Our brothers and sisters in Iraq are undergoing brutal persecution, yet they keep their faith in Jesus. How? Because of this truth:
But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls. (Hebrews 10:39)
This is identity, not aspiration. He is not saying we ought not to shrink back and ought to have faith. He is saying that true Christians do not shrink back, but have faith. This is who we are and why we can withstand even the most horrific persecution.
With this in mind, consider three facts about faith from Hebrews 11.
Faith Beats Sight
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1)
‘Assurance’ carries the idea of a guarantee. ‘Conviction’ carries the idea of proof. Guarantees and proof are sources of confidence apart from sight. A guarantee makes you confident your new mower will work, even though you haven’t seen it yet. Proof makes a judge confident in his decision even though he didn’t see the time of the crime.
Christian assurance and conviction roots in “things hoped for” and “things not seen.” The Christian life is learning to trust the invisible promises of God rather than react to the visible circumstances of life.
In the classic game, Paper-Rock-Scissors, paper beats rock, rock beats scissors and scissors beat paper. In life we are always playing a game of Faith-or-Sight. Will we live based on what God has said or what we see? Often we let sight beat faith, as though our perception of reality is more accurate than God’s. But God’s perception of reality is more accurate than our own. God’s promises are more sure than our predictions. This is why faith beats sight.
For example:
By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith. (Hebrews 11:7)
Noah saw dry skies and mocking people. But he chose to believe God concerning “events as yet unseen.” He was right to build a boat because God was right and human perception was wrong.
Faith Begets Action
Abel offered an acceptable sacrifice. Enoch was taken up into heaven. Noah built an ark. Abraham left home. Sarah had a child. Abraham began to sacrifice his son. Isaac and Jacob blessed their offspring. Joseph made burial arrangements. Moses’ parents hid him from government executioners. Moses chose to identify with God’s people rather than the sin and riches of Egypt. Israel crossed a sea and destroyed a city. Rahab welcomed Israelite spies.
And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received back their dead by resurrection. (Hebrews 11:32-35a)
Faith always leads to action. “For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead,” (James 2:26).
Faith Beckons Eternity
Faith beats sight and begets action, but it does not always result in comfort, temporal victory or physical blessing.
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. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. (Hebrews 11:35b-38)
Our hope stretches beyond today, tomorrow, next week and next year all the way into eternity.
These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and 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. (Hebrews 11:13-16)
Our ultimate hope transcends our bodies, our families, our homes, our country and our world. We are seeking a homeland, a better country, the heavenly city God has prepared for us.
Christians, we are not of those who shrink back. We are of those who have faith that beats sight, begets action and beckons eternity.
Discussion Starters
- Read Hebrews 11:1-3 together.
- Which of God’s promises in the Bible have been especially important to you? Why?
- Have you ever been forced to chose between trusting in God’s promises or your perceptions? Describe the situation and what happened?
- What do you see in your life right now that challenges your faith? Share with the group and then brainstorm together what promises might be important to trust in light of these things.
- What action might you need to take as you trust in these promises?
- Read Hebrews 11:13-16 and 35-38. Thinking of the challenges from #4, what is the worst case scenario? If that happens, can you hang on to your faith anyway?
- How does verse 2 shed light on Old Testament salvation? How were people saved before Jesus was killed for our sins?
- Read Hebrews 11:4-34 together. Which of these accounts stands out the most to you? Why?
- Take some time to pray for one another, specifically in regard to those things mentioned while discussing #4.
