By Paul Winningham
Christians often talk about faith. How is faith to be defined? In a great chapter of God’s Word, Hebrews 11, we see God’s definition of faith: “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” We also see God’s valuation of faith: “And without faith it is impossible to please him (God), for he who comes to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” (v6)
The writer of Hebrews then parades a few key examples of faith for us out of the past: Abel, second-born son of Adam and Eve, who offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, who murdered him.
We wish there were more details to go on, but what is clear is that Abel was living by faith, trusting God’s promises, unseen though they be, and in this faith, God calls Abel righteous.
Enoch is also mentioned briefly. What little we know about him is that, unlike the multiplying masses about him, he walked with God. It must have been hard to go against the grain of godlessness already in his time, but nevertheless, Enoch walked with God, and spoke for God. (Jude 14-15, Gen. 5:18-24) Whatever you get from this, remember that Enoch was a man of faith who is commended here for his faith: His “assurance of things hoped for,” his “conviction of things not seen.”
And Noah, too is mentioned. Noah had received warning from God about a cataclysmic, watery, world-wide judgment we recall as The Flood.
He had no evidence to go on except the word of God, but on that basis, he spent years of his life constructing a massive, watertight, box-like barge we call the Ark. This Ark became a vessel for salvation (a means of grace!) for Noah (and his immediate family), and all the air-breathing creatures whom God sent to him for preservation.
Abel, Enoch, and Noah all lived by faith, convinced that God would keep His promises. This is no different from the faith of a Christian. Think of it, Christian: Have you seen Jesus our Lord?
Did you gaze upon His face as He was laid in the manger? Did you see as He fed the multitude with bread and fish and had His disciples gather leftovers? Did you see Him, condemned to die in the Roman manner of crucifixion, with concern, pardon, and prayers for those around Him until He breathed His last?
Did you see Him, raised from the dead, giving His followers many convincing proofs of His victory over sin and death and hell, before ascending and leaving them His Spirit to empower them to share the good news?
The answer, of course is “No”. You didn’t see Him. But you have believed on Him, having received a reliable reporting from those who DID see Him! You have grown in your conviction of “things not seen”, as Hebrews puts it. And not only this, you are placing your expectation in promises He has made, by His own words, or by the Holy-Spirit-given-words of His sacred apostles and prophets. Isn’t this exactly what the writer to the Hebrews has in mind when He writes: “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”?
By this God-given gift of faith through the knowledge of Jesus Christ, crucified and risen from death, Christ’s gifts gained through His Cross and resurrection are yours! Forgiveness of sins!
Reconciliation with God! Eternal life with God in the resurrection of our own mortal bodies that will be glorified like Christ, the first-fruits of the resurrection! You cannot earn such gifts, but we can and do receive them freely, by faith, for Jesus’ sake.
Rev. Dr. Paul R. Winningham is pastor of Grace Lutheran and Zion Lutheran Churches in Uniontown and Longtown.
