SCRIPTURE - Hebrews 11:1 and 8-10

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.”

“By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.”

Following Jesus is a life of faith. Hebrews 11, that great chapter on faith, defines it this way: “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” We have a destination that we cannot yet see and a journey to that destination that is unknown to us. But these uncertainties do not deter us, because we are sure of what we hope for - by faith, and we are certain of what we do not see - again by faith. We have put our trust in God, are willing to follow His path for our lives and we know our destination - eternal life with Him. Even our certainty is by faith, but it is certainty still. We live by faith.

Abraham understood this. When God called him to leave his home and travel to a land that God would show him he had no idea where he was going, but he went by faith. There was no Rand McNally atlas or GPS to guide his way, no smart phones or Zoom to keep in touch with his friends and relatives. He had only one thing, but it was the most important thing, Faith in the God who called him to go and faith that the same God would lead him to his destination. He did not know the path, but he had certainty in the One who was leading him.

We love to be in control of our lives. We want to know all the details for our comfort and security. In fact, all too often our faith is in our ability to negotiate life, trusting on our resources and wisdom rather than in God, who has a unique plan for us and asks us to follow Him. It is easy to think, “that is way too risky.” But true faith says, “I can trust God to lead me and I can trust His plan for my life.”

My father was an engineer and theologian by training when he applied to a mission agency in the 50’s. They said they needed a doctor in the Congo, so he went to medical school. His assignment was changed to Hong Kong where I grew up. My parents went to a place they had never been, and it would be five years before they returned for a year. After building a hospital, he started a surgical residency because there was no surgeon. Many people told him that he was throwing his life away to go to Asia, rather than enjoying the secure financial life in the United States. But my parents were sure of one thing: They could trust the God who called them, and so they went - by faith.

A life of faith is fueled by two certainties we have, even though we cannot see them. First, that God can be trusted, and second, that we have a future home. Our ultimate home is not on this earth, but as the writer of Hebrew’s says about Abraham - “he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.”

Hebrews 11:6 says, “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Today, choose to live by faith and trust in God’s plan for you.

Father, I pray that You would develop greater faith in my life. That I would trust You more and be willing to follow wherever You lead me. And give me a vision of the future home that Abraham looked forward to where we will be finally and truly home. Amen.