Hebrews 11:1-4, 7, 13-16
The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see. The act of faith is what distinguished our ancestors, set them above the crowd.
By faith, we see the world called into existence by God’s word, what we see created by what we don’t see.
By an act of faith, Abel brought a better sacrifice to God than Cain. It was what he believed, not what he brought, that made the difference. That’s what God noticed and approved as righteous. After all these centuries, that belief continues to catch our notice.
By faith, Noah built a ship in the middle of dry land. He was warned about something he couldn’t see, and acted on what he was told. The result? His family was saved. His act of faith drew a sharp line between the evil of the unbelieving world and the rightness of the believing world. As a result, Noah became intimate with God.
Each one of these people of faith died not yet having in hand what was promised, but still believing. How did they do it? They saw it way off in the distance, waved their greeting, and accepted the fact that they were transients in this world. People who live this way make it plain that they are looking for their true home. If they were homesick for the old country, they could have gone back any time they wanted. But they were after a far better country than that—heaven country. You can see why God is so proud of them, and has a City waiting for them.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
I always think about my dad this time of year. He died on October 9, 1999, following a two-year illness that began with a “simple” diagnostic procedure for his heart one morning that led to a near-fatal exploratory surgery that night. The surgeons discovered this procedure had triggered the onset of renal failure. Two years later, Daddy suffered a paralyzing stroke the day after undergoing surgery to repair a hernia… and he died a few hours later from a massive heart attack. Talk about “turning points!”
Renal failure really does a number on your body – and your mind. My dad had to have daily dialysis to clean the impurities from his body, because his kidneys no longer functioned properly. This caused all sorts of problems, from sensitivity to smells (especially food) to almost constant itching, a continual sense of not feeling well, and general fatigue. Understandably, Daddy sank into a deep, deep depression. We all prayed for healing and a reprieve from the torment of this disease, just as we had prayed for my brother to be healed of liver disease the previous year. And ultimately, healing came… just not in the form we wanted or expected.
And this is the point of today’s passage. The writer cites several Old Testament examples of people who were faithful and obedient to God… who expected Him to deliver on His promises to them. And God did exactly this… but not necessarily in the way that was anticipated. Many of these faithful followers never experienced the fulfillment of God’s promises in their earthly lifetime. But I am sure they now walk the streets of gold in Heaven. They may have had bodies that betrayed them on this earth, but now they are healthy and whole. Their examples give the phrases, “Hang in there,” and “Keep the faith!” all new meaning!
What does this mean for you and me? I believe that God has tremendous blessings and favor for each of us. I also believe that a life lived in faith and trust does not ensure that we will have a continual “bed of roses” on this earth. Healing does not always come in the form we expect. Blessings are not always immediate… or clearly visible. One of the mysteries of God and our relationship with Him is that we don’t understand everything – and we are not supposed to! But one of the truths of our Christian faith is that God will deliver on His promises. We simply don’t know when, where or how this will happen.
So the next time you wonder, “When is it my turn?” or “When will my healing come?”… the next time you ask God to show you how He is fulfilling His promises to you… remember that faith is our “handle on what we can’t see.” God will surely deliver. He will answer - when the time is right and in the most perfect way. Once we begin to fully operate in faith – to believe with every confidence that God is working things out perfectly, we turn the corner. And everything becomes clearer. We settle in and serve with a little more patience – and confidence that serving faithfully will be so worth the effort.
I don’t know how, when, or where God will work in your life…but I know that He will. Our job is to live in anticipation of His favor… to make pleasing God and serving Him our focus… and to know that when He does answer, it will be perfectly. How strong is your faith? Do you have a solid “handle on what you can’t see?”
©2012 Debbie Robus
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