Faith is an amazing thing that the Lord has created. I am amazed of it’s biblical definition and it’s importance with God (Hebrews 11:1) (Hebrews 11:6). So when it comes to reading about faith in the life of a saint, or watching it lived out in the presence of others, I stand in awe of the Lord’s work in them. To recognize one’s faith is a big deal, especially if that person’s faith is recorded forever in God’s Scripture. Just think of how Timothy’s faith was for Paul to acknowledge Him in (2 Timothy 1:5). There are others listed in the closing pages of a few of the epistles. What would the Scriptures say if it was our faith that was recorded in the pages of Scripture? Would it seem as valiant, as amazing, or even as devoted? Just meditate on (Hebrews 11:32-38) today.
There is not enough time for the author to describe the faith of others in detail, but what the author of Hebrews does is describes the what faith is to look like in the life of the believer. Through faith, people such as these…….
1. Subdued kingdoms (Joshua 12:7-24) (2 Samuel 5:4-25) (2 Samuel 8:1-14)
2. Worked righteousness (1 Samuel 12:4) (2 Samuel 8:15) (1 Kings 3:28)
3. Obtained promises (Joshua 21:43-45) (Joshua23:14)
4. Stopped the mouth of lions (Judges 14:6) (1 Samuel 17:34-37) (Daniel 6:21-22)
5. Quenched the violence of fire (Daniel 3:23-25)
6. Escaped the edge of the sword (1 Samuel 23:19-29) (1 Kings 19:8-10) (2 Kings 6:31-32)
7. Out of weakness were made strong (Judges 16:29-30) (Isaiah 38:1-8)
8. Became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of aliens (1 Samuel 17:50) (2 Chronicles 20:1-30) (2 Kings 19:1-36)
9. Women received their dead raised to life again (1 Kings 17:17-24) (2 Kings 4:8-37)
10. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance in order to obtain a better resurrection
11. Others had trials of mockings – scourgings – chains and imprisonment (1 Kings 22:24-28) (Jeremiah 20:1-3) (Jeremiah 37:11-21) (Jeremiah 38:1-13)
12. Some were stoned (2 Chronicles 24:20-22)
13. Some were sawn in two, tradition says this is referring to Isaiah the prophet
14. Some were tempted (Daniel 1:8-21)
15. Some were slain with the sword (Jeremiah 26:20-23)
16. Some wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins (2 Kings 1:8)
17. Some were destitute, afflicted, and even tormented (2 Kings 17:1-6) (2 Kings 18:9-10)
Wow! What a testimony to what faith truly produces in the life of a believer. Lord may our testimony rise to such heightsas the times of your return draws near.