The Currency Of Heaven Series

Introduction

In our hearts, there is a deep, human desire for approval. We want to please our parents, our spouse, our boss. But the most important question a person can ever ask is, "What pleases God?" Throughout history, humanity has tried to answer that question with countless efforts: by building magnificent temples, by performing elaborate rituals, by trying to live good moral lives, by making great sacrifices.

But today, God's Word cuts through all our human striving with a clear, direct, and stunningly simple answer. This verse gives us the non-negotiable principle for approaching a holy God. It tells us the only currency that is accepted in the kingdom of heaven is not our works, our wealth, or our worthiness. It is faith.

I. The Impossible Standard

The verse opens with one of the most absolute statements in the Bible: "But without faith it is impossible to please him..."

Notice the word: impossible. Not difficult, not challenging, but impossible. Trying to please God without faith is like trying to breathe underwater or trying to buy goods at the market with a currency no one accepts. It simply cannot be done.

This truth is incredibly liberating. It frees us from the exhausting treadmill of trying to be "good enough" for God. All our righteous acts, unless they spring from a heart of faith, are unacceptable to Him (Isaiah 64:6). God is not looking for performance; He is looking for trust. He doesn't want our achievements; He wants our hearts. Faith is the starting point of any real relationship with Him.

II. The First Pillar of Faith: He Exists

So what is this essential faith? The verse breaks it down into two foundational pillars. The first is: "...he that cometh to God must believe that he is..."

This is the starting block. To approach God, you must first believe that He is truly there. This is more than a vague belief in a "higher power." It is the belief in the one true God who has revealed Himself in Scripture—the sovereign Creator of the heavens and the earth.

But even this is not enough. The Bible says that even the demons believe that God exists, and they tremble (James 2:19). Acknowledging God's existence is essential, but it is only the first half of a God-pleasing faith.

III. The Second Pillar of Faith: He is Good

The second pillar turns a distant belief that God exists into a personal trust in God. You must also believe "...that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."

This is a belief in God's character. It is believing not only that He is real, but that He is good. He is not a distant, angry deity waiting to strike us down. He is a loving Father who delights in and rewards His children when they come to Him.

And notice the action required: "diligently seek him." This isn't a lazy, half-hearted belief. It's an active, passionate pursuit. It's the faith that says, "God, I believe you are real, and I believe you are good, so I am going to build my life around seeking you."

What is the ultimate reward for seeking God? It is finding Him. His presence, His guidance, His joy, and His peace are the greatest rewards we could ever receive.

Conclusion

This is the faith that pleases God, a faith resting on two unshakable pillars: God is real, and God is good. He exists, and He rewards those who wholeheartedly seek Him.

This was the faith of Abel, of Enoch, of Noah, and of every person who has ever truly walked with God. Do you have this faith today? Have you moved beyond simply acknowledging He exists to actively seeking Him, trusting that He is a good Father who will reward your pursuit? Let us come to Him today, not with our hands full of our own efforts, but with hearts full of faith, which is the only thing that has ever pleased Him.