“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (v.1)
Hebrews 11 is known as the “Hall of Faith” in Scripture. Yet interestingly, we don’t see a list of items to believe in. Instead, we see a list of people who demonstrated their faith through their obedience to God during difficult and real life situations. The faith discussed here in chapter 11 is not the sort of dreamy, make-believe stuff, nor the “name it and claim it” philosophy preached by some today. This faith is real-life stuff, the core of a life that pleases God.
Faith is a way of looking at all of life, a mindset that guides every decision we make. Our daily circumstances are part of a larger plan by which God is working out, “the hope to which he has called us” (Eph. 1:18). Because our hope is anchored in Christ, we can hold to it by faith and be sure of our future. Even though spiritual reality is unseen, faith counts it as certain.
The Truth: “Behold, I Am the LORD, the God of all flesh; is anything too difficult for me?” (Jer. 32:27)
