When we become a Christian we make a covenant with God. We commit to Him. We give our hearts to Him and say that we will follow Him in faith. To the very end. No matter what. For better or for worse. Good times and bad times. There will be days that are sunny and bright where we can rejoice in our faith because all is well. But there will be days when our faith is tested by trials and temptations. Will we only be faithful to God when everything in life is going well? When we are accomplishing good things in our lives? When times of suffering come, when days of worry and fear come, when we find ourselves face to face with Satan’s greatest weapons will we still walk by faith? Or will we quit? It is easy to have faith in the unseen when all is going well and for that we can rejoice. But it is more challenging to have faith in the unseen when we’re being attacked by Satan. It’s hard and painful. Thankfully we have many examples of faith to help us in our walk of faith through the good and the bad.
In this series of articles about walking by faith we have already looked at a lot of examples. But the list in Scripture goes on and on. Here are some examples of great faith in which great victories were won: “And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets — who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received back their dead by resurrection” (Hebrews 11:32-35). Awesome examples of God’s power working through the faith of God’s servants! These are the examples we get excited about. They pump us up and make us feel good. These men and women had great things happen because of their faith. Good times. Great rejoicing.
But those who lived by faith didn’t always enjoy the earthly blessings of victory. Instead, because of their faith, they endured pain, sorrow, humiliation, and death so that they could when the eternal victory with everyone else in Heaven. “Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated — of whom the world was not worthy — wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth” (Hebrews 11:35-38). What strong faith it took to endure such horrible acts of violence and hate. The pain and suffering they went through. The blood, sweat, and tears. Their faith endured. Their faith was strong. Their faith cost them everything. But they walked by faith to the end. It was worth it all.
From Abel to David. From David to Jesus. From Jesus to us. There have been so many men and women who lived their lives by faith in God. They have died in their faith. They died in the Lord. But they have not reached the final reward. Why? Because they’re waiting for you. They’re waiting for me. Hebrews 11: 39-40 says, “And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.” What God has planned for us is that we all walk into Heaven hand in hand, side by side, together as one into Heaven. What a beautiful and amazing thought. What a day it will be.
You and I are still walking. We have not reached our end yet. So the question to you and me is will we walk by faith? Will we follow the examples before us so that we too, along with them will get to see our God and Father, get to meet our Savior Jesus Christ, and enter into eternal life? Faith is the victory. Victory in Jesus. The assurance and conviction of what is to come. Walk by faith. Not by sight.
A Cord of Blue 