November 26th - Reflection

Hebrews 11:1-7 (NRSV)
Noah acts in faith

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.


By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain's. Through this he received approval as righteous, God himself giving approval to his gifts; he died, but through his faith he still speaks. By faith Enoch was taken so that he did not experience death; and "he was not found, because God had taken him." For it was attested before he was taken away that "he had pleased God." And without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would approach him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. By faith Noah, warned by God about events as yet unseen, respected the warning and built an ark to save his household; by this he condemned the world and became an heir to the righteousness that is in accordance with faith.

Reflection
Faith deals with two things...things hoped for...and things not seen. It is by faith that when we hear God's call we take that step towards God in response. We can't really see or know towards what or whom we are taking that step.

Old Testament priests took a step towards the altar, sacrifice in hand. But what or to whom do we take our step forward towards? We need faith to take that step. We take that step towards God for things hoped for and things not seen. We step towards God because we believe God exists and we believe that God brings hope to our lives. We take our first step towards God in faith.

Through God's Word, all the universe was created. We can see, hear, touch, taste, smell and even measure things present. But all things present that we know of were created through God's Word. Faith is the basis of things seen and not seen. Faith is that one condition of which all endures and lasts. Faith brings together the world we live in and the spiritual world, making them one.

Through faith we hear God's Word through the prophets, through the Bible, through pastors and preachers and through one another. God's Word became flesh in Jesus and God's Word takes flesh in us. In the gift of Jesus the seen and the not seen were united. Through Jesus, the gift of faith brings us the hope of a future and the hope of all things we cannot see at this time.

So through faith we believe God exists and we are called and set apart to draw near to God, because God never fails us. Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Lord, as I reflect on the faith of so many people past, present and yet to come; may faith grow in me that my first step towards you may have that hope for things not seen and the fulfillment of your presence in my life. --- Amen