Tag: Hebrews 11:39-40
It’s by faith!
Scripture reading for December 13: Hebrews 11-13
“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 we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.” Hebrews 11:1-3
One of the foundational aspects of our faith is trusting God as creator of all things. God alone has the wisdom and power to create the universe or cosmos out of nothing with His simple command! This particular aspect of faith is attacked in our land today by those who put their faith in the theory of evolution. Evolution is a type of religious system that puts time and chance as key ingredients to finding the basis of beginning in all things. A creator is ruled out and intelligent design is believed to be the simple product of chance or random happenings over millions or billions of years.
We who trust God and His Word know by His revelation how creation began. God simply spoke a command and it happened. Faith trusts what we cannot see but what God has said. Faith’s object is always God or His Word. God does not lie. He is absolute Truth and His Word is also Truth! The Bible records a number of human beings who trusted God’s Word and were commended by Him. There is a portion of that list in the rest of Hebrews 11! I want to focus on just one of these ancients, Enoch, who was the seventh generation from Adam through Seth.
“By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. 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 seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:5-6)
Enoch was known as a man who walked with God. He was a prophet who warned of the coming of the Lord with His holy angels in judgment. His only recorded message is found in Jude 14-15. Enoch began to walk with God after the birth of his son, Methuselah. (Genesis 5:21-24) The name “Methuselah” has a meaning of judgment coming when he dies. The flood came in the year Methuselah died and he lived longer than any other man recorded in Scripture. Enoch so walked with God, that he was snatched up to heaven without death and became a type of faith-walker that would inspire others throughout the ages!
There is no other means of pleasing God! Jesus is coming again. Will you walk with God today as if that were true and warn others about this coming event? Your reward will be better than Methuselah’s! We have a better resurrection in Jesus Christ! (Hebrews 11:39-40)
The City Prepared by God!
Scripture reading for August 20th: Hebrews 11
Key Scriptures: Hebrews 11:13-16 “These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared for them a city.”
The writer of Hebrews appealed to the Jewish believers in Jesus concerning the patriarchs from Adam to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He told how all these had lived here on earth as strangers and exiles, wandering around following God and looking for the City of God. They received the promises of God for a homeland and inheritance, but lived and died only seeing them with eyes of faith. Abel brought God a better sacrifice to find His favor. Enoch walked with God and God simply took him up to Heaven. Noah got on an ark, allowing God to take him and his family to a new land. Abraham left his homeland to go to a land God would show him. All these died in faith looking forward to a better heavenly land. God was pleased with their faith and has the fulfilment of all His promises awaiting those who persevere!
Hebrews 11:35 “Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment.”
Faith confession and prayer: Father, thank You for Your great and precious promises and the record of those who have lived by faith before us. I am humbled to be included in these promises by faith in Jesus Christ. Help me to live fully by faith and tell others of the great gift of eternal life and the heavenly city prepared for those You loved and sent Jesus to die for.
Hebrews 11:39-40 “And all these, though commended through their faith, did not received what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.”