Hebrews 11:1-2
“Now faith is the certainty of things hoped for, a proof of things not seen. For by it the people of old gained approval.”
Thoughts from Pastor Stuart
Dive Deeper
Behind the Scenes
I’ve always wrestled with this verse. It’s used a lot to explain faith, and yet, for much of my Christian walk, I didn’t really understand what it was saying. See, I always wrestled with the idea that my faith could be the proof of what I did not see. It seemed like circular reasoning, almost to say that my belief in something was the proof I should believe in it. And I’ve heard others who struggle with faith say the same sort of thing.
We know that scripture is true and trustworthy. So, it’s important for us to keep wrestling it out when we hit passages like this that we can’t grasp or understand. I truly believe that God wants us to wrestle with Him, that He wants us to bring all our doubts and fears to Him and ask Him the hard questions. Because that’s the only way for us to find answers.
I’m what a mentor of mine affectionately called a “word buzzard.” I pick things apart. I love digging in and understanding the nuances of Scripture and the original languages it was written in. Sometimes, this tendency can get me distracted. But often, it helps me to get past the hurdle of cultural differences, language barriers, and details that get lost in the mix. It causes me to slow down in my study of God’s word and really ask the question, “what is this really saying?”
As I wrestled through this passage and picked it apart, I stumbled upon the definition for the word that is translated “certainty” here. In the Greek, it is hypostasis. Maybe you’ve heard that word used before. It’s actually a word that is used in medicine a lot. When we break the word down, we get a better picture of what it means: hypo- to be under, stasis- to stand. So literally translated it means to stand under. It encompasses the idea of a foundation, the solid base on which something is built. It’s this idea of foundational truth and reality.
So, take that definition and insert it into the text… Now it would read, “Faith is the certain and firm foundation of things hoped for…” Do you see the difference? It’s not that I believe in it because I believe in it. It’s not the circular reasoning I once wrestled with. Instead, this verse is saying that my faith in Christ is worthy to be the foundation on which I build my hopes because it is built on the foundation of Christ. My faith is the proof of things unseen because it is built on the Great I AM! It’s not faith for the sake of faith. It’s faith built on the immovable, unshakable rock of Jesus!
Make it Real
It’s important for us to understand this verse because if we are building our faith or placing our hopes on anything other than Jesus, we will always be disappointed. See, we all too often try to build our lives on our own strength, wisdom, understanding, and accomplishments. We have hopes and dreams that we pile upon foundations of sand and then wonder why they crumble when the storms of life come our way.
That takes us to the second half of this passage. Once we understand what real faith looks like- built on the rock of Jesus and not of our own making- we are able to gain the approval of God. See, His approval comes when we build our lives on Him and not ourselves. It’s not based on us being good enough, strong enough, wise enough, or even Christian enough. The approval of God is based 100% on the foundation of Christ and Christ alone. It comes through the faithful surrender and reliance on the foundation that cannot be shaken.
Hear this, my friend: On your own, you will never be enough. You can build all day long, but your foundation will crumble, and all your deeds will sink into the sand. You will be tossed by every passing storm and your kingdom will fail.
But when you build your life and your faith on Jesus, you cannot be anything less than enough. Jesus is what makes you enough. And on that foundation you can build a faith that stands firm through the storms of life and stands as not only a safe place for you to rest your hopes and dreams, but also stands as a beacon of proof for all the world to see. Built on the foundation of Christ, your faith and mine become solid, real, and strong.
I challenge you today to ask yourself what foundation you are trying to build your life on? Is it success, esteem, accomplishment, money, popularity, reliability, or wisdom? Or are you building your life on the immovable rock of Jesus Christ? It’s easy to give the “right” answer to this question. But really take a minute to evaluate- what are you putting your hope and faith in? How are you preparing for the storms of life coming your way?
Crystal Garnett
ACF Digital Discipleship Team Lead
End in Prayer
Jesus, my Rock and my Deliverer. Thank You for being my foundation. Thank You for being sure, strong, and immovable. Thank You that I can rest my hopes and dreams safely on the foundation of your faithfulness and goodness. Thank You that I can build my life upon You and know that You will keep me strong through all the storms of life. Help me to turn away from any foundation other than You. Help me to recognize when I am foolishly building on a foundation of my own making. Teach me to identify those faulty foundations in my life and replace them with You.
In Jesus Name,
Amen!