Part 4: Hebrews 11:8-12
As you follow this message word after word,line upon line, I pray the Almighty and Merciful God to open your mind of understanding, to concentrate and to understand the message in order to follow through successfully, till the end, through Christ our Lord, Amen.Without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). To please God, each of us must live by faith in Christ. Abel, Enoch, Noah had faith in God and He testified of them that they pleased Him. In Abel, we learn the commencement of the life of faith; Enoch teaches us the characteristics of the continuity of the life of faith. Noah's life and action instruct us on the conviction and courage of the life of faith. The Scripture challenges us to let Christ dwell in (our) hearts by faith (Ephesians 3:17), to live by faith (Galatians 2:20), to pray in faith (James 1:6), to resist our adversary, the devil, by faith (1 Peter 5:8, 9), to overcome the world by faith (1 John 5:4), "to walk by faith" (2 Corinthians 5:7)
To please God and walk with Him, we are to "walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised" (Romans 4:12). Abraham's life of faith provides a pattern for our faith. His life was nothing else, but a continual practice of faith. The first evidence of faith in his life is his obedience to God, when He called him out of his country. From then on, his life furnishes fuller details concerning the life of faith.
In view of this let's consider three points:
THE PILGRIMAGE OF FAITH
Hebrews 11:8; Genesis 12:1-4; Joshua 24:2,3; Acts 7:2-4; Isaiah 51:2; Romans 1:5; Luke 5:32; 1Thessalonians 4:7; Acts 13:2; 2Peter 1:10.
"By faith, Abraham, when he was called to go out... obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went" (Hebrews 11:8). "The Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee" (Genesis 12:1). What a challenge to his faith this was! He was called to go out of idolatry, not out of the family of God (Joshua 24:2,3; Isaiah 51:1,2). What a testing of faith this was - to be converted at 75! Abraham was already seventy-five years of age (Genesis 12:4) and long journeys and break-up of old associations are not easily undertaken by elderly people. To forsake the old life, to leave loved ones and family idolatry behind, to abandon present certainty for a future uncertainty, to go forth, not knowing where, must have seemed unreasonable to the flesh and carnal reasoning; only faith could such a thing in answer to God's call.
A practical separation from the world is demanded of us, for "the friendship of the world is enmity with God" (James 4:4). As it was contrary to nature for Abraham to leave family and idolatry, so it is equally contrary to nature for the Christian to separate from the world and crucify the flesh. Abraham "obeyed; and went out". He obeyed not only in word, but in deed, "By faith, Abraham... obeyed" (Hebrews 11:8). Faith and obedience can never be separated just as the sun and light or fire and heat can never be separated.
"He went out not knowing whither he went". At the time God called him, He did not specify which land he was to journey to, nor where it was located. It was by faith, real faith in the Living God, and not by sight, that he moved forward. Many so-called Christians only obey God after considering their own personal interests. God requires unqualified obedience from us. The path of obedience must be trod, if ever you are to reach heaven. No disobedient soul who is wrapped up in self will enter heaven.
Second Point coming soon and until then, Peace be with you - keep singing the pilgrim's song.
