The Adventure of Faith

Introduction

Faith ... what is it? Someone wisely stated, "Faith is not believing God can, but that God will." The author of Hebrews said that, "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see" (Hebrews 11:1).

The point, the biblical point, is simple. Godly faith changes lives and issues forth in works that are of God.

An old Scotsman operated a little rowboat for transporting passengers. One day a passenger noticed that the good old man had carved on one oar the word "Faith" and on the other oar the word "Works." Curiosity led him to ask the meaning of this. The old man, being a well-balanced Christian and glad of the opportunity for testimony, said, "I will show you."

So saying, he dropped one oar and plied the other called Works, and they just went around in circles. Then he dropped that oar and began to ply the oar called Faith, and the little boat just went around in circles again-this time the other way around, but still in a circle.

After this demonstration the old man picked up Faith and Works, and plying both oars together, sped swiftly over the water, explaining to his inquiring passenger, "You see, that is the way it is in the Christian life. Works without faith are useless, and faith without works is dead also, getting nowhere. But faith and works pulling together make for safety, progress, and blessing."

Turn with me to Hebrews 11. Read verses 1-3 first.

In the previous chapter faith is mentioned as the principle of spiritual life and the impetus of patient endurance. Having quoted the great saying of Habakkuk, "The just shall live by faith," the writer now proceeds to vindicate its truth, not by a description of faith in the strictly theological sense, but by a description of its effects (1-6) and by a series of brilliant biographical illustrations (7-40). Thus, in a sense, his approach could be called a synthesis of the supposed tension between the Pauline thesis, "the just shall live by faith," and James' antithesis "by works a man is justified."

Let's look first to the example of Abraham in Verses 8-19. He certainly stands in this "Roll Call of Faith" as an example for us all.

In the Old Testament Abraham occupies the important place as the father of the race. Also, in the New Testament Abraham is regarded as the father of those who have faith. Using Abraham's story, we may learn about what should characterize faith in the believer's life.

I. Our Faith Should Be Ready For Adventure

Our faith should be ready for adventure, in the context of patient obedience. Living in faith should always accompany a deep consciousness of obedience to God's will and it should produce a willingness to risk...if that is what God wishes.

Abraham, the father of the faithful, was called to go out of the land of the Chaldaeans in Mesopotamia and into the land of Canaan. He accepted the challenge, and obeyed the call because he trusted God and believed His promises. In Genesis 11:27 to 12:5 Terah, the father of Abraham, is associated with this journey, but the divine monition has been given to Abraham.

Look at our text (v. 8a). God called Abraham to leave a land and to go to another land. It was a call to leave home, family, career, and business.

The Christian also has a call of God. It is the call from the Lord to leave all other loyalties and to be loyal only to Jesus Christ. To follow the Lord, something must be forsaken. God's call is a demanding one and involves an exclusive relationship.

See the response of faith. The author of Hebrews summarized Abraham's response to God's call with one word, "obeyed" (Hebrews 11:8b). Then the author amplified the response of faith, "By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going" (Hebrews 11:8). Abraham responded to God by leaving Ur of the Chaldees and plunging into the desert on the way to the place God wanted him to go.

A. Faith Necessitates Obedience

In the New Testament, faith is not found by itself. There will always be verbs after the response of faith. Look in Hewbrews: "By faith Abraham . . . obeyed," "By faith Jacob . . . blessed," "By faith Moses .

. . refused." In every incident a verb follows faith. Faith is not simply a set of creeds. It is a response to the Lord that results in obedience.

Yes, I know you were saved by grace through faith. . . but are you living by faith? In recounting Abraham's life, the author of Hebrews moved from Abraham's obeying God by leaving the land to this submitting to God on the way to the Promised Land. This stage in Abraham's life is captured with the sentence: "By faith he sojourned in the land of promise." This sentence helps us see that Abraham righteously submitted to God's guidance while he was on the way to Canaan.

B. See The Necessity Of Submission (v. 9)

From this verse we see that in following God's leadership, Abraham learned to go where God guided him. Previously Abraham lived in a walled city, but God led him to Canaan, and he had to live in tents. Abraham submitted to these circumstances.

C. Christians Are Pilgrim People

To follow the Lord's leadership will involve adaptation to diverse circumstances. Whatever the circumstances, God is leading his people.

D. Living By Faith Involves The Willingness To Risk

In the faith of most of us there is a dull adventurousness. We live a cautious life on the principle of safety first. If faith does not involve risk, is it faith? If faith can see every step of the way, it is not faith.

Sometimes the Christian has to go, not knowing where he is going. Before the turn of the century, United Brethren Church Bishop Wright spoke at a college in the Midwest.

Addressing the students, the bishop pompously declared, "Everything that can be invented has already been invented."

Later, the president of the college suggested to the bishop that perhaps there were still some things to be invented. But the bishop stood his ground.

"Name one thing," the bishop snorted.

"I believe someday men will build a machine that will fly in the air," the president replied.

"That is the most stupid idea I have ever heard," the bishop answered. "If God had wanted man to fly, He would have given him wings."

Bishop Wright had two sons. One of them was named Orville, and the other was named Wilbur. On December 17, 1903, they proved their father wrong when they made the world's first flight in a power- driven machine at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.

Unbelief always locks doors to opportunity and blinds eyes to possibilities.

Unbelief's final sting is much worse. It locks people out from the grace of God, the thing they most desperately need. And it alone condemns a sinner to hell.

E. See The Necessity Of Patient Obedience (v. 11)

Abraham's faith was communicated to his wife Sarah. God promised them a son. But no son came, and the time of childbearing was past. Nonetheless, Abraham and Sarah continued to trust God's guidance.

Christians need not grow weary in submitting to God's guidance, for God's guidance has assurance. This means that God will always lead His people in a confident manner. In following God's guidance one must not become impatient. God leads his people in His time - not theirs.

II. Our Faith Must Be A Sacrificial Faith

Look at vs. 17-19. As we continue to follow the intriguing story of Abraham, we see a crucial venture in his life. It was the episode with his son Isaac. "By faith Abraham, when he was tired, offered up Isaac" (Hebrews 11:17). In addition to obedience, sacrifice also accompanies faith.

A. See The Test Of Faith

Abraham's faith was tested when God told him to sacrifice his son Isaac. To have sacrificed Isaac would have meant the destruction of the last hope for descendants. Nonetheless, Abraham was willing to do as the Lord commanded. The severity of the test was that there seemed to be an apparent contradiction between the promise of God and the command of God. Abraham believed that God's promises would be fulfilled even though Isaac was slain. Abraham was willing to give up his son. He was willing to sacrifice his son if that was what God wanted.

To have faith in God means that we would be willing to make sacrifices. Real faith is not cheap.It is a great demand.

B. See The Triumph Of Faith

Abraham experienced great triumph because of his willingness. See v. 19. This verse shows Abraham's willingness to sacrifice because of his belief in the mysterious providence of God.

The Christian is willing to sacrifice because of confidence in God's providence. The Christian sacrifices because eternity will disclose the worthiness of the sacrifice.

C. Our Faith Must Be One Which Looks Beyond

Look at v. 10. Another proof of his enduring faith is seen in his willingness to dwell as a stranger in the land which had been promised to him, without rights or possessions, though eventually he did buy a piece of land for a burying place. His believing expectation was for things above; therefore he was willing to live as an alien in his own country. Even his accommodation was temporary, for with his children he became a wanderer dwelling in tents ever looking to that city which hath firm and permanent foundations. The reference here is not to the earthly Jerusalem, as some suggest, but to the heavenly city whose architect and designer is God.

Do you have a tendency toward spiritual "nearsightedness?" Healthy vision enables one to see near, yes, but also that to which is beyond. When we are able to do that spiritually, the things of this world are placed in proper perspective. How we need a body of believers who refuse to be caught up in the transient tinsel of this world, who keep their eyes on the city whose foundation and design is of God.

Does your vision, spiritual vision, need correction?

We've seen in these verses the beauty of a life of faith. Is your daily, living faith characterized by patient obedience, a willingness to risk, a readiness to sacrifice, and a vision which looks beyond?