Subject: The Paradox of Biblical Faith
Scripture Text: Hebrews 11:13-16 "All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it. They agreed that they were foreigners and nomads here on earth. Obviously, people who say such things are looking forward to a country they can call their own. If they had longed for the country they came from, they could have gone back. But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them."
Introduction: There is a faith that receives what it believes, and a faith that believes beyond what it receives. The bible reveals the paradoxical characteristics of faith. It describes faith as both certain yet mystical and obscure, a faith that is free yet requiring an obligation. There is faith that is reasonable, yet faith goes beyond our natural reasoning. Faith is an act, yet faith is also a process. Faith is a gift of God, yet faith requires our participation. This book of Hebrews is one of the keys to understanding the New Testament revelation of the salvation accomplished by God in Jesus Christ at Calvary. Jesus is revealed as a complete revelation of the Father, the express image of His glory, the captain of our salvation, the great high priest and apostle of our profession, the mediator of a new covenant and the author and finisher of our faith.
Hebrews 11 is the center piece of the book. Here we are introduced to the subject of true faith in God, the definition of faith, the power of faith, and the hall of fame of faith and the victories of faith. Hebrew 11:1 defines what faith is and does. Faith brings the assurance of things hoped for and is the proof of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:2-40 we have the fruit of faith and its effect in detail. We hear Abel's offering of faith, whose gift caused God to testify for him after he was dead. We have the account of Enoch's translation, the man who walk with God and was not. An impossible thing was made possible with God. All things are possible to him that can believe. Then we see Noah whose faith led him to believe God’s command and to build an ark which saved his family even though he had never seen rain; Abraham, the father of the faithful, who clung to the promises of God when impossibilities were all that he could see on life’s horizon; Moses, whose faith led him to seek the eternal treasures of heaven without looking back at the treasures of Egypt where he had been a prince! We are given the account of the great stories of the parting of the Red Sea and the destruction of Jericho; we learned that God led His people into places where all they could do was look up... and see the Salvation of the Lord. And when they responded in faith, they saw God working mighty miracles on their behalf. I know that many of us this week have looked up to God for strength and guidance. The greatest evidence of a living faith is our ongoing communication with God. If we love God and trust Him, we will always go to Him in times of need.
1. All Faith does not end in triumph
Here in the verses of our text, we come to the paradox of faith. Faith really has two faces, one of triumphant and joy and the other of suffering and sorrow. In this text, we learn that there were people of great faith whose prayers for deliverance were not met with a spectacular miracle, but they believed beyond what they received. It’s easy to trust God when the sea is parting, when the walls of Jericho are falling, when cancers is being heal, lungs are being restored, when we hear the voice of God speaking clearly about our situation. But what about those days when God seems silent? What about those days when the burdens are heavy, the nights of prayer are long and some prayers seem to go unanswered. Though we feel alone and abandoned, these experiences are not new. You will find many examples in Scripture. Remember, Job was a perfect and upright man, yet during his trial of sickness and loss, he says….
Job 23:3-10 “Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat! I would order my cause before him and fill my mouth with arguments. Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him: On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hides himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him: But he knows the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.”
2. All Prayers are not answered immediately.
Even from the oldest book in the Bible, before the Jews were in covenant with God, the scriptures reveal the two faces of faith, one is triumphant, and the other patiently enduring suffering. The side of enduring suffering is revealed in the face of Jesus on Calvary’s cross; the other side of triumphant victory is revealed in the face of Christ our resurrected King! Most of us love the faith that always ends in earthly triumph, and we hate and fear the faith that must be patient in suffering. Who wants the suffering of the cross? We all want the triumph of the Resurrection. There is a popular teaching in American Christianity today that focuses on faith as a ticket to the American dream without suffering or difficulties. Yet that teaching emphasizes just one face of faith, and it is the exception, not the rule. Many preachers of health, wealth, and happiness tell their congregations: “Claim your rightful place as King’s Kids. “Claim your victory, healing and prosperity now.” They teach with that enough active faith; one can unlock the treasure house of God and live rich and successful lives. Yet, that kind of faith is centered only on me, myself, and I, rather than on the purposeful plan of a loving Father God.
That’s not the faith walk that most believers must endure. During these years of ministry, I have seen many faithful and dedicated members of my congregations endure the trials of life. Some have endured loss as the result of destructive storms, others suffered the loss of loved ones or other family members. Their faith remained strong. Some struggled with physical challenges that were not immediately healed. None of us know the twists and turn that our life will take. When we are young, we feel like we will all live forever. We feel like we are captains of our soul and the master of our destiny. Then life takes a turn, and changes will come. We love God and believe His promises, yet we must deal with suffering.
3. All Faith Must Surrendered to the will of God.
Yet true biblical faith in God means surrendering our lives to God and allowing Him to do as He wills with us and for us. Genuine faith trusts God to accomplish His eternal purposes which are sometimes beyond our finite ability to understand. Genuine faith is a faith that trusts God beyond what we can see. The cross and the crown of faith are inseparable parts of true biblical faith.
You may be wondering why I have selected this passage as our text today. I believe we need to be reminded that we live in a dangerous world. Violent storms, violent people and changing circumstances are all around. Those conditions will always exist. There will always be wars and rumors of wars. There will always be pain and suffering, yet we are not alone. God is with us.
All these heroes of faith were men and women who dealt with violence, suffering and loss by simply believing God and moving out in obedience. Noah built an ark without ever seeing rain. He believed God and move out to build. Abram believed God and moved out in search for a city whose builder and maker was God. By faith Sarah, who was barren and nearly ninety years old, received strength to have a son when she had no strength and faced impossible odds. Contrary to common believe, these are not super men and women, they were ordinary people who chose to believe God and acted on what they believed.
Then we have the words of our text: "These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth."
These Old Testament saints died in faith believing that God had something better in store for them. In their lifetime they did not receive the fulfilment of all the promised blessing God has for the redeemed. They had the blessed hope for eternal life with God in a better land, a heavenly homeland. They fixed their eyes on their citizenship in a new heaven and a new earth. They chose to walk differently, talk differently, and live differently. They were travelers on their way home. Believers today must likewise persevere in faith and trust God, even when they do not see all the promises of God fulfilled in their lives. The faith that pleases God is a faith that can surrender God's promises back to Him and trust God for their fulfillment according to His will.
Many believers had to hold on to God, believing that God was a God of love and concern; a God that heals and delivers and a God that would always take care of his own. Today it is easy to ask, why did God allow this to happen? Why didn’t God heal me this time? Or how could this have happened? Yet, please know God is an all-knowing God who sees the total picture. Somehow, even this fit into God's plans. His word assures us that, "All things work together for the good of them that love God and are called according to his purpose; He promises that "the righteous has hope even in death.
These courageous men and women of Faith, who may not have received everything they believed for in this life, but they lived her life with the end in view. they knew this day was coming and prepared to meet the Lord. Like all of us, they were not perfect, but they are believers. Like all of us, they struggled with life’s disappointments, frustrations, and delays. Yet they kept the faith believing that the King of Glory will come back one day, and every eye would see Him, and every knee would bow down with very tongue would confessing Jesus is the Lord of all!
"These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth… But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city."
Considering this text, we must understand that there are times regardless of the quality of our faith, the purity of our motives, the righteousness of our hearts and the correctness of our thoughts and actions; our prayers may seem to be unheard and unanswered. Two places in this passage, the Holy Spirit inspired the writer to remind us that even men and women of great faith suffered, and some died in the faith not receiving the promise of God.
You wonder why? In verse 39 and 40, we are given insight into the mind of God. The text says, “And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. “God having provided something better for us.”
In His wisdom and purpose of God, He knew they we needed faithful example to follow, we need role models to show us the way. So, God looked beyond our immediate comfort and desire and gave us a life well lived to encourage our faith. I know it is hard for us to accept that the fact that our immediate comfort is not God’s highest priority. No good parent enjoys seeing a son or daughter struggling with the difficulties of life. When I see my sons wrestling with life’s challenges, sometimes bad breaks, or sometimes the consequences of unwise decisions, my first impulse is to rush in and make things better. But, through the years, I have learned through trial and error, that if I do that all the time, they never learn or grow or become better. Overcoming difficulties can produce character; and knowledge gain through experience can produce wisdom that makes us stronger, wiser, and better. So, sometimes Our Heavenly Father allows us to go through difficult moments when He does not rush in with a quick fix relieving all our troubles and sorrows.
In this text, God allows us to see that there is a future place... a heavenly home for all those prepared to share it. Repenting of our sins, accepting Jesus Christ as our savior, and living obedient lives, prepares the believer for eternity. In eternity, the believer will have no promises deferred, no prayers unanswered, no regrets of yesterday, and no dreads about tomorrow! In heaven, there are no lessons of faith to learn for we will have perfect knowledge. In heaven, there will be no sin or consequences for sin; for sin will be banished and all will be perfectly holy and good. In heaven, our Father no longer delay or deny our requests for our minds and His mind will be one and all our requests will be perfectly in synch with His purposes!
So, how does this understanding of the two faces of faith affect us? First, we should consider our own faith. What are you trusting in, who are you trusting in? This whole event of trials are designed for our benefit. Second, if you have trusted Jesus Christ as Savior, your life will also experience two faces of faith, one triumphant and one suffering, its normal and a part of life. How should we respond today? The writer gives instructions in Hebrews 12:1-3, where he says,
“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.”
Please notice that we are never told why bad things happen to good people. God never explained to Job why he was suffering. Jesus never explained why the man was born blind or why towers fall or destruction comes. We are told how we should respond. Count it all joy! Even though we suffer loss and go through discouragement, we are urged to stay in the race. In life we will suffer setbacks, short-term moments of pain, doubts, frustrations, and even death, but stay in the race. Then we are urged to look to Jesus, he alone is the author and finisher of our faith. Keep our eyes on Jesus, he will help us endure. Suffering any loss is difficult and painful, Jesus will help us endure. Finally, we are urged to consider the faithfulness of God. God is faithful. He has always stood by us. We can depend on him. He will see us through. Lanelle Harris, the great singer/songwriter penned a wonderful song, I will close with these words,
“My God is faithful; For not one promise He has made has gone unfulfilled According to His will, And He is able, for by His grace He supplies My every need, His faithfulness exceeds Beyond what I can see.
And God is worthy, If not another blessing came; I'd still give Him praise. The balance of my days And He's forgiving Though I've caused Him much pain Still He calls me friend, His love and grace exceed Beyond what I can see
Beyond what I can see; Beyond what I can see; Though the road's not clear I will not fear, The way He's leading me. So, until the morning light, When my faith ends in sight, I'll rest assured In whom I have believed And follow on beyond what I can see!
God is holy, And He delivered me from sin, To be the same And to Him I remain Forever thankful; For though I'd broken His commands, He still set me free His love for me exceeds Beyond what I can see
Beyond what I can see, Beyond what I can see, Though the road's not clear I will not fear, The way He's leading me, So, until the morning light, When my faith ends in sight, I'll rest assured In whom I have believed, And follow on beyond what I can see!
The hymn writer say it this way. “
I must tell Jesus all of my trials; I cannot bear these burdens alone;
In my distress He kindly will help me; He ever loves and cares for His own.
Tempted and tried, I need a great Savior; One Who can help my burdens to bear; I must tell Jesus, I must tell Jesus; He all my cares and sorrows will share.
O how the world to evil allures me! O how my heart is tempted to sin! I must tell Jesus, and He will help me, Over the world the victory to win.
I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus! I cannot bear my burdens alone; I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus! Jesus can help me, Jesus alone. I must tell Jesus all of my troubles; He is a kind, compassionate friend; If I but ask Him, He will deliver, Make of my troubles quickly an end. Amen.
