Making the Right Choice

This week our Thursday morning Bible class studied from Hebrews Chapter 11, and we only got through the first seven verses! That’s OK. Our discussions helped me grow. It amazes me how I can study a passage many times and still gain something from it.

Hebrews 11:1 gives us a definition of faith. “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

We are sure we will receive what we hope for -that is the promises of God. We are convinced of things we cannot see –not only the promises, but the very existence of God.

Verse 3 says “By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.” Think about that. It is mind-blowing, isn’t it?

What we see was made by things we cannot see. God literally spoke the universe into existence. “And God said let there be light, and there was light” (Genesis 1:3).

If we bake a cake, we do it from things we can see and touch. We don’t just say “Let there be a cake.” It does not work that way. Only God can create by merely speaking.

We also discussed Abel, Enoch, and Noah. They are the first three people mentioned in this chapter who had great faith. Why these three?

Abel offered to God (v.4). Enoch pleased God (v.5). Noah constructed an ark (v.7). They are mentioned because they did something. They followed God’s instructions because they believed what He told them.

Abel offered a pleasing sacrifice because God had instructed him what to sacrifice. Enoch could only have pleased God by believing and doing what he said.

We know this because of Hebrews 11:6 – “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”

I never thought about Enoch and verse 6 being related, until we studied together Thursday. Isn’t that crazy? It makes perfect sense, but I just never connected it with Enoch. The Holy Spirit inspired the writer to insert this verse so we could understand exactly how Enoch pleased God. It was because of his faith.

What about Noah? He was warned of God about something the world had never seen – a flood. No one had ever seen a flood, but Noah believed what God said anyway. He built the ark out of reverence for God. Noah held God in the highest esteem and was in awe of His power.

Noah, Enoch, and Abel all acted on their faith and obeyed God. They made the right choice.

We all have a choice. Will we make the right one?

Christ above all things - Robin