The Two Faces Of Faith: Triumph And Trial

There is a faith receives what it believes, and a faith that believes beyond what it receives. Text: Hebrews 11:13-16 "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. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city."

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 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 a 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 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 an ongoing communication with God. If we love God and trust Him, we will always go to Him in times of need.

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 His voice is clearly coming through to our spirit. But what about those days when God is silent? What about those days when the burdens are heavy, prayers are long and there seems to be no answer? Job was a perfect and upright man, yet during his trial of sickness, he says….

Job 23:3 Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat! (4) I would order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments. (8) ¶ Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him: (9) On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him: (10) But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.”

The scriptures reveal that there are two faces of faith, one is triumphant, and the other patiently enduring suffering. One side is revealed the face of Jesus of the cross, the other is revealed the face of Christ, as the resurrected King of Glory. Most of us love the faith that always end in triumph and 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. Emphasizing just one face of faith, the preachers of health, wealth, and happiness tell their congregations: “Claim your rightful place as King’s Kids. Claim your healing now. With enough faith, you can unlock the treasure house of God and live rich and successful lives.” That kind of faith is centered only on me, myself, and I, rather than on the purposeful plan of a loving Father God.