Set the Sail (Preparing for a Move of God) Намуна

The Faith Necessity: A Faith Lineage

The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame is an American museum of history and home to the legacies, memories and incredible feats of the greatest basketball players in human history. To be inducted into the ‘Hall’ and receive your place in basketball immortality is arguably the greatest individual achievement available in the sport. Did you know that the Bible has a specific chapter that esteems the legacies and incredible feats of some of the most memorable figures in salvation history? Hebrews 11; which tells of the lineage of faith that followers of Jesus come from, is regarded by some not as the Bible’s ‘Hall of Fame’ but ‘Hall of Faith’.

This chapter serves to remind us of the utmost importance of having faith in God; and the way that God uses the faith of his people to enact his plans and move forward his purposes for the world (the culmination of his plan was, of course, sending Jesus into the world). Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Sarah, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, Rahab, Gideon, Barak, Samson & the Judges, David, Samuel and the prophets — all these figures and more are listed; in addition to the way they trusted in God and believed the promises he had given them; and how subsequently God used their faith to further his plans and purposes…

However doesn’t mean their lives were easy; or that having faith always resulted in beneficial outcomes in their lives in the short-term. While it’s true that Moses parted the Red Sea and David triumphed over Goliath; their lives and the lives of all of these Biblical figures were anything but breezy or comfortable. Noah was used as an essential part of God's plan but also had to endure the ridicule and mocking of an entire generation. Abraham is the father of blessing yet was severely tested when God asked him to sacrifice his son Isaac to him. Samson was a certified beast but his legacy on this earth was tainted by foolishness and ultimately ended in his death. Let’s not forget the prophets who were maligned, persecuted, rejected and had to persevere through immense discouragement and difficulty in this life. Yet despite these trials and tribulations their faith is still held up as an example for us to follow.

Why? Firstly, as verse 6 tells us because “without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” And secondly, because ultimately their faith was not about them. Their faith was about trusting in the God who had promised them a glorious future and salvation. Verse 39 tells us that “none of them received what had been promised” in their life; but that ultimately they would receive it through the future life, death and resurrection of the One they had been trusting in the whole time — Jesus Christ.

Would we be a people who follow in this lineage of faith; believing God for his promises and not turning away from our faith even when we might fail to see the ‘results’ of it in our immediate circumstances. Would we be willing to step out and boldly pursue renewal and revival in our lives, neighbourhoods and cities — ignited, fueled and sustained by an unwavering, unshakeable, unstoppable faith in the God who is always working for our good and His glory — even when we can't see it in our immediate context. Oh Lord, by your Spirit grant us the grace to possess this kind of faith!