Introduction: The Power of a Testimony
Imagine for a moment that you are attending a funeral. As friends and family stand up to speak, what do they talk about? They don't read a list of the person's assets or their job titles. They tell stories. They speak of the person's character, their kindness, their impact, their love. They give a testimony—a report—of the life that was lived. We all instinctively understand that the legacy we leave behind is written not in bank accounts, but in the hearts of others.
But there is a testimony that is infinitely more important than any given by man. There is one "report" that echoes into eternity. Our verse today, Hebrews 11:2, speaks directly to this. After defining faith in verse 1 as the "substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen," the author immediately gives us its result: "For by it the elders obtained a good report."
This verse is the bridge between the definition of faith and the demonstration of faith. It shows us the powerful outcome of a life built on trust in God. Let's explore what it means to obtain this "good report" and how we, too, can live for a legacy that pleases God.
I. The Hall of Faith's Heroes ("The Elders")
First, who are "the elders"? This isn't just referring to old people. It speaks of our spiritual ancestors, the pioneers of faith whose stories are about to unfold in this great chapter. We will soon read about Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, and many others.
But before we put them on a pedestal, let's be clear about who they were. They were real people with real flaws.
Abraham, the father of faith, lied about his wife—twice!
Jacob, whose name became Israel, was a deceiver and a schemer.
Rahab, an ancestor of Jesus Himself, was a prostitute.
David, a man after God's own heart, was an adulterer and a murderer.
Why are these imperfect people listed in God's Hall of Faith? Because this chapter is not about perfect people. It's about a perfect God who is honored by the imperfect faith of His people. They are remembered not because they were sinless, but because their defining characteristic was their faith. In the moments that mattered most, they chose to trust God. This is a profound encouragement for all of us. God is not looking for perfection from you; He is looking for faith.
II. The Ultimate Approval ("A Good Report")
Second, what is this "good report"? The original Greek word here means "to be witnessed to" or "to have a testimony given about you." The critical question is, whose testimony matters?
The world gives a "good report" to the wealthy, the famous, the beautiful, and the powerful. But God's standards are entirely different. His approval is not based on our performance or our popularity. The "good report" is God's divine witness, His heavenly nod of approval, that says, "This one pleased Me." As verse 5 says of Enoch, "he had this testimony, that he pleased God."
This is the only approval that truly lasts. The applause of men is fickle and fades away, but the "Well done, good and faithful servant" from our Heavenly Father echoes for all eternity.
And how did they get this report? The verse is clear: "by it"—by faith. Their works did not earn them God's approval. Rather, their faith was the channel through which God's approval was given. Faith pleases God because it is the only response that truly honors Him. It is looking away from ourselves and our own abilities, and looking to Him and His infinite power and goodness.
III. Living for Our Own "Good Report"
This ancient verse speaks directly to us today. If the heroes of old obtained God's approval by faith, then so can we. How do we live in a way that builds a legacy of faith?
1. We trust God's Word over our feelings. When anxiety screams in your mind, faith whispers God's promise: "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." When you feel too weak to go on, faith declares, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."
2. We obey God's commands over our own logic. Faith is not always logical to the world. It looked foolish for Noah to build a giant boat on dry land. It seemed illogical for Abraham to leave the security of his home for a land he had never seen. Faith often requires us to step out and obey God even when we don't understand the full picture. Where is God asking you to obey Him today?
3. We focus on God's future promise over our present pain. Verse 13 tells us these elders "died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off." They endured hardship, persecution, and disappointment because their eyes were fixed on an eternal reward. Faith allows us to endure today's trials because we have a firm hope for tomorrow.
Conclusion: Joining the Cloud of Witnesses
The "good report" of the elders is not just a historical record; it is a living encouragement for you and me. The writer of Hebrews continues in chapter 12, saying, "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight... and let us run with patience the race that is set before us."
Those elders—Abraham, Sarah, Noah—are in the great heavenly grandstands. Their lives are the proof that God is faithful and that a life of faith is worth living. They are cheering us on.
Let us ask ourselves today: What will my report be? Will my life be a testimony to fear, or to faith? To self-reliance, or to God-reliance? Let us live for the only approval that matters. Let us build a legacy of faith, so that we too might obtain a good report from our Father in heaven.
