“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
Hebrews 11:1
There are many people listed in Hebrews chapter eleven who lived in Old Testament times. These men and women believed that Jesus would come (because God had promised One would come, beginning in Genesis 3:15). They are examples of those who had faith. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1).
- Faith means “a knowledge of, assent to, and confidence in certain divine truths, especially those of the Gospel, as produces good works.”
- Substance means “confidence or confident expectation”
- Evidence means “conviction. It implies not merely the charge on the basis of which one is convicted, but also the manifestation of the truth of that charge…”
This tells us that one who has this “faith” has a confidence in divine truths. This kind of faith changes lives because it is centered in Jesus Christ. Although these people did not live to see the fulfillment of that promise, they had a “confident expectation” that He would come. Therefore, these people lived lives declaring they believed that promise. This becamethe basis of realistic hope. We recognize this is the “evidence”, for this truth manifested itself in their lives. They lived a life of faith. Because of this, read what is said about them. “For by it the elders obtained a good report” (Hebrews 11:2). We recognize that “the elders” lived believing, by faith, the promises God made. Because of this, they are listed as examples for us today.
Consider one of these listed as faithful: Moses. “By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment” (Hebrews 11:23). Amram and Jochebed were Moses’ parents (see Exodus 6:20). They were not afraid of the king’s commandment and spared Moses’ life. What an example these parents established for Moses!
Moses was brought up in the house of Pharaoh, with all the privileges that came with living as the son of the Pharaoh’s daughter (see Exodus 2:10). “And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds” (Acts 7:22). Moses had a choice to make. “By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter” (Hebrews 11:24). Moses understood that he was not an Egyptian, but a Hebrew. “Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season” (Hebrews 11:25). Moses could have basked in the wealth of Egypt, yet he chose to reject the “pleasures of sin for a season”. Moses understood the lasting importance of his actions. When Moses stood up for God and His chosen people, he forsook Egypt.“23. And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel. 24. And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian: 25. For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood not” (Acts 7:23-25). Moses recognized that God had a plan for his life: “God by his hand would deliver them”. Although it was forty years later when God sent Moses to deliver His people from Egypt, Moses had made a decision to help God’s people. “Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward” (Hebrews 11:26). Moses believed that Christ would come. He recognized that being faithful to God, no matter what people thought or said about him, was worth more than all of the riches of Egypt. “By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible” (Hebrews 11:27). This is the same attitude the Apostles had. “Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29).
Moses made an important decision to reject the treasures and pleasures of this temporary world as he looked forward to the eternal. “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth” (Hebrews 11:13).
Today we know that Jesus came – just as God promised. Our faith stands in the confidence of the divine truths of the Gospel Message of Jesus. However, do Christians today live changed lives, centered upon Jesus? Does the conviction of this truth manifest itself in our lives? Others should recognize that Christians have different lives because of faith. It would do Christians good today, to understand that we are living in a temporary world, and we are to keep our eyes above. “1. If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:1-3). There is a famous quote from a poem that may help us remember:
“Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.”
Do you live a life centered upon Jesus, with the conviction of this truth manifested in you, so that others recognize you are different?