In the last article we began a series about faith from Hebrews chapter 11. We looked at what faith is and how it is to be active. Faith is the result of believing God. It is the trust that we put in Him. We believe and we obey. Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the evidence and conviction of things not seen. The people of old who lived by faith pleased God and are examples to us today of how we are to live for God. Let’s look at the examples we have recorded for us in Hebrews 11.
Our first example of faith is literally the first example of faith that we have in the Bible. It is the example of Abel. We are introduced to Abel in Genesis 4. Abel was the second born son of Adam and Eve. Cain was his brother, the first born. Some time when Cain and Abel were older, they both brought an offering to God. We are not specifically told what the requirements of God were but we are told that God was pleased with Abel’s offering and not Cain’s. Cain got angry and jealous about it to the point that he later killed Abel. His own brother. The Lord came to Cain and told him that if he had done well, done what he was supposed to in faith, then he too would have been accepted like Abel. Abel proved himself to be the faithful one to God. Abel showed himself to have the kind of heart that God was looking for.
Look at what the Hebrew writer said about Abel: “By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks” (Hebrews 11:4). The Hebrew writer tells us that Abel acted in faith. He believed in what God told him and he gave his heart to God. In faith he obeyed God. Abel was commended by God as righteous. Abel proved his righteousness by the faith he showed. He showed himself to be pleasing to God. Abel is still speaking to us today! By his example. How tragic it is that he had to die the way he did. Persecuted for his righteousness. Abel teaches us today to listen to what God has told us. Believe Him. And commit our lives to Him by obeying His commandments in faith.
By faith Abel lived his life for the Lord. By faith we are to do so as well. Are we like Abel? Giving our hearts to the Lord? Obeying Him in faith? Or are we like Cain who was focused on himself and his own way of life? What if Abel were standing right next to you, what would he tell you? Abel is speaking to us through God’s Word by his example. Let’s listen to him. Let’s follow his example. Let’s walk by faith. Live for God. Not for self.
A Cord of Blue 