How Great Is Your Faith?

How Great Is Your Faith?

Throughout the Scriptures, we find many great people of faith. We must be mindful of the importance of a solid faith, as John reminds us, "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” (1 John 5:4) The Hebrew writer firmly affirms, "...without faith, it is impossible to please Him..." (Hebrews 11:6). With these things in mind, it behooves us to increase daily in our faith toward Christ Jesus. Thus, let us look at some examples of the faithful, from the roll call of faith in Hebrews 11, and pattern ourselves after them.

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ENOCH
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By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God." (Hebrews 11:5)  NKJV

How pleasing Enoch must have been before the Lord! His faith was so great, that the Lord took him from this life of corruption and provided him a home of eternal rest. In a world where many are concerned with hearing and telling testimonies, may our testimony be that we pleased the Lord by keeping His commandments.

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NOAH
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"By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith."

(Hebrews 11:7) NKJV

Faith toward the Lord motivated Noah to construct the ark according to the pattern God had supplied. He found grace in the sight of the Lord, for he was concerned with the will of God. Thus, he obeyed the voice of the Lord in all things, resulting in the saving of he and his family.

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ABRAHAM
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"By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. . . . . By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promise offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, 'In Isaac your seed shall be called.' concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense." (Hebrews 11:8-10, 17-19)
NKJV

Abraham became a wanderer for no other reason than that God told him to do so. He knew not where he was going, just that the Lord wanted him to go. When asked to sacrifice the son of promise, Isaac, he willingly prepared as commanded, not questioning the Lord, but was satisfied that the Lord could raise him up.

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MOSES
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"By faith Moses when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king's command. By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he looked to the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them." (Hebrews 11:23-28)

A life of physical pleasures and riches awaited Moses in Egypt as the grandson of Pharaoh, but he forsook these things that he might live as a servant before the Almighty God. Moses was focused, recognizing that the things of this life are passing, but that by faith we can look unto the eternal reward.

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HOW ABOUT YOUR FAITH?
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Is our faith as that of Enoch, such that God will delight in taking you to enjoy eternity with Him?

Do we have the faith of Noah, bringing forth obedience to the will of God, even when it may not make sense to us?

Would we become a nomad for the cause of Christ, even as Abraham did?

Are we willing to make a sacrifice for the Lord (note, some of the things we call 'sacrifice' are nothing more than a mere inconvenience)? Consider Abraham's willingness!
Will we pass up the pleasures this life would offer us in exchange for persecutions in serving the Lord?  Moses did!
 
Jimmy
Adapted