Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1
Many of us who have spent time in church, know well this faith definition from the Book of Hebrews, yet most of us miss the incredible purpose and power of it.
When the writer says that Faith is the certainty of “what we do not see”, he is not speaking of some invisible, swirling, ghostly presence around us that we need to now become aware of. He is not saying that to walk in faith, is to believe in invisible things.
The author tells us that the essence of faith, is trusting in what we do not yet see. He is speaking of us moving in the present, in a way that rests in God’s future promise.
The writer, (delivering this message to primarily Jewish followers of Jesus), proceeds to unpack an expansive list of their legendary predecessors; pillars of their religious heritage, who all lived bold, passionate lives dedicated to God; Noah, Abraham, Moses, among them.
He recalls each of them, choosing to move in obedience in their here and now, without being able to see the there and then. Most of us want evidence and proof before acting in faith. We want to trust God, but we need every question answered, every detail attended to, and every contingency prepared for before doing so.
But the writer gives us the annoying truth; that often the only thing we will have to go on, is God’s promise of providence.
He ends this inspirational history lesson, by reminding his readers of something extraordinary and potentially devastating for them, and for us. Every single one of these people, lived lives of faith and obedience, and every single one of them died without seeing everything they thought they would see.
All too often, we engage in a “cause-and-effect” Christianity. Though we don’t usually say so, we live with the ever-present assumption, that a life of faith ensures us an easier road, a favorable outcome. We believe that if we act faithfully now, that eventually good will come our way.
When it comes to living for Christ, we treat it like all other areas of our lives:
We want a tidy resolution.
We crave instant results.
We demand a happy ending.
We seek a big payoff.
But the writer challenges us that we don’t live to get us the payoff, we live to give God the glory. The Story, after all, is not our story, it’s God’s. He is the star, and we are the well-meaning, hardworking extras, who greatly overestimate their worth, but who get the good fortune to share a brief scene with true Greatness.
You have a present, (a here and now), and in that present, you have the particular gifts, talents, relationships, resources and influence that you have. These are all yours to leverage now in what you can see, as in faith, you trust in the promise of what you cannot yet see.
May you act bravely here and now, trusting God with the there and then.
