Faith

"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1

This starts what is called the roll-call of faith as the author of Hebrews mentions the faith of Abel, Enoch, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses and Rahab as well as the people who crossed the Red Sea and those who saw the walls of Jericho fall. This is just a small sampling of the Old Testament people who "though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised" (Hebrews 11:39) as they looked forward to the hope of Christ.

One of the most remarkable of these to me is Enoch who "was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists AND that He rewards those who seek Him." (Hebrews 11:5-6 emphasis added).

Hebrews 11:3 says, "By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of what is visible." Does that poke a hole in the Big Bang Theory? Just asking. (And as an aside, the word of God=Jesus. John 1:1-14)

Paul, in 2 Corinthians 5:1-7, says "For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens...He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee...for we walk by faith, not by sight."

The apostles said to Jesus, "Increase our faith!" That is my request as well. Increase my faith, Lord, that I may walk in complete assurance of who I am in You, looking forward to the day when this "tent" is destroyed and I stand with You as Your sister and fellow heir.