Faith is the substance…

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

Hebrews 11:1  (KJV)

The writer of the New Testament book of Hebrews begins his very famous “faith” chapter with this beautiful poetic couplet describing “faith”.   As much as I loved the lyrical, promising sound of these memorized words, the meaning for many years escaped me.  For, faith itself has no physical substance to be touched or examined so how can it be “substance” and “evidence”?

 A while back, I had a conversation with one of my siblings concerning an event from our childhood.  He described the event to me in great detail… who was there, what transpired, where it happened, and what was said.  The moment he presented to me was very intense, even traumatic for a child. But, while he has a very clear recollection of the happening, I can not recall it.  He persisted in trying to nudge my brain into remembering by providing more details such as what clothing someone was wearing and what the weather was like that day.  However, I still drew a blank.  We almost fell into the “Did not!”,  “Did too!”  arguments of our youth, but thankfully were mature enough to stop at “agree to disagree” on this event.

For my brother, this past event was very real.  His memory not only provided the substance of the details for this incident but also gave evidence to the validity of the events.   On the other hand, as I searched my brain for some corroboration, I found nothing to support that his story was an actual occurrence.  He possessed a “memory”– something in his mind that, though invisible, gave him the proof that the circumstance that he relayed to me was the truth.  I did not possess anything of substance, invisible or seen, to lend credence to the tale.  If you think of memories that you have, you could make a statement something like, “now my memories are the substance of things I’ve accomplished, the evidence of my past.”

In Hebrews 11:1, faith is called a substance of things hoped for.  In the same way that a memory provides an invisible, yet real, “something” to give you assurance of  your past experiences, faith gives an invisible, yet real, “something” to give assurance of a future hope.  For those who have faith in God and the Lord, Jesus Christ (like the faith of those listed in the ensuing verses of Hebrews Chapter 11), there is a confidence that eternity is secure, there is assurance in the invisible workings of God.  However, those without faith find such certainty to be incredible and unbelievable.  They do not possess the unseen substance and evidence.

Hebrews 11:3 uses creation as an example of how this invisible thing called “faith” works in us.  “By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.”    Those who possess faith can understand that the creation came about through the word of God!  On the other hand, both in the first century, when these words were written to the Hebrews, as well as today we see that without “faith”, this concept seems impossible.  Faith provides the substance and evidence for an understanding of Almighty God speaking the world into existence.  In the same way, faith provides an internal assurance of eternal things hoped for.

I would caution you not to take this analogy between “memory” and “faith” too far, because a memory is based on a  human work or activity, detailing a human event, and stored in a human brain.  And, as such, memories can be misleading, inaccurate, and even invented or lost due to illness, time, or trauma.  Because of this reality, I have no way of knowing whose memory is faulty in the situation between my brother and I.   There is no outside, objective reference for simple daily memories.

Faith, however, comes from God, and is based on the work of God.  Faith is part of the free gift of salvation.

     “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:   Not of works, lest any man should boast.”  Ephesians 2:8-9  (KJV)

Faith is based on the unchanging word of God.   (For a wonderful, thorough explanation of this verse see this article by C.H. Spurgeon, “How Can I Obtain Faith?”)

      “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”  Romans 10:17 (NKJV)  

Faith is pleasing to God.

      “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV)

Faith is the substance of things hoped for…  

With Joy,

Kathleen

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