Blog

Hebrews 11:1 – “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

If you have heard that verse before, maybe it looks a little odd to you?

Here is a more common translation, “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen.”

Is it me, or does the first translation feel more compelling? Why is that?

Isn’t it amazing how when we use another word to express the same idea, it can create a very different sense of impact and response?

Both translations are accurate, and both have deep value in helping us get parts of the idea being expressed. Sometimes our Bible reading or surfacey devotionals can leave us with very FLAT expressions of a very powerful idea or promise God has shared with us.

Look at the words “assurance” and “conviction.”
When you are assured, when you are SURE of something – how do you approach that idea or situation?
When you are convicted, when you are PROVOKED in a good way – how do you engage life differently?

See this passage is not just about some mystical phrasing that makes us think in some hyper “stone-head” philosophical haze – “like whoa man, if I have faith I might touch some invisible furniture God left lying around, or maybe...maybe I can blink my eyes and like bring a new car into my existence...”

NO WAY! This passage is straight up in your face, that if we truly believe in Christ, we will be rock-solid confident that God’s in charge and caffeine jitter-like motivated to live out what God wants to do in and through our lives.

So if we are not SURE about God’s presence, power, and plan, and we are not rattling the fences to get out into the streets and live for Him, then we need to get real with God. We need to start digging out the roots of unholy fear that have us unsure and sedated - or maybe you are an angry fear addict, and you are defensive and agitated at everything. Either way, any FEAR that has control of even the smallest hook in us, will REPEL us from God’s plan and set us out on what we think is a safer one. It will cut into even the most well-intentioned effort, and suck the life out of it at the most perfect time for Satan to dismantle any good we attempted.

If you need a mentor, or a counselor, or a friend to help you dig out your fear – pray and find one. Go after the roots of fear. Don’t let it sit there festering and growing.

If you want motivation – read the rest of Hebrews 11, (and the whole stories of those mentioned) and see what a life propelled by faith in God can look like!

If you want God to show you the next steps of His calling – wait, listen, pray, fast, and prepare. He will not let you miss it if you are living by faith.