Faith in the Vision | Heroes of Faith Series Pt 4

In Hebrews 11, we see the story of a man make a drastic move that many would call unwise. What was it about this move that demonstrated his great faith in God? What helped him to keep his faith in God? Join us to find out.

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It has been almost five years since the last episode of this podcast. I felt a strong need to return to it because God has been reminding me of this work for several months. We are continuing a conversation started years ago about the heroes of faith found in Hebrews chapter 11.

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise.
-Hebrews 11:8-9 (ESV)

In Hebrews 11, Abraham is commended for his faith simply for moving. He obeyed when he was called to go to a place he would receive as an inheritance. He went out without knowing where he was going.

Moving Without a Map

God did not give Abraham specific directions like “go 30 clicks this way” or “turn north”. He just told him to go. While the Lord told him the end result, that he would become a great nation, He did not tell him exactly where he was headed.

Stepping out when you are unsure what the result will look like is a scary step for anyone. Abraham had to make a move and shift his life while trusting the Lord to take him to the right spot. This was not all sunshine and rainbows.

The Cost of Faith

Abraham left a place where he was safe and established. At 75 years old, he left the comfort of his father’s house, where he had spent his entire life. Instead of a permanent home, he lived in a tent in a foreign land with his family. This is a dramatic shift, one that many of us struggle with. For many, the biggest struggle of walking into what God has for them is leaving behind the comfort and safety of the known.

Vision vs. Condition

How was he able to stay faithful in this journey? Let’s see what the writer of Hebrews has tos ay in verse 10.

For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.

Abraham was able to do this because he looked forward to a city with a foundation designed by God. He kept his eyes on the vision God gave him rather than his current condition.

This is where many people face challenges. We might start out trusting God, but then we hit a rough patch. If our condition is not what we expected or wanted, we start to focus on the problem instead of the vision. That is when faith begins to crumble.

When you keep your eyes on the vision, your faith can rise above the condition. The path is not always smooth. You might even fail at times, as Abraham did. But even in failure, you can shift your eyes back to the Lord and trust Him to carry you through.

If God is calling you out of a place of comfort, it might be scary. You may find yourself in a situation that does not seem like a blessing at first. Take your eyes off the condition and put them on the vision He has for you