Without faith it is impossible to please God – Hebrews 11:6

The author of Hebrews is making the point that no matter how great the promises of God seem to us, they can only be fully realized in obedience to His Word. This means that it is not enough for people to believe in God–they must also trust in His character, His integrity, His Word, and His ability.

The writer gave several examples of men who lived on this principle and were commended by God. All of them refused what the world calls greatness and staked everything on God–and history proved their faithfulness.

He begins the next section by telling the readers that they are in the same position as these men were in when it comes to living on this principle: they have to live by faith.

And this is not just any faith, it’s radical faith. It is a faith that knows that God exists, it’s a faith that believes He is a rewarder of those who seek Him, and it’s a faith that genuinely trusts in His promise and will.

It’s faith that puts everything into God’s hands–our lives, our families, our finances, our jobs, and our relationships. It’s faith that carries us through the difficult times in life and teaches us to be patient and kind with others.

And it’s faith that helps us fight off the fear of death and gives us hope for the future. It’s faith that enables us to do the hard work of loving and serving God and His people, and it’s faith that brings us to the fullness of life in Christ.