Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. –Hebrews 11:1-2
Before 330AD, many died who followed the Way under the Name of Christianity. (Acts 9:2) It was their faith that brought them such prosecution. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony and this is what the ancients were commended for.
God is always pleased when we come to Him, because we believe in Him and that’s why we go to Him. As our heavenly Father, God loves us, He longs to bless us and cares for us. That is why the bible says, “Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6)
Compare to faith in its most raw form (Romans 4:22), faith put into action should enhance the work of our hands, the deed of our mouths, it is simply faith brought forth itself alive or faith itself metamorphoses - from faith to faith, from glory to glory. It is the process of transformation from an immature form to an adult form and it requires more than one distinct stages.
Self-assurance and self-delusion is no faith though one may claim to have faith for if faith can comes by understanding, it requires no work or action on our part. On the contrary, it does not means that we should take on the honor on behalf of God and struck the rock. The Psalmist had undergone it and he knew this and that was why he said, “Your promises have been thoroughly tested, and your servant loves them.” (Psalm 119:140)
But true faith are faith that has been thoroughly tested and endures, good works and good deeds can never justify the faith we have in God neither can it saves us on the last day but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God overcomes the world. (Romans 8:36-38, John 16:33, 1 John 5:3-5)
The martyrdom of the early Christians laid the foundation of Christianity today for many were persecuted for their faith. (Luke 11:51; Hebrews 11:4; Ephesians 2:20-22) From all these examples quoted, we saw Paul telling the people what faith should truly be all about. Faith should be anchored on God. We can trust in the unchanging character of God. But it is not in the will of God that mankind should be passive and dependable on fate and affinity as some heathen so believed in. But that when the Son of Man comes, he should find faith on the earth? (Luke 18:1-7)
So let us turn our eyes upon Jesus, God being the centre of our focus and when we cry out to Him, He will yet listen to our cry. Yes, some of whom were tried, mocked, scourged in chain and imprisoned. They wandered about in deserts and mountains and dens and caves of the earth. (verse 36) These people although did not receive the promise as we had, but that having obtained a good testimony through faith, they are made perfect yet not apart from us. (Hebrews 11:39-40, 12:1-3) Faith is anchorage on God.
