We belong to “those who have faith and are saved.” Praise God! But what does it mean to have faith? The letter to the Hebrews describes faith in very simple terms – having confidence that the things that God has declared are true, even if we have not seen them or they have not happened yet.

This confidence or certainty becomes a foundation for everything in our lives if we have it. In fact, the word ‘assurance’ also means ‘foundation’. The examples given in the rest of this chapter are all ‘heroes of faith’ whose lives were completely transformed because of their faith. Not only that, but acting on their faith meant that the purposes of God could be put into action with effects that lasted long after they themselves had passed away.

But is true faith only for heroes? We know that Abraham sometimes wobbled in his absolute belief that what God had said would actually happen, resulting in his son, Ishmael, who was born to Hagar before God fulfilled the promise to give him Isaac by his wife, Sarah. We know that Rahab was a woman who would have been called a sinner and shunned by society. We know that David arranged for Bathsheba’s husband to die in battle so he could marry her instead.

Looking back, we can see the impact of these people’s faith, but we also know that they were humans, imperfect and prone to falling into sin, just as we are. Yet this is an encouragement to us! If these people could be heroes of faith, then what is stopping us also being heroes of faith? What is holding us back from living in the full confidence and assurance of the things that God has promised?

We can choose today to build on a foundation of faith. Chapter 12 will help us to understand how!

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NEWBOLD COMMUNITY CHURCH