“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Those are the words with which this chapter – the “Faith-Heroes Hall of Fame” – opens. Faith! Let us consider what that word means. Society rests upon the faith which people have in each other. The laborer toils throughout the week for the wages which he believes he will receive; the passenger procures a ticket for a distant town, because he believes the statements of the train time-tables; the sailor steers his vessel with unerring accuracy in murky weather, because he believes in his maps and charts; the entire system of monetary credit, by which vast sums circulate from hand to hand without the use of a single coin – all these are illustrations of the immense importance of faith in the affairs of men. Nothing, therefore, is more disastrous for an individual or a community than for its credit to be impaired, or its confidence shaken.
There seem to be three necessary preliminaries in order to have faith. First, someone must make an engagement or promise. Second, there must be good reason for believing in the integrity and sufficiency of the person by whom the engagement has been made. Third, there follows a comfortable assurance that the promise will indeed be fulfilled. In fact, the one who believes the promise is able to count upon that which is promised, as if it had already been accomplished. And this latter frame of mind is precisely the one that is indicated by Paul when – being guided by the Holy Spirit – he affirms that faith is the assurance of things that are hoped for, and the persuasion or conviction of things that are not seen. In other words, faith is the ability to realize the unseen.
These three conditions (mentioned above) are fulfilled in Christian faith. The same faculty is called into action with respect to the things of God. At the outset, we are sure that a Voice has spoken to man from the pages of Scripture – not voices, but a Voice. Next, we are sure that this Speaker is infinitely credible. Our assurance rests on several grounds. We find that His Words have always been true in the experience of past generations. We have seen them accompanied by the beneficence and power of miraculous phenomena, indicating the goodness and glory of the Worker. We discover in our own hearts the assent of our moral nature to their evident truth. And for all these reasons, we know that the Voice which speaks in Scripture deserves our credence.
We look upon the words which God speaks to us from the Scriptures as being entirely different from any other words which may claim our attention from the lips of men – not only because of the character of the miracles which accompany them; but also because they touch us as no other words do, and elicit the spontaneous assent and consent of our moral nature, even though it is sometimes in condemnation of ourselves. That must be the Book of God indeed, which so exactly coincides with the best emotions and intuitions of our moral nature that He Himself has created. And when we are assured of this, then there is no limit to the restful confidence which not only counts His promises as credible, but actually begins to enjoy – in anticipation – the blessings that they offer. The maxim of human experience tells us that “seeing is believing”; but with the child of God, the reverse is true: “believing is seeing!” We are as sure of what the Lord has promised as if we were already looking at the fulfillment of His promise with our very eyes. Our vision could not make us more sure than we already are of the fact that God loves us; that our Father’s house awaits us, with its many mansions; and that someday, our mortality is to put on immortality – so as to live forever in a state of existence which is absolutely sinless, sorrowless, and nightless.
Such faith as this is primarily begotten in our souls by the study of God’s Word, as it appeals to our moral consciousness – which, as it becomes more and more developed, is made to be more and more satisfied with the Book which called it into being, and has done so much for its education. But sometimes faith seems to be given us in respect of some special matter which is not directly indicated in Scripture, but which we feel able to claim; and as we pray and think over it, we are even more able to claim it; and when we find such a conviction forming in our hearts, we may be perfectly sure of it. Thus the child of God may begin to praise the Lord for blessings of which there is no outward sign, being as sure of them as if they had risen above the horizon, like the little cloud – no bigger than a man’s hand – arose into view after Elijah’s prayer.
Do you want a greater faith? Then consider the promises of God, which are its food! Read the history of Jehovah’s mighty acts in bygone days. Open your heart to God, so that He may shine into it with His own revealing presence. Ask Him to give you this wondrous faith, to which nothing is impossible. And put away from you anything which might clash with the growth of your heart in faith and love.
See how faith makes men great. Run through this rollcall of heroes. You must admit that those whose names are mentioned here stand in the first ranks of the human race, shining like stars. But their claim to be thus regarded was certainly not because of any natural genius, nor for any other any qualification that was found in themselves. It was their faith in the Lord’s promises that lifted them out of the ranks of mediocrity, and exalted them to positions of superiority among men; and if our faith would become the master-principle of our own lives, it would similarly enlarge and enrich our whole being.
Faith mightily affects our ordinary human life. With most people, you can determine pretty nearly how they will act in given circumstances; you can enumerate the influences at work upon them, and their value. But you can never be sure in the case of the Christian, because his faith takes great account of that which the world takes no thought of whatsoever. For example, a tyrant may be anxious to save some young Christian, and approaches him with flatteries and promises that attract most young people; but he is surprised to find that they have no charm with such a person. He then approaches them with suffering, humiliation, and death – things that typically sadden young hearts – and he is equally astonished to discover that they cause no alarm. The cause is inexplicable, and is set down to obstinacy; but in point of fact, the eyes of that young heart are opened on a world of which the tyrant has formed no conception. Faith is not careless of time, but it is more mindful of eternity. Faith does not underrate the power of man, but she does magnify Divine Omnipotence. Faith is not callous of present pain, but she does weigh it against future joy. Against ill-gotten gains, she compares eternal treasure; against human hate, the recompense of reward; against the weariness of this life, the crown of heaven; against the tears of winter sowing, the shoutings of the autumn sheaves; against the inconvenience of the tent, the permanent city. None of the heroes of faith whose names are mentioned in this chapter would have lived the noble lives they did, if it had not been for the recompense of reward and the gleams given them of the golden city, amidst the sorrows and difficulties of their lives.
Faith is possible to all classes of people. In this list of faith-heroes, we find women as well as men. We find Sarah and Rahab, as well as Abraham and Joshua; we find the widow of Shunem, and the mighty prophet who brought her son back to life. We find Moses, the student of Egypt’s wisdom. And we also find Gideon the humble farmer, Isaac the sheepkeeper, Jacob the shrewd cattle breeder, Barak the soldier, David the shepherd, and Samuel the prophet. Their occupations and circumstances varied infinitely, but there was not one of them who did not live under the influence of this master-principle of faith. Whatever a person’s lawful calling may be, he may abide therein with God, under the influence of faith. Faith can grow and flourish in any soil.
Faith is consistent with very different degrees of knowledge. It would be difficult to enumerate more varieties of religious knowledge than those which are summarized in this catalog of names. For example, Abel’s idea of sacrifice would differ widely from David’s. The degree of acquaintance with God would be much more intense with Moses than with Samson. And in comparison with the clear views of truth held by these Hebrew Christians to whom the Apostle was writing, those of the world’s ancient forefathers were only like baskets full of fragments. But notwithstanding all these differences, the same principle of faith leaped upward from each heart. The woman who touched the hem of Jesus’ garment was animated with exactly the same spirit as that which, in her sister, elicited the wonder of Jesus: “O woman, great is thy faith!”
Faith can master insuperable difficulties! It is difficult to stand alone in the ways of righteousness, but faith enabled Abel to offer a more excellent sacrifice than Cain. It is difficult to walk constantly with God when wickedness is great on the earth, and when all flesh has corrupted its way; but it is not impossible – for Enoch walked with God in the times just before the Flood, and obtained the testimony that he pleased Him. It is difficult to lead a pilgrim life, and to endure such difficulties as would be keenly felt by the patriarchs; but what faith did for them, it will also do for others. It is difficult, amidst the cares of business or public office, to keep the heart fresh and devout; but it is not impossible to faith, which maintained the spirit of patriotism and devotion in the heart of Joseph – even though he was sorely tempted to sink into gross sin. It is difficult to face the loss of all things, and the displeasure of the great; but Moses did both, under the influence of faith in the unseen. There are many difficulties before us all! Stormy seas forbid our passage; frowning fortifications bar our progress; mighty kingdoms defy our power; lions roar against us; fire lights its flaming barricade in our path; the sword; mockings, scourgings, bonds, and imprisonment – all these menace our peace, darken our horizon, and try their power upon us; but faith has conquered all these in days before us, and it shall do the same again in our own times! We will laugh at impossibility; we will tread the shores of the seas, for we are certain that they must split and make us a way; we will enter the dens of wild beasts and the furnaces of flame, resting assured that they are impotent to injure us; we shall escape the edge of the sword, and become strong out of weakness, setting at nought all the power of the enemy – and all because we believe in God! Reckon on the Lord’s faithfulness! Look not at the winds and waves, but at His character and will. Get alone with Him, steeping your heart and mind in His exceedingly great and precious promises. Be obedient to the utmost limit of your light. Walk in the Spirit, one of Whose fruits is faith. So shall you be deemed worthy to join this band whose names and achievements run over from this page into the chronicles of eternity, and so shall you share their glorious heritage!
Lord, we repent of times when our faith has been weak. We beseech You, Lord Jesus, that You would make Your redeemed ones strong in the grace that is in Yourself, so that we may be the followers of those who have inherited the promises before us. Amen.
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