Where Does Faith Take Us?

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. 

Hebrews 11:1-2 

Where does faith take us? When we have faith, what effect does it have on where we arrive in life? Our text says that by faith ‘the elders obtained a good testimony.’ What did their lives look like that caused them to obtain this good testimony? The rest of the chapter is a list of the heroes of the faith and it describes how their actions evidenced their faith. Abel offered the sacrifice God stipulated, instead of the work of his hand, as Cain did. Abel’s sacrifice pointed to Christ. Cain’s sacrifice was an exercise in self-righteousness. This meant one of the brothers looked to Christ, and the other to himself. The chapter goes on to speak of Enoch, whom the Scripture tells us ‘walked with God’ and who ‘pleased God’ according to our chapter. Noah believed that God would judge sin with the flood and thus prepared the ark, a type of Christ, Who saves us from the wrath of God. Abraham went out of his own country on the bare promise of God, Who said He would give  him a promised land. All these, and more we intend to consider, were those who had faith in God, and in the coming Christ, which led them to do what they did.  

Our Wise and Sovereign God, 
we rejoice that You lead us in the life of faith. 
We praise You that You show us Your Way, 
and teach us to follow You.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning