For example, before starting his run toward the bar, the hero jumper rocks back and forth for a brief moment, and stares at the bar which is suspended more than 6 feet above the ground. In his mind he is seeing each step he plans on taking toward that bar, sees his right foot kick hero above his head and watches as his body follows, arching his back to clear the bar. After successfully seeing this on the monitor screen of his mind, the track star begins his run into what he hopes will be a place in the record books of international track competition. What he sees in his mind becomes a reality witnessed by millions, and that, we are told, is called "faith".

Some Christian teachers, those who represent that segment of the church we can refer to as the "hyper faith movement," and who teach the "health/wealth" and the "prosperity gospel," have capitalized on this idea and promoted the idea that "visualizing" is the same as having faith. One such teacher, Kenneth Copeland, teaches that Christians "have the same creative faith and ability on the inside . . . that God used when he created the heavens and the earth." He then uses an inner picture of an 82-foot yacht that will transform into reality in the Holy of Holies in heaven, where it developed into an actual, physical object. "Any image that you get down on the inside of you that is so vivid when you close your eyes you see it, it'll come to pass."

Where do such teachers get this idea? From a misreading of Hebrews 11:1, which in the King James Version reads, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen."

The reason we call this a misreading is that this verse has absolutely nothing to do with bringing into existence material objects such as a yacht. The word "substance" simply means "foundation," that part of the building upon which everything else is built. All of the promises made by God regarding our salvation through Jesus Christ rest upon the foundation that is our faith.

Furthermore, this faith is not related to that which we realize in the present, but that for which we have hope - we are unable to "see" the outcome of our salvation, but, by faith, we have this inner confidence that what God has promised will truly come to pass.

When we take even a quick look at the context, it is clear that the writer is talking about "saving" faith, rather than the self-indulgent kind of so-called faith which demands that God serve up whatever our selfish desires require.

In verses 19-22 we learn that the boldness to approach God is due to the blood of Jesus which provides cleansing. Without this blood covering, we should fear the Lord who is the Judge into whose hands we do not want to fall (verses 30,31). The promise noted in verse 36 is obviously the promise of salvation given to those who do not "shrink back" but "who believe and are saved." (verse 39)

"Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water." (Hebrews 11:19-22)

"'The Lord will judge his people.' It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." (Hebrews 11:30,31)

"So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised." (Hebrews 11:35,36)

"But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved." (Hebrews 11:39)

This Great "Faith" Chapter represents a particular kind of faith, that which makes it possible to trust the Word of God about our eternal soul's salvation. It also goes along with the overriding message of the entire book.

Many people have referred to this chapter as the Christian's "Hall of Faith." Listed by the author are some of the great men and women whose names are familiar to all students of the Bible: Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses. However, please notice that while we may receive some inspiration from fellow human beings who have exhibited exemplary faithfulness to God, our gaze must be fixed on Jesus. These other mentionables are worthy "witnesses," but it is Jesus who stands as the "author and finisher of our faith." (Hebrews 12:1,2) The hope we have for eternal life is not based on how well we emulate the great historical heroes whose names are listed in this "Hall of Faith," but it is based on what Jesus did when He died on the cross and rose again.

From the teaching we have in Hebrews 11, we can make four defining statements concerning faith:

1. Faith is the certainty of God being Creator (Verse 3)

This is one of the most fundamental of all beliefs. To say, "I believe in God," is to say, "I believe He is the Creator." On the other hand, to deny that God is the Creator is to deny His very existence. This is an ongoing effort made by atheists, agnostics, humanists, and another group we call the "practical atheists." Who are they? People who say with their mouths, "I believe in God," but live their lives as though He is either dead, absent, or only good to have around when there is a big problem or urgent need. To believe that God is the Creator goes far beyond seeing Him as the heavenly bail-bondsman or Santa Clause, the one who we call to get them out of trouble, or the unseen dispenser of blessings. Faith recognizes that, as Paul said, "`For in him we live and move and have our being." (Acts 17:28) He supervises what he has created, and holds us accountable. (Romans 14:12 - "each of us will give an account of himself to God.")

Some here will remember, it was in the mid fifties when the German philosopher Frederich Neitze got off the plane in New York and declared, "God is dead." Of course that caused a great stir which still echoes in our day. Just a few years ago a wealthy American businessman placed large billboard messages on the heroways around some of our major cities. They were short sayings printed with large white letters on black background - here's a couple of examples:

"Lets meet at my house Sunday before the game." - God
"What part of `thou shalt not' didn't you understand." - God
"Don't make me come down there." - God.

But the one I liked the best said, "Neitze is dead." - God

Thomas Aquinas, a Catholic Theologian who lived between 1225 and 1274, reportedly made the statement, "I believe because I understand," and he went on to give what he believed to be rational proofs of the existence of God.

However, we would rather agree with the earlier statement of Augustine (354-430) who put it this way, "I believe, therefore I understand." We start with this reasonable belief in God as Creator, accepting as fact what cannot be fully known by our senses.

2. Faith is pleasing God (Verses 4-6)

We learn this from the stories of two of the early faith heroes. Why was Abel favored? (Verse 4) His offering pleased God, not only because he understood the need for a blood sacrifice, but because his heart was right with God. And Enoch's sudden disappearance came about for the same reason, his fellowship with God was pleasing to God. ("Enoch walked with God" - Genesis 5:24)

Notice the double negative in the statement in verse 6 - "without faith it is impossible to please God" - phrasing it in the positive, it would simply say, "faith pleases God."

To put it another way, people of faith demonstrate that faith by making every effort to please God rather than self. We remember II Timothy 3:4 where Paul predicted that in the last days people would be "lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God."

When James declares, "faith without works is dead," he is saying that true faith is an active faith, it does those things which are pleasing to God.

3. Faith is future oriented (Verses 7-31)

This idea is clearly supported by reference to several of the people listed in this chapter:

Noah prepared for the future rain. (Verse 7)
Abraham looked forward to a future city (Verse 10) and a future son. (Verse 11)
Isaac and Jacob looked forward to future blessings. (Verses 20, 21)
Joseph wanted his bones carried to a future burial site. (Verse 22)
Moses looked forward to a future reward. (Verse 26)
The Jericho band looked forward to the future collapse of the walls. (Verse 30)
Many other faith heroes accomplished much for God while others died trying - they "were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised." (Verse 39)

Our pragmatic western way of thinking asks, what good is faith that doesn't yield tangible results? Well, sometimes faith does yield such results, and you can take the blessing to the bank. However, for people who truly believe, present blessings are not of paramount importance, it's the future that matters.

Faith is being sure that what has been promised will be provided, and a willingness to let everything else go, even life itself.

Last Monday a couple of us were at Brian's house to watch the football game. During half-time, he wanted to demonstrate his unique sound system, so he popped in a couple DVDs. One of them was a movie about King Arthur and Camelot, and we watched the opening scene when Lancelot, after winning a couple of sword fights, shared his secret of success with the man he just defeated.

"You have to study your opponent, how he moves, so you know what he's going to do before he does it."

Mark, his defeated opponent who wanted to learn how to be a better swordsman, replied, "I can do that."

"You have to know that one moment in every fight when you win or lose, and you have to know how to wait for it."

Again Mark said, "I can do that."

Then Lancelot gave his final tip, "And you have to not care whether you live or die."

Silence.

To affirm that faith is future oriented spits in the wind of the current American culture that believes that only the "now" is important. Existentialism says that this present moment is all there is, and hedonism takes it to its logical conclusion, "Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die." The outcome of this is that there's little gratitude towards those who have gone before, sacrificing years, if not life itself so that we today could enjoy abundant blessings, and certainly there's little or no thought about the consequences today's actions may have on tomorrow or the next generation - it's the pleasure of the moment that's all important. Christianity suddenly loses it's popularity when it despises the present in favor of the promised, future salvation.

4. Finally, faith is faithfulness, i.e., steadfastness and perseverance.

Notice how this chapter is bracketed by the last verse of 10 and the first of 12 - instead of "shrinking" back (10:39), we "run with perseverance the race marked out for us." (12:1)

In fact, this is a theme which runs through the entire book of Hebrews. Immediately following the opening exaltation of Christ in chapter 1, chapter 2 opens with these words, "We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away."

And listen to what the author says in 3:14: "We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first." This brings to mind the words of Jesus, who at least on two different occasions said, "He that endureth to the end shall be saved." (Matthew 10:22; 24:13) Jesus also said, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God." (Luke 9:62)

Within the Greek word for faith, "pistis," can be found two meanings, faith and faithfulness. The point is, faith is at the heart of faithfulness; without strong faith, faithfulness will wane, weariness will take over, and apostasy will be the result.

Near the end of our Great Chapter, the author includes a number of people whose stories he doesn't have time to tell, some named, others unnamed. Some of these were victorious, others persecuted even to death, but what they all had in common was that they remained faithful to the end, even though they did not receive the full benefit of the promised salvation. "These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised." (11:39)

When Jesus was teaching His disciples the importance of perseverance in prayer, He ended with this probing question, "When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?" (Luke 18:8)

Would you be willing to have this question personalized? Will He find faith in you?

Is yours a faith that simply accepts God as Creator? seeks to please Him in every aspect of your life? content to wait for a future fulfillment of the promise? and determined to persevere regardless of the temptation, distraction or persecution?

1. What are some reasons we should not confuse "visualizing" with "faith"?

2. We know that we are created in the image of God. Does that mean we can do everything that He can do?

3. What is the meaning of the word "substance" in Hebrews 11:1 (KJV)

4. What kind of faith is the writer talking about in Hebrews 11?

5. What difference is there between looking to the "witnesses," and looking to Jesus? (Hebrews 12:1,2)

6. What are the four defining statements about faith from Hebrews 11?

7. Can it be proved that God is the Creator?

8. Thomas Aquinas said "I believe because I understand." What slight but important change did he make to the earlier statement of Augustine?

9. According to Hebrews 11:6, what is required to please God?

10. If faith doesn't yield immediate results, what good is it?

11. What is the relationship between "existentialism" and "hedonism"?

12. What are the two meanings of the Greek word, "pistis"?

13. What is your personal answer the question, "When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"