Memory – Hebrews 11.6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him
Hebrews 11 is often called the “Hall of Faith.” Like James in his brief letter, the author of Hebrews urges believes to walk their talk – not to let opposition or hardship dampen their devotion to Christ. Frankly, a life of faith is not easy. As the apostle Paul reminds us, we walk by faith, not by sight.
To underscore the necessity of persevering faith, the author of Hebrews alludes to the days of the prophet Habakkuk. After generational disobedience, God declared judgment would come through the Chaldeans, who would carry Judah into captivity. Habakkuk raised two troubling objections. First, he asked how God could use a nation more wicked than Israel as an instrument of judgment against his covenant people. Second, how could a holy God tolerate the wicked swallowing up a nation more righteous than themselves.
God’s response was clear and decisive: For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end – it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay. Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith (Habakkuk 2.3-4). Habakkuk would not witness these events immediately, but Habakkuk could bet his tunic they will happen according to God’s appointed timetable.
The prophet’s final response stands as one of scripture’s most profound declarations of faith: I hear, and my body trembles; my lips quiver at the sound; rottenness enters my bones; my legs tremble beneath me. Yet I will quietly wait for the day of trouble to come upon people who invade us. Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer’s; he makes me tread on my high places (Habakkuk 3.16-19).
The message of scripture is straightforward; no matter what your circumstances, whatever God has declared or decreed will come to pass. Therefore, we are called to trust in the Lord. It was the darkest night in all history when Jesus was betrayed and led away to be crucified. With the exception of Peter and John, the disciples scattered and hid themselves from the Jewish authorities. Yet, previously on that night, Jesus had reminded them of his love and encouraged them to persevere in faith If you love me, you will keep my commandments … Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him (John 14.15 & 21).
The conclusion is unavoidable: faith – believing, trusting, and waiting upon the Lord – defines the life of faith, and the life of faith is marked by obedience to Christ. The disciples would come to understand this more fully when the risen Christ appeared to them in a locked room.
Our text says that anyone who desires to please God must draw near to him and this suggests the life of faith is relational. Many passages in the Bible point to the dynamic of this relationship. For example: … it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure (Philippians 2.13). The Old Testament prophet Jeremiah wrote: Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart (Jeremiah 29.12). At the end of Matthew Jesus tells his disciples I am with you always, to the end of the age. Again, in the upper room Jesus encourages his disciples I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you (John 14.18). So, then, draw near to God in faith and trust that he will direct you in all your ways (cf. Proverbs 3.5-6).
To underscore the necessity of persevering faith, the author of Hebrews alludes to the days of the prophet Habakkuk. After generational disobedience, God declared judgment would come through the Chaldeans, who would carry Judah into captivity. Habakkuk raised two troubling objections. First, he asked how God could use a nation more wicked than Israel as an instrument of judgment against his covenant people. Second, how could a holy God tolerate the wicked swallowing up a nation more righteous than themselves.
God’s response was clear and decisive: For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end – it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay. Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith (Habakkuk 2.3-4). Habakkuk would not witness these events immediately, but Habakkuk could bet his tunic they will happen according to God’s appointed timetable.
The prophet’s final response stands as one of scripture’s most profound declarations of faith: I hear, and my body trembles; my lips quiver at the sound; rottenness enters my bones; my legs tremble beneath me. Yet I will quietly wait for the day of trouble to come upon people who invade us. Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer’s; he makes me tread on my high places (Habakkuk 3.16-19).
The message of scripture is straightforward; no matter what your circumstances, whatever God has declared or decreed will come to pass. Therefore, we are called to trust in the Lord. It was the darkest night in all history when Jesus was betrayed and led away to be crucified. With the exception of Peter and John, the disciples scattered and hid themselves from the Jewish authorities. Yet, previously on that night, Jesus had reminded them of his love and encouraged them to persevere in faith If you love me, you will keep my commandments … Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him (John 14.15 & 21).
The conclusion is unavoidable: faith – believing, trusting, and waiting upon the Lord – defines the life of faith, and the life of faith is marked by obedience to Christ. The disciples would come to understand this more fully when the risen Christ appeared to them in a locked room.
Our text says that anyone who desires to please God must draw near to him and this suggests the life of faith is relational. Many passages in the Bible point to the dynamic of this relationship. For example: … it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure (Philippians 2.13). The Old Testament prophet Jeremiah wrote: Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart (Jeremiah 29.12). At the end of Matthew Jesus tells his disciples I am with you always, to the end of the age. Again, in the upper room Jesus encourages his disciples I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you (John 14.18). So, then, draw near to God in faith and trust that he will direct you in all your ways (cf. Proverbs 3.5-6).
RSS Feed