This is a good time to refresh our memories about the purpose and theme of the book of Hebrews…the death of Jesus Christ has forever done away with the Old Testament system of worship (Judaism) and established Him as the perfect sacrifice for sin; therefore, there is no need to continue in this system of works. Many of the Jews believed in the system rather than in the One to whom the law was symbolizing. The writer wanted to remind his readers that salvation was never a result of works but always a product of faith. This brings us to the word faith, which is defined by the writer as “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Simply put, the writer says that faith is the belief or full assurance of a future reality. Throughout the Bible, men and women have had to trust the promises of God and all of this started with God telling Adam and Eve that He would send someone to deliver them from their sin (Genesis 3:15) and destroy the works of the devil. Although Adam and Eve (as well as many Old Testament saints) did not have the details of how God would make sinners righteous, they trusted that God would keep His promises to do so – this is faith! Faith leads the believer to then act on His faith by entrusting his every decision to God, whom he knows will keep His promises. This is so relevant to the Christian today because we experience many trials and disappointments, but we rest in the fact that heaven (eternity) will more than compensate for the hardships we face on earth.
Dear God, thank You for the hope I have in You and the present will pale in comparison to what You have in store for us.
