June 2, 2021
Stretched Faith
My child without faith it is totally impossible to please Me. (Hebrews 11:6) There are two principles that are part of saving faith:
1. You must believe in the existence of a personal, infinite, holy God who cares for you.
2. You must believe that I the Lord your God will reward you when you earnestly seek Me, knowing that your greatest reward is the joy of finding Me and enjoying My presence forever.
I am your shield and exceeding great reward. (Genesis 15:1) By faith, Enoch walked with Me in great intimacy and was translated to another realm without dying. (Genesis 5:21-24, Hebrews 11:5-6) By faith Abraham obeyed! (Genesis 15:1, Hebrews 11:8) Faith and obedience are inseparable, the same as unbelief and disobedience are inseparable. By a simple act of faith, Abraham said yes to My call to travel to an unknown place that would become his home. When he left, he had no idea where he was going. But by an act of faith, he lived in the country promised him, lived as a stranger camping in tents. Isaac and Jacob did the same, living under the same promise. (Hebrews 11:9)
Abraham did it by keeping his eye on an unseen city with a real, eternal foundations-the City designed and built by Me. Abraham knew that the earthly land of promise was not the end of his journey rather it pointed beyond to the heavenly city that I have prepared for My faithful servants. (Hebrews 11:10) He serves as an example to you and me. You are only traveling through this world on your way to My city and the home I have for you in heaven. Do not seek security or be fascinated with this present world; this is not your homeland, but it is foreign territory. (Matthew 6:19-20, Hebrews 11:14) The end of your journey for this life will be a better country – the heavenly Jerusalem and the city to come. (Revelations 3:12, 21:2)
These Old Testament saints died with the faith that I had something better in store for them. In their lifetime they did not see the final promised blessing of the redeemed. You as a believer today must persevere in faith and trust in Me, even when you do not see all My promises fulfilled in your life. (Hebrews 10:19 – 12:29) The faith that I approve of is a faith that is able to yield My promises back to Me for their fulfillment according to My will. So, keep your eyes fixed on Me the author and finisher of your faith. (Hebrews 12:2)
