What is Faith?

"Faith means being sure of the things we hope for

and knowing that something is real, even if we do not see it.

It's by faith that we understand

that the whole world was made by God's command.

It was by faith that Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did.

Abel died, but through his faith,

he is still speaking.

It was by faith that Noah heard Gods' warnings
about things he could not yet see.

By his faith, Noah showed that the world was wrong.

It was by faith that Abraham obeyed God's call to go to another place.

He left his own country, not knowing where he was to go

[and] waited for the city that has real foundations --
 the city planned and built by God.

It was by faith that Abraham was made able to become a father,

because he trusted God to do what He had promised.

[Even though] this man was so old he was almost dead,
From him came as many descendants as there are stars in the sky.

It was by faith that Moses' parents hid him for 3 months after he was born.

It was by faith that Moses, when he grew up, refused to be called
the son of the king of Egypt's daughter.

He chose to suffer with God's people instead...

It was by faith that he left Egypt and was not afraid of the king's anger.

It was by faith that Moses prepared the Passover and spread the blood
on the doors so the one who brings death
would not kill the firstborn sons of Israel.

It was by faith that the people crossed the Red Sea as if it were dry land.

It was by faith that the walls of Jericho fell
after the people had marched around them for seven days.

It was by faith that Rahab, a prostitute, welcomed the spies
 and was not killed with those who refused to obey God.

Do I need to give more examples?

Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, Daniel....

Through their faith they defeated kingdoms.

They did what was right, received God's promises,
and shut the mouths of lions.

They stopped great fires

and were saved from being killed by swords.

They were weak

and yet were made strong.

They were powerful in battle and defeated their armies.

They were tortured...
some were laughed at and beaten.

Otheres were put in chains and thrown into prison.

They were stoned to death, cut in half, and killed with swords.

They were poor, abused, and treated badly.

They wandered in deserts and mountains,

living in caves and holes in the earth.

We have around us many people whose lives tell us what faith means.

So let us run the race that is before us and never give up.

Let us look only to Jesus, the one who began our faith

and made it perfect.

So do not get tired.

And do not stop trying."

And like those before you,

hold on tight to your faith.
It will mend your broken heart
and make it new.

(Hebrews, Chapters 11 and 12.)

What Faith Can Do, by Kutless