Triumphant Faith—

And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. provided...: Or, foreseene - Hebrews 11:32-40

    Faith in Christ does not secure a life of ease in this world, but just the opposite. Faith in and obedience to Christ meant that Abel had to be hated by his own brother. Noah had to be the object of constant scorn and ridicule for 120 years. Abraham had to leave the splendor of Ur to live as a nomad his whole life. He was requiredd to cast one son out of his house and sacrifice the other. Isaac had to bless Jacob and curse Esau. Jacob had to be brought down to Egypt. Moses had to be hid in a basket. He had to flee the wealth and the throne of Egypt. Jericho (the cursed city inhabited by God’s enemies) had to be destroyed. God’s spies had to be saved by a harlot. Gideon had to fight the Midianites with a rag-tag army of cowards. Barak had to go out against a king and army that terrified him. Jephthah had to sacrifice his only daughter to the Lord. Samson had to die with the Philistines. Samuel had to anoint a king to replace his beloved Saul. David had to be hunted like a rabbit, running from one cave to another. God’s prophets had to be made a gazing stock, laughed at, scorned, and abused by men from generation to generation.

    Dependence

    Faith is dependence upon God, not upon self. It is just as real, just as active, and just as true when all circumstances are unfavorable, when we face great personal loss, when our enemies appear to conquer us, and when all hope of comfort and external peace are gone. Faith takes us through the deep waters and stormy seas. Faith takes us through the fiery trial and the wilderness of temptation. You see faith is a conscious dependence upon the infinite, omnipotent, eternal, immutable God. Faith is dependence upon the Lord Jesus Christ, our almighty Savior. It is not the strength of our faith that sustains us and carries us through these things, but the strength of Christ, the Object of our faith. He is our Strength.

    Faith in Christ realizes and acknowledges personal weaknesses, vulnerabilities, and inadequacies. When we are strong, we are terribly weak. But when we are weak, then we are strong. Faith carries us through every possible situation depending on the Lord our God

    To the world, to our families, to our friends, our case may be pathetic, hopeless, a total loss and failure. But inwardly, faith mounts us up on eagles’ wings, carrying us through great loss with the triumph of peace, joy, and hope in Christ (Isa. 40:27-31).

    I do not suggest that the believer never receives any of those things the world craves. We have examples in this chapter of some who did. But these things are not the end of life or the great goal of our existence. Faith enables us to set our hearts on things above while living here below, even in the most distressing circumstances imaginable (Col 3:1-4).

    Triumphant

    Faith carries the believer through every stage and demand of life, and ultimately delivers him into the presence of Christ. That is the message these first century believers needed; and that is the message we need. Yes, as we believe God, you and I too can do all things through Christ, who strengthens us.