affliction, as Moses did, or spend a night in the lions’ den, as Daniel did. The one thing we know of those listed in this great Hall of Faith is that they all lived by faith’s definition given here in verse one. Their faith had substance and was evident. It showed in their lives.
Too often we reduce faith to simply believing or having an awareness of something. But true faith is visible. If we have faith that the laws of gravity are true, we will exercise caution on a mountain road or express thankfulness for the guardrail on the edge of a cliff. Faith is evidenced in actions, and those actions are the substance through which our faith is seen.
Live out a visible faith today, and through it others may see you have a hope they are looking for. Let your actions be motivated by faith, and let your faith define the way in which you travel through life, just as gravity defines how you drive the mountain road. This is what faith is: visible knowledge and beliefs that are unmoved by lions’ dens and unimpressed with the passing pleasures of sin. Set a course today for faith. Give the rest of Hebrews 11 a read before you set out. See how others have lived by faith, and know that your name too can be added to the list!
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