“Through Faith”

Hebrews 11:33-38

 

In Hebrews 11:33-38 the Holy Spirit shows us how that faith both performs the most remarkable deeds and suffers the most astonishing hardships, looking to Christ, believing Christ, seeking to honor Christ. There is no task too great for our God, no task too great for one who believes God (vv. 33-34). There is no trial to great for any of us to endure, as we believe God (Heb. 11:35-38; 1 Cor. 10:13; Phil. 4:12-13).

 

Faith’s Pinnacle

 

As the Holy Spirit directed Paul in giving us this great chapter on faith, all through these forty verses, he seems to be moving in an upward direction, showing us one great act of faith after another, each succeeding event a little greater than the one before it. When chapter 12 begins, we are immediately confronted with a great cloud of witnesses in heaven. But here, right at the end of chapter 11, the Apostle is describing faith’s pinnacle, faith’s highest point, faith’s greatest deeds: —“destitute, afflicted, tormented.”

 

These men and women “of whom the world was not worthy,” “destitute, afflicted, tormented,” by enduring their great trials even unto death, displayed a faith that is completely subject to Christ, that bows submissively to whatever God is pleased to send, a faith so completely welded to Christ and one with him that imprisonment, torture, and death are deliberately chosen and preferred to apostasy from him.

 

A "meek and quiet spirit" is of "great price" in the sight of God (1 Pet. 3:4). The meekness of faith is true meekness. It is that meekness that comes from the realization that God is God indeed, and we are his servants. Such meekness of faith bows to the will of God. It is faithful unto death, because it arises from an unshakable confidence in God’s wisdom, goodness, and power.

 

Faith’s Strength

 

The strength of faith is not in us, but in God our Savior, the Object of our faith. Faith draws strength from him, believing his Word. Faith recognizes that "the Lord God omnipotent reigneth" (Rev. 19:6). Our God sits on his throne, Sovereign over all the universe. "He doeth according to His will in the army of Heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay His hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?" (Dan. 4:35).

 

The believer understands that all the affairs of the universe are ordered by his  heavenly  Father,   and  ordered  by  God  for  his  good.   We  know that our

 

enemies can do nothing whatever against us without his direct permission.—Satan could not touch Job or sift Peter, until he first obtained permission from their Redeemer to do so. Oh what a blessed, sure resting-place this is for the troubled and trembling heart! This is “a nail in a sure place!

 

Believing God, we know all things work together for our good and his glory (Rom. 8:28). Satan roars fiercely; but our God reigns supremely. His malicious designs are always overruled to accomplish God’s good designs (Ps. 76:10).

 

Faith in Christ causes and enables us to look beyond time to eternity. It anticipates the heavenly glory with confident assurance that "the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us" (Rom. 8:18).

 

“Oh, gift of gifts! Oh, grace of faith!

My God, how can it be

That Thou, Who hast discerning love,

Shouldst give that gift to me!

 

How many hearts Thou might’st have had

More worthy, Lord, than mine!

How many souls more worthy far,

Of that pure touch of Thine!

 

Ah, Grace! Into the most unlikely hearts

It is Thy boast to come,

The glory of thy light to find

In darkest spots a home!

 

Thy choice, O God of goodness, then

I lovingly adore!

Oh, give me grace to keep Thy grace,

And grace to long for more!”