By Faith

Imagine walking down a long hall lined with portraits. A shepherd. A boat-builder. An old man with a walking stick. A mother hiding a baby in a basket. Under every picture, the same two words. By faith.

The letter to the Hebrews was written to a group of Jewish Christians who were tired. They had been insulted for following Jesus. Some had been thrown in prison. Some had lost their property. And now a few were thinking about giving up and going back. We do not know for certain who wrote this letter. But the writer knew the Hebrew scriptures inside out. So, to encourage them, the writer tells them about their own family history, the long line of people who trusted God when they could not see how things would turn out.

It begins with a definition. Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Faith is being sure of what we hope for, and certain of what we cannot yet see. By faith, the writer says, we understand that the universe was made by the word of God. Then the portraits begin. By faith Abel brought God a better offering. By faith Enoch walked with God. By faith Noah, warned about things not yet seen, built an ark to save his family, long before a single raindrop fell. And without faith, the writer adds, it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists, and that he rewards those who seek him.

By faith Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home, and he went out, not knowing where he was going. He lived in tents, as a stranger, because he was looking for a city whose builder and maker is God. By faith Sarah, long past the age of having children, received the strength to conceive, because she counted God faithful who had promised. Then the writer says something surprising. All these people died still waiting. They did not receive everything that was promised. They saw it from far away, and greeted it, and admitted they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. And God is not ashamed to be called their God.

The hall goes on. By faith Moses' parents hid their baby for three months, and were not afraid of the king's command. By faith Moses chose to suffer with God's people rather than enjoy the treasures of Egypt. By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as if on dry land. By faith the walls of Jericho fell down. By faith Rahab welcomed the spies. And then the writer runs out of time. What more shall I say? I don't have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets. Some shut the mouths of lions. Some escaped the sword. Weakness was turned to strength. And others suffered terribly, and still did not let go of God. The world was not worthy of them. And the chapter ends with a twist. They did not receive the promise yet, because God had planned something better, so that they would not be made perfect without us.

Who wrote Hebrews? The question is very old. Around the year two hundred and fifty, the great Christian teacher Origen of Alexandria discussed it, and said the thoughts were like Paul's, but the style was not. His conclusion, recorded by the church historian Eusebius, is famous for its honesty. Who wrote the letter, in truth, God knows.

By faith. You'll find this hall of heroes in Hebrews chapter eleven. Ordinary people, who trusted God for things they could not yet see, and who are waiting, in a sense, for us to join them. So here is a question to carry with you. What is one thing you are trusting God for that you cannot yet see?