Living FaithfullySample

Faith that Forsakes the Old  

Hebrews 11 continues to encourage us to leave behind the old world and continue on our journey to the new. Verse 7 mentions Noah. Noah left the old world because he feared God. If we relax and begin to fall back into the carnal ways of secular society, it is because we have lost the fear of God. 

Yet nobody completely loses the fear of God, and this is why the worldly feel condemned when they see believers building the ark of the church. Our witness makes God’s presence known to them, and they feel the condemnation. Like Noah, we must keep building the ark, putting our faith and trust in God’s promise of future wrath and blessing. 

Abram is mentioned next (vv. 8–10). God called Abram to pull up his life and leave Ur of the Chaldees. A young man with few roots would not find this terribly difficult, but Abram was 75 years old at the time. If you have ever lived in a place for a long time and then have had to move to a new, unfamiliar town, you know what Abram and his family went through. God called him to leave behind the old world and start living in terms of the promised world to come. 

Moreover, Abram left behind a city with walls and protection to live in the countryside. He left houses with foundations to live in tents. In other words, he left stability, security, and comfort to live in a situation far less so. Many early believers were forced to leave behind nice dwellings in Jerusalem when they were raided and their property confiscated. Jesus warned them to be prepared to flee to the mountains (Matt. 24:16). 

Moses also left behind an old world (Heb. 10:24–27). He was a prince of Egypt, and had been familiar with privilege and influence for 40 years. Yet when he saw a Hebrew brother being persecuted, he chose to identify with the people of God even though it cost him everything. Jewish leaders like Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimethea had made similar decisions when faced with Jesus. Similarly, the Jewish Christians had stood with those who were persecuted and had visited those who were in prison (Heb. 10:33–34).

Coram Deo  

The journeys of Noah, Abram, and Moses were spiritual but were also marked by geographical relocation. Think back over your experience as a follower of Jesus the Messiah. Have you had to physically relocate? What have you had to spiritually forsake to follow Him? Be willing and prepared to forsake still more.