Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.
By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what is visible.
By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain. By faith he was commended as a righteous man. And by faith he still speaks.
By faith Enoch was taken from this life without dying. He wasn't found bc God took him. Before he was taken he was commended as one who pleased God.
It is impossible to please God without faith bc anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
By faith Noah when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world & became heir of the righteousness that comes by 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. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country.
He lived in tents as did Isaac & Jacob who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations whose architect & builder is God.
By faith Abraham, even though he was old & Sarah was barren, was enabled to become a father bc he considered him faithful who had made the promise that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars & countless as the sand on the seashore.
All these people were still living in faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised. They only saw them & welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens & strangers on earth.
People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had the opportunity to return. Instead they were longing for a better country- a heavenly one.
Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God for he has prepared a city for them.
Hebrews 11
Hebrews 11
