Faith World

Read Hebrews 10-13

I can understand why people would have trouble believing in a God that would design a world where people would have to wait to get to heaven to be happy. Sure, we can’t be happy all the time, and bad things happen, but the God that created us didn’t plan to just bless us in heaven, and He proved it. He sent Jesus Christ to this earth to bless us!

Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities. Acts 3:26

Jesus Christ blesses us by cleansing us from, and turning us away from our sins, which are very, very bad for us. A life of faith in Christ will certainly give us little glimpses of heaven here on this earth. One of the things Jesus taught us to pray to our Father in heaven is. . .

Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven Matthew 6:10

For this blog’s sake and to get a very important point across, I will refer to the life of faith that Christians live in as . . .faith world. The construction of this faith world can be found from Genesis to Revelation.

In the book of Hebrews, we have a definition of this faith.

faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.. . Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. Hebrews 11:1-3

This faith world is framed by the word of God and the people that live in it are called Christians because they follow Jesus Christ, the Word of God. This is what Jesus told Thomas about these people.

Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. John 20:29

Believing in the unseen can seem very strange to the people of this world. They cannot see the things of faith, because they do not allow the authority of God’s Word in their lives.

What are some things of faith world? Eternal Life, abundant life, righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, to name a few.

Let’s briefly take a look at the construction of faith world. Let’s look at Noah. Most everyone knows about Noah, but not everyone believes his story. Noah had a lot to do in helping to build up this faith world that Christians are so blessed to live in today, because he too, believed in something he could not see, he acted upon it, and saved his family. Even though it had never rained before, he believed what God told him about the flood.

By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. Hebrews 11:7 

I’m pretty sure the people of his day thought Noah was. . .out there.

Abraham also helped build faith world. God told him to leave everything he had ever known and go to a strange land, a place like he had never seen before. . .to be blessed and to be a blessing.

By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country. . .Hebrews 11:8-9

Faith world is a lot like that. Have you ever heard, take a leap of faith? Faith world is different than this world. In this world, we have to know everything before we act. In faith world, sometimes we’re not given everything, we just take that first step, than step after step after that. . .obeying God. These faith steps lead to blessings.

What was the original word from God about Abraham’s land of promise?

Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: Genesis 12:1-2

Moses also helped build faith world. He did something strange. He left a life of prestige and luxury to be with the people of God.

By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. Hebrews 11:24-27 

Leaving wealth and notoriety is a strange move, and doesn’t make a lot of sense to people that base their lives upon, well money. Moses left visible treasures for invisible treasures. Christians do too. That’s not to say that Christians cannot be blessed financially, but they do not base their lives upon money.

Jesus did teach. . .

No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. Matthew 6:24

When the Red Sea seemed to be blocking the way to the land flowing with milk and honey, Moses based his actions on what God had promised. God moved the sea over and His people walked right on through, but when the Egyptians tried to go through, they were all drowned in the same sea that just saved God’s people.

And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace. Exodus 14:13-14

By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned. Hebrews 11:29

We read in the Holy Bible, account after account of people that lived in faith world and every account leads to and builds up to the life of Jesus Christ and faith in and by Him! 

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith. Romans 1:16-17

So it is faith in all that God the Father has done for mankind by and through Christ Jesus that is the substance that Christians base their entire lives upon.

And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. 1 John 5:11-15

And because God is love, this faith world is like heaven, because God lives there.

That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Ephesians 3:17-19

Christians do not ‘fit in’ because they do not get their instructions from this world, but from God.

… let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. Hebrews 12:1-4

Christians are scorned and criticized, but if they seek the approval of God rather than man, they will be rewarded.

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Hebrews 11:6

And like Moses, Christians have respect unto that reward.

Like Moses, they choose to suffer affliction with the people of God, rather than enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; they esteem the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in this world.

Prayer

Lord, thank you for our beautiful Savior in whom we trust to save us from our sins and give us a beautiful life. May we never sell out or compromise with the world. May we always give heed to Your Word. May we seek Your heavenly kingdom every day of our lives. Give us grace, so we may serve You as we should, and if we should ever slip into sin, help us lay it down immediately and run to your grace. In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord we pray~Amen