The Creative Power of Faith

GOLDEN TEXT: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”—Hebrews 11:1

FAITH engenders strength, for it is that quality of heart and mind which is able to lay hold upon the promises of God in full confidence that he will fulfill them and that he will be with his people to direct and help in every time of need. What would seem a better translation of our Golden Text states, that faith is the “foundation” of things hoped for. And it is truly a secure foundation, one upon which the entire superstructure of doctrine and practice can be built, for it is bedded down and made secure in the promise of God.

HEBREWS 11:1-8—Faith has always been essential to those who would please the Lord. Faith is belief and confidence, and surely God could not be pleased with those who have little or no confidence in him. Abraham was called a friend of God because of his faith. This is understandable, for true friendship is based on confidence. There can be no friendship where there is no belief or confidence. The same is true in God’s viewpoint of us. He is made glad by our belief in him, and blesses us in proportion to the degree that we demonstrate our belief by doing his will.

The word “worlds,” in the assertion that the worlds were framed by the Word of God, is a translation of the Greek word aion, meaning age. While it is true that the “worlds” or planets were all created by the Word, or Logos of God, who served as his active agent, the apostle’s reference here is to the various ages and dispensations in the plan of God. The blueprints for this plan were worked out in advance, before any part of it materialized.

It was the faith of the ancient worthies in the outworking of the divine plan that gave them their standing before God. Abel’s flesh and blood sacrifice foreshadowed the sacrifice of the “Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29) It was offered in faith. “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God,” the apostle tells us. (Rom. 10:17) Evidently Abel had been somewhat enlightened concerning the appropriateness of his sacrifice, else his faith would not have entered into the matter.

By faith Enoch “walked with God.” (Gen. 5:22,24) There is little said in the Old Testament of what Enoch’s walk with God consisted. Jude tells us that he prophesied of the coming of the Lord with “myriads” of his saints, to execute judgment, etc. (Jude 14,15, Diaglott) We take from this that he did bear testimony to the truth as it could be understood in his day, and doubtless this constituted a part of his walk with God.

There is a great deal of conjecture as to what the Scriptures imply in speaking of the translation of Enoch. He was a member of the race that was condemned to death, and if he did not die then he was an exception to the rule—the rule explained by Paul that “in Adam all die.” (I Cor. 15:22) He was not taken to heaven, for Jesus said that no man had ascended into heaven prior to his day. (John 3:13) It is conceded, of course, that he could be preserved alive in some secret place and will appear during the Millennium.

There are Scriptures, on the other hand, which give the thought that Enoch actually died. He “was not,” and this expression is used in Jeremiah 31:15 to describe the death condition of the children of Rachel. We are also told that God “took” him, and of the people of Sodom God said that he “took” them away as he saw good. (Gen. 5:24; Ezek. 16:50) If this be the correct viewpoint, then Enoch’s not seeing death would simply mean that he was favored by not being exposed to all the agonies of dying nor in fact anticipating it, God taking him without his realization of it, without his seeing death coming as many do, and perhaps he had never seen anyone else die.

Noah’s faith inspired him to witness God’s truth to the people, and to build the ark. Abraham’s faith was strong enough to enable him to leave his home country and favorable surroundings and start for a country of which he had no knowledge, believing that God would fulfill his promise to show him the land and give him an inheritance in it. His wife shared his faith, and that faith will yet be gloriously rewarded.

HEBREWS 11:39, 40—This passage reveals that although the ancient worthies obtained a good report through faith, they will not be a part of the church of this Gospel age. God has provided “some better thing for us,” Paul explains, and adds that “they without us should not be made perfect.” The church will be exalted to the divine nature to live and reign with Christ, and following this will come the “better” resurrection of the ancient worthies, which will be to human perfection on the earth, where they will serve as “princes” during the Millennium.—vs. 35; Psa. 45:16

HEBREWS 12:1, 2—The great “cloud of witnesses” with which we are surrounded, and by which we are strengthened in our faith, are the examples of the ancient worthies so eloquently set forth in the 11th chapter. But the greatest example of all is Jesus! We are to look unto him and follow in his footsteps. If faithful in this we will, in the first resurrection, share his glory and reign with him a thousand years. It is a glorious hope, of which our faith in the promises of God is a sure foundation.

QUESTIONS:

Why is faith so important to the Christian?

In what sense did Enoch walk with God?

What is the “better thing” God has provided for the church?

What is the “cloud of witnesses” with which we are surrounded?

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