“By faith . . .” With those words, the writer of Hebrews launches into example after example of what the faith of normal people rightly related to God were able to accomplish (Hebrews 11). Miracles happened. Great victories were won. Promises were received. Impossibilities bowed to God and became possible. When people believed, God responded.
Faith matters. A lot. This is such an uncompromising truth in Scripture that the writer of Hebrews says it’s impossible to please God without it (Hebrews 11:7). We aren’t called simply to know God exists. We’re called to live in such a way that invisible realities open up before us as we take steps of faith. We work in partnership with him to bring about what is not yet seen. We join him in his mission in this world.
That’s God’s goal for your faith. Salvation is huge, but it’s just the beginning. God is establishing his kingdom through his people—by faith. It’s “confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1). And it’s to be our normal way of life.
