Save Your Fork! Hebrews 11.

I love the story about saving your fork because the best is yet to come. For me that would be anything chocolate as dessert. This is a great chapter in Hebrews – some call it the Faith chapter or the Hall of Faith. Whatever you call it – the point is still much the same as the rest of the book of Hebrews, the superiority of the new covenant in Christ. This chapter centers on the role of faith down through history in the lives of godly men and women. Faith is the quintessential element of our relationship with God in Christ. As the first verse of the chapter notes “faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen”.

The quote from my devotional desk calendar for March 14 was entitled “The Best is Coming”. I thought back to that as I was thinking about what to share about Hebrews 11. Here is the quote: “Faith can move the highest mountains, turn deserts into fountains, part the mighty water of the deepest sea. Faith can make a broken heart mend, bring the rain from heaven. Faith can even change the course of history as it believes that the BEST is yet to come.”

Our faith in Christ is the lifeblood of the life we now live and the essence of our future hope. Just a few thoughts from Galatians that may help to put faith in perspective as you meditate on this passage and what it means for your life. (By the way isn’t this our next destination in the 5x5x5 reading plan!)

Galatians 2:16 says man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified.

Galatians 2:20 says I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Galatians 3:9 - So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.

Galatians 3:11, quoting Hab. 2:4 - "The righteous will live by faith."

Galatians 3:14 - He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.

Galatians 3:26 - You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus...

Faith is forward looking and anticipates great things to come. Abraham responded in faith because he anticipated the promise of the covenant and what that would mean in the future to his descendants. Faith is that spiritual “Save Your Fork” attitude that is trusting in the unseen God to keep His promises and complete His covenant. Have you ever had something very momentous planned and you could hardly wait for the day to come. It feels like being a child again and anticipating Christmas morning and the fulfillment of the promise of presents to come. That should be the joy and excitement with which we live our lives daily. It is also this faith that helped people of faith to persevere in times of persecution or distress. My prayer for you is that your reading of this chapter encourages you in your faith. Save Your Fork - The Best is Coming!!