As we continue to walk down the hope filled hall of faith…Abraham is our next member – “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” (Hebrews: 11: 8-10)
Abraham had been living in Ur of the Chaldees. It was a city that was dedicated to Nannar, the moon-god. We learn from Genesis 12: 1-3 – “Now the Lord had said to Abram: ‘Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’”
From the time of Adam and Eve, men and women knew the true God. However, they did not glorify Him and were not grateful for His blessings. Idolatry, or the worship of false gods led to complete corruption. We learn from Paul in Romans – “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man – and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.” (Romans 1: 18-23)
God called Abraham, the first Jew, and started something new. God called Abraham to separate himself from the corruption he was living around – “So Abram departed as the Lord had spoken to him, and Lot went with him. And Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.” (Genesis 12: 4)
True faith is not based on feeling but on the word of God. We learn from Romans 10: 17 – “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
Hebrews was written to those Jews who were wavering in their faith in Jesus. Many of them wanted to fall back into the legalism of the Old Covenant rather than trusting that Jesus had fulfilled the Old Covenant and had instituted a New Covenant through his death and resurrection.
What are you trusting in today? Have you turned from religion (man-made rules, philosophies, and self-exaltation) to faith in Jesus Christ alone? Eternal salvation comes through faith alone in Christ alone through His grace alone. Have you entered a relationship with God through faith in the finished work of Christ? This is what the New Testament calls us to. Won’t you open your heart to God’s word today?Before Jesus died, he comforted His apostles with these words – “’Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.’ Thomas said to Him, ‘Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’” (John 14: 1-6)
