My natural tendency is to look at the bright side of life. Working hard can result in grand and wonderful things. But throughout my life, I’ve heard messages to the contrary. I’ve heard that I should be more realistic. I’ve heard that there just might be limits to what I can do. My basic tendency hasn’t changed but I have bought into some of these other ideas. At least, my fear has bought into those ideas and has kept me from working hard toward those grand and wonderful things.
Hebrews 11 points more toward my natural tendency than toward more realistic thoughts.
Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen, for by it good testimonies are made. And things that are seen now were once not visible.
Without faith, it is impossible to please God. One must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Any good works done must be done in this spirit. Seeing something in your mind and then working to make it reality is a way of imitating God. For God made everything that we see from nothing. Reality says that if it doesn’t exist now it can’t be. Faith says that with God new things can be made.
Abraham set forth on a journey in which he didn’t know where he’d end up. He trusted God to work things out and get him where he was going. He went even though reality said that it would be more comfortable to stay where he was. His wife, Sarah, conceived a child when she was well past child-bearing age. That’s not reality. That’s God.
Many other people in the Bible took huge steps of faith and accomplished great things for God’s Kingdom. Kingdoms were subdued. Righteousness prevailed. Promises were obtained. Lions’ mouths were shut. And the dead were raised to life again! Out of weaknesses comes great strength when God is called up on in faith and we step out in that faith.
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