1. For more than five years Ruby Truax of Ontario, Canada had attended a Bible study with a small group of spiritually mature women. As a relatively new Christian, she came to the group each week with questions. Before Easter, they were studying Jesus' death and resurrection. Ruby excitedly shared some material she'd read which proved that the tomb had indisputably been empty that morning. "So you see," she had concluded, "it's really not such a leap of faith to believe that Jesus was raised from death."
One of her mentors smiled and gently said, "But I take that leap of faith." That loving comment changed Ruby’s outlook completely. Until then she had pored through books and articles on history and theology, and delighted in discovering historical facts that confirm the writings of the Old and New Testaments. It had been important to her to gather evidence that proves her faith. But that wasn't enough - just to believe.
Now she realized that no amount of knowledge can substitute for simply inviting God into your heart. When you open your heart in faith, you realize that knowing God is not about proofs but about relationship. That’s one way to be a hero of faith.
2. In today’s scripture many Old Testament saints are commended by God for having great faith. They "believed God" and obeyed. Did they feel insecure? Sure - and probably also at times terrified. But God didn't criticize these saints for their fear. God commended them for their faith, for obeying despite their fear, for setting their sights on the goal and "going for it."
What God asks of us may be difficult or uncomfortable. Feeling fear is understandable. But in verse 6 God says that without faith it is impossible to please Him. So at some point, faith takes over and conquers fear. For some Christians, the remedy is to follow what you absolutely believe the Lord is urging you to do. Then you have to make a firm decision to rise to the occasion. Jesus stands on the other side of that decision with peace to calm your vast sea of emotions.
Christ calls you to be one of His heroes of faith by walking out on faith, simply obeying without analyzing the circumstances. Jesus Christ is Lord of our circumstances and can transform situations around us when we are obedient. All Christ asks of us is to take the step set before us and then to trust. We can feel fear and follow anyway. This is another way to be a hero of faith.
3. Aaron Swaverly in Pennsylvania followed his grandmother’s funeral procession and heard the pastor speak eloquently of Grandma’s love and prayer touched everyone in her small town. He said, "If she knew you, odds are you were prayed for."
But what struck Aaron most was the pastor’s comment regarding her family: "If it were possible, she would have accepted Christ for you." Grandma knew what was important, even though she couldn't force people into a personal relationship with Christ. Like the great heroes of the faith in Hebrews 11, Grandma simply did what she knew best by praying for and showing love to everyone she met. She loved God, and she wasn't afraid to share God's love with others.
Like that Grandma biblical heroes of faith were just ordinary people - like you and me. Although our faith may be small, God hears our prayers and sees our loving actions. Then God's divine touch increases the power of all that we do in faith. Here is another way you can be a hero of faith.
4. Ever since Robert Ray’s wife died he has compared his life to Abraham who was called by God to leave his home and journey to a strange land where he would establish a new nation. By faith, Abraham obeyed God's call. He departed from Ur of the Chaldees and journeyed to the land of Canaan; by doing so he fulfilled God's plan for his life.
Now Robert is a widower and he has been traveling in strange territory. But he believes that the Lord's promise to Jeremiah also applies to himself: "For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope" (Jeremiah 29:11).
These words hold meaning for all of us. Is God calling you to leave familiar surroundings and journey into some strange territory of the body or of the spirit? If so, remember Abraham. Because he obeyed, God was able to use him for God's great plan to bring blessings to many generations. You can be a hero of faith by imitating other heroes of faith as Robert is doing.
5. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1). Whenever you write to a friend abroad and mail the letter or send an email message or dial the telephone call that is an exercise in trust and faith. It’s impractical or impossible for you to deliver many of these messages by yourself to another city, country, or continent. So, you need the postal service, the internet or the telephone company. They you have to trust that others will take the letter to its final destination. Your faith and my faith in and experience with those other services allow us to expect that the message or call will be delivered, although you cannot actually see what happens to it.
Likewise, whenever we are faced with a problem, our faith in and experience with God can help us. Faith Katsonga of Mutare, Zimbabwe says that this is how her problems seem at first impossible to resolve, but when we can ask God for help – when we trust enough to send a message in prayer and then let go of the situation and place it into God's hands, while trusting that God will solve it - then even though we may not see what God is doing, the message is delivered and received. Since our faith is "the evidence of things not seen," we know that God's work will be accomplished.
Let us pray. Dear Heavenly Father, we are a mixture of faithful and unfaithful heroes. I stumble and fail to trust You like these other heroes we’ve talked about today. But Dear Father, You are faithful beyond my faith. Your faith is enough to fill us all with faith for the living of these days. Bring us to Your kingdom in faith and trust in You, because You love us more than we could possibly love ourselves. Conquer our hearts and our lack of faith. In the precious name of Jesus Christ our Lord, in whom we believe - Lord help us in our unbelief, Amen.
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