Go Chapter 11

In today’s failing economy it’s tempting to go Chapter 11. In fact, the worse things get the more important it is to go to chapter 11; Hebrews chapter 11 that is …

the Apostle Paul, writer of the book of Hebrews, get’s to the eleventh chapter of this letter and lays out what we call the “Hall of faith”. Faithful individuals whom God wants showcased in His Word.

Heb. 11:1-16 “ The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see.

The act of faith is what distinguished our ancestors, set them above the crowd.

By faith, we see the world called into existence by God’s word, what we see created by what we don’t see.

By an act of faith, Abel brought a better sacrifice to God than Cain. It was what he believed, not what he brought, that made the difference. That’s what God noticed and approved as righteous. After all these centuries, that belief continues to catch our notice.

By an act of faith, Enoch skipped death completely. “They looked all over and couldn’t find him because God had taken him.” We know on the basis of reliable testimony that before he was taken “he pleased God.”

It’s impossible to please God apart from faith. And why? Because anyone who wants to approach God must believe both that he exists and that he cares enough to respond to those who seek him.

By faith, Noah built a ship in the middle of dry land. He was warned about something he couldn’t see, and acted on what he was told. The result? His family was saved. His act of faith drew a sharp line between the evil of the unbelieving world and the rightness of the believing world. As a result, Noah became intimate with God.

By an act of faith, Abraham said yes to God’s call to travel to an unknown place that would become his home. When he left he had no idea where he was going.

By an act of faith he lived in the country promised him, lived as a stranger camping in tents. Isaac and Jacob did the same, living under the same promise.

Abraham did it by keeping his eye on an unseen city with real, eternal foundations—the City designed and built by God.

By faith, barren Sarah was able to become pregnant, old woman as she was at the time, because she believed the One who made a promise would do what he said.

That’s how it happened that from one man’s dead and shriveled loins there are now people numbering into the millions.

Each one of these people of faith died not yet having in hand what was promised, but still believing. How did they do it? They saw it way off in the distance, waved their greeting, and accepted the fact that they were transients in this world.

People who live this way make it plain that they are looking for their true home.

If they were homesick for the old country, they could have gone back any time they wanted.

But they were after a far better country than that—heaven country. You can see why God is so proud of them, and has a City waiting for them.

C.S. Lewis called christians “spiritual amphibians” because like the real amphibians of this world, we live in two worlds; a natural world and a spiritual world. Most of our existance, percentage wise will be lived in the spiritual realm and a tiny portion lived out in this physical realm of food, clothing, shelter etc.

Honestly, what is seventy to eighty years compared to eternal life, right ? However our Father still created us with a physical body with physical needs and promises to meet those needs. (Matt. 6:26 Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds. )

Heb. 11:1 ¶ The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see.

Faith is our handle on what we can’t see, get that, grab it, hold on to it !! You can’t see God’s blessing around the corner but they are coming. He promises it. (Rom. 8:28 That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.)

Hand over your life to God, if you haven’t all ready. He is a much better driver than you will ever be and He can transform these trials into blessing faster than you can imagine if you allow your heart to be touched through the trial. That is what He, our God is after … each and every one of our hearts.

So when you find yourself feeling poor, lack of money, lack of time, bankrupt mentally or emotionally … go chapter 11; Hebrews 11 and read about all those who held strong to their faith in the one who allows the trials and transforms them into blessings just as soon as He sees the change in our hearts or minds He was trying to achieve. Remember, if God puts you in a hole it’s because He wants to you look straight up, not at your own feet.

Are you looking up at the One who is mightier than your situation or trying to convince yourself that your situation is still mightier than the Creator of the universe ?

A single person siding with God is a majority in God’s economy and will win. Find God, find your faith, go Chapter 11 Hebrews with God. Be a “faith follower and become a “faith leader”.

in His service, Dave Cadieux