by Cindy Phillips
Hebrews 11 is often called the “Great Chapter on Faith”. In it we have the definition of faith; Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. The rest of the Chapter goes on to give example after example of Old Testament men and women who demonstrated faith. Notice that faith is always now. You can’t have faith for something you already have (faith in the past, faith in the present). Faith is believing for what you expect to yet attain. The whole point the author is trying to make is the Old Testament people believed in their day for what God promised to deliver in the future. That future is here! Hebrews 11:39-40 explains it like this; These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect. WOW! That which those people believed for we have! Together, with the people of the past that believed, we are one body, mature! That’s what perfected means – to be complete or mature.
What is that great promise? God had something better in store for humanity, which would only be achieved through the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This “something better” is the ultimate and complete fulfillment of God’s promises, which would be realized through the redemption brought by Christ. The Old Testament “Saints” were looking forward to the Messiah that would give them access to the very throne of God by making them righteous, or right with God. The Law could never do that. We look backward to the sacrifice Jesus made on our behalf.
Together we are united by this great and precious promise God made and fulfilled.
Thank you God Almighty for making such a promise and keeping it. Thank you Jesus for being obedient to the will of the Father, even unto death.
I hope you will live every day deeply appreciative for what God has done. Share this blessed hope that is in you. Stand fast unto That Day and keep your eyes on the Author and perfecter of your faith, Jesus! He is coming again!