Healthy Reminders

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Maybe you feel a bit hopeless and you're struggling in your faith. Today, I want to remind you of three things we see in Hebrews 11 and 12 regarding faith.

1. What Faith Is
Hebrews 11:1-2: Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the people of old received their commendation.
    a. Assurance of things hoped for.
    b. Conviction of things not seen.

2. Where Faith Should Be Placed
Hebrews 11:2: For by it the people of old received their commendation.
These people found commendation from God because they trusted Him. If faith is the foundation of the things we look forward to and the evidence of the things we don’t yet see, it seems that it would be important to make sure your faith is well placed. You can have all the faith in the world in someone’s words, but if they do not have the character to back it up, your faith will not have been well placed.

Hebrews 11: 6-7: And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him. By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

Results of Noah's well placed faith:
1. His family was saved.
2. The world was condemned.
3. He became an heir of righteousness (that comes by faith).

Hebrews 12:25: See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject Him who warns from heaven.

Hebrews 1:1-2: Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed the heir of all things, through whom also He created the world.

Hebrews 2:1-4: Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. 2 For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, 3 how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, 4 while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to His will.

3. What to Hope For  
    a. That Which is Permanent
Hebrews 12:26-27: At that time His voice shook the earth, but now He has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” 27 This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain.

Isaiah 65: 17 “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind.
    b. The Opportunity to Worship
Hebrews 12:28-29 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, 29 for our God is a consuming fire.

Conclusion
Believing that God is telling the truth is faith well placed, which gives foundation and hope to your life when everything is turned upside down.

Have you refused the One who offers salvation to you?

Have you put your faith in the only One who can see you through difficulties and give you a permanent place with Him in the new heaven and earth?