11 By faith even Sarah received the ability to have a child, though she herself was barren and past the age for having children, because she believed that the one who promised was faithful. 12 So descendants were born from one man (and he was as good as dead). They were as many as the number of the stars in the sky and as countless as the grains of sand on the seashore. 13 All these people died in faith without receiving the promises, but they saw the promises from a distance and welcomed them. They confessed that they were strangers and immigrants on earth.
Reflection
What does faith see? If we scroll down to the beginning verse in Hebrews 11, what we call the “Hall of Faith,” we find a definition of faith.
Verse 1 sets it out for us, “Faith is the reality of what we hope for, the proof of what we don’t see.”
When I was a young Christian and studied out of the New International Version, it said, “Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain for what we do not see.”
Now the NIV has changed it a little and it reads, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.” I like the old way better, but maybe that’s because that’s what I grew up hearing. Borrowing from the Common English Bible, faith is the reality of what we hope for. Hope is used by both CEB and NIV, even the older version to end the quote.
We can’t see faith, but we can see it in action. My first wife, Nancy, was legally blind for the last 11 years of her life. She also had two cochlear implants for hearing. Though she could see only shadows and had trouble hearing she was the perfect example of faith. I think if they would do another “Hall of Faith,” I’m sure Nancy would be in it.
What does faith see? I think Nancy would say everything. We both had our struggles with lack of vision and hearing, but I know Nancy was faith in action. And a little of that rubbed off on me. Faith is reality of what we hope for. Faith is confidence in what we hope for. Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
by Rick Reed
For Pondering and Prayer
There might be several definitions of faith but it the reality, the certainty, the sureness of is the hope God has given us. Let us remember that, even when we are struggling. Especially when we are struggling. And let us go to Hebrew 12:2 and always fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of my faith.
Prayer: Dear Lord, Help me to always remember that even though I can’t see it, my faith is real, especially if I fix my eyes on you. Amen.
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