OVERVIEW: The examples of living by faith; the necessity of chastisement; the exhortation to endure; remembering others.
HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:
Hebrews 11 is one of the most popular chapters in the Bible. It is often referred to as the great “Hall of Faith”. It lays out for us clear, real-life examples of what it means to live by faith. Most Christians are aware that God wants us to live and walk by faith, but what that actually means can sometimes seem somewhat sketchy or nebulous. That’s why God presents in Hebrews 11, a panorama of men and women who walked by faith exemplifying what living and walking by faith looks like in real life!
It’s also interesting to keep in mind what God reveals to us in His Word about the people mentioned in this chapter. Many times we read a chapter like Hebrews 11 and think that we could never attain the likes of these “GREAT men and women of God!” How easily we forget that these “GREAT people”, were actually “NORMAL people”, just like me and you! Consider this:
- Noah got drunk after the flood.
- Abraham had a problem lying about his wife because he was more concerned about himself than he was her.
- Sarah thought she needed to help God out with His promise to Abraham.
- Jacob deceived and lied to his father in order to get his father’s blessing.
- Moses was willing to kill a man in his “service” to God.
- Rahab was a harlot.
- Samson wasted most of his life and ability pleasing himself.
- David committed adultery and murder.
The biblical reality of these “GREAT men and women of God” in Hebrews 11 that we tend to hold up as “superstars” or “supersaints” is that they were FLAWED men and women just like me and you. Yet, these very “NORMAL” people pleased God because they did something very “ABNORMAL”! They simply chose to exercise faith in God and His Word! That, my friend, PLEASES our God (11:6), and ultimately, that is why we exist; to bring Him “PLEASURE!” (Rev. 4:11)
Obviously, there is a tremendous amount of personal application we can make from this chapter, but we can only touch on a couple of key things:
- Biblical faith results in action. Notice that each example God lists in this chapter is an ACTION that had its root in FAITH. It was something a person did “by FAITH”. Don’t miss the biblical fact that when we are walking “by FAITH”, it is because we are “walking in the SPIRIT”! That is so crucial to keep in mind! Galatians 5:22 lets us know that FAITH is part of the FRUIT the Spirit produces when we are walking in Him. (Gal. 5:16) We could say it this way: Without FAITH it is impossible to please God (Heb. 11:6), but it is impossible to have FAITH apart from the filling of the Spirit! (Gal. 5:16)
- Biblical faith changes our values. As Laodiceans, we want to have what we think is the “best” of both worlds. We want to walk with God, but we also want to enjoy the pleasures of this life. (11:15, 25) Simply put, biblical faith enables us to see the emptiness and vanity of this world. Verse 14 says that biblical faith seeks a different “country,” what verse 15 calls a “better country”! Biblical faith looks for a “city” whose builder and maker is God. (11:10) We may need to ask ourselves, “What ‘city’ and what ‘country’ would God say I’m presently seeking by the actions of my life?”
- Biblical faith is what pleases God. So many times we fall into the trap of thinking that God is PLEASED by all of the “stuff” we do: we go to church, we’re good stewards of the money God entrusts to us, we read the Bible, we pray, etc., etc. All of those things are vitally important and are most certainly part of our obedience, and yet, it is possible to do any and all of those things (and more!) in the power of the FLESH, totally apart from FAITH! The teaching of this chapter should cause us to ask ourselves this simple question: Is Christ living His life THROUGH me by the power of FAITH (2 Cor. 4:10) or am I trying to live FOR God in the power of the FLESH?
Yes, biblical faith will always result in actions, but those same actions produced by the arm of the flesh in an attempt to please God, fall absolutely flat, and are nothing but wood, hay, and stubble. (1 Cor. 3:12) The only way we will ever live a life of faith is to follow the admonition given in chapter 12 and verse 2: we very simply must LOOK UNTO JESUS! Our sights must be set on Him! He must be the goal we strive to attain. Not only are we commanded and admonished to “look unto Jesus,” but we are to do so “DILIGENTLY!” (12:15) Oh, may we get our eyes off of ourselves…off of others…off of this world, and onto the Lord Jesus Christ! May He be PLEASED by our life of FAITH in Him!