By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. (Hebrews 11:4)
Some have taught that Cain's sacrifice was not acceptable because it was not a blood sacrifice. The Scriptures teach that Cain's sacrifice was not accepted because it was not offered in faith. Cain had jealousy and murder in his heart. God will accept a firstfruits of the grain harvest, but not if the heart is not right.
How many believers perform their religious duties but their hearts are far from God? The Pharisees strove to be technically correct in doctrine and duty but they had little faith in God. Their hearts were not lifted up to God in faith.
By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. (Hebrews 11:5)
On what basis was Enoch translated? He was translated because he walked with God all day long for hundreds of years. Why did Enoch seek God with such diligence and intensity? He did so because his heart was full of faith toward God. Enoch believed that all that is worthwhile is to be found in the Presence of God. The righteous Enoch lived by faith, meaning God was in all his thoughts.
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)
The first step in salvation is to believe there is a God. The author at one time found it difficult to believe in the existence of God. He prayed for faith to believe there is a God, and God gave him what he requested.
The second step is to believe it is God who has sent Christ ("ye believe in God, believe also in me").
The third step in salvation is to seek God in Christ with diligence for the remainder of one's life on the earth. This is what it means to "live by faith." Living "by faith" has nothing to do with not working and trusting that people will give us money. To our knowledge, this application of the phrase is not scriptural.
Living "by faith" means we have an assurance deep in ourselves that if we seek God continually our needs and desires will be given to us. We will be rewarded. It is not the superficial "volleyball game" being played with God today: "I will fast, and God will give me power"; "I will give money and God will give it back to me with interest"; "I will abide in Christ and therefore God will answer my prayers"; and so on and on in this disgusting, self-centered fashion.
The quest for God indeed is rewarding. Soon we are absorbed in God Himself. He is the end of our quest. Christ Himself is the Goal, the Way, the Truth, the Life, the Resurrection. Christ is Salvation. He is our Sanctification, our Wisdom, our Strength, our Joy. When we attempt to use the Lord Jesus to "get" something we miss the point. We trade God for the gifts of God, and that is an unwise, shortsighted trade.
Thou shalt have no other gods before me. (Exodus 20:3)
The supreme end of the life of faith is the possession of God Himself. To be in perfect, complete, restful union with God through Christ is so much greater in value than anything else in the universe that comparison is foolish and, in fact, idolatrous.
The Potter's Nature is such that if we are willing to settle for His gifts instead of Himself He allows us to do so (although sometimes He deals severely with us in order to turn our attention to Himself). This is one reason why we are counseled to guard our heart diligently.
By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. (Hebrews 11:7)
Notice in the above verse the roles that God's personal intervention and direction, obedience to God, and the fear of God, all play in scriptural faith. Faith is our obedient response to God's Word as it comes to us, both in the Scriptures and also in personal Divine guidance as God intervenes in our life.
The fear of God is a wholesome attitude. The fear of the Lord is much more than reverence. It is the proper response of the creature to the Creator. God has the power to bring us into everlasting joy or to cast us into eternal torment.
God warned Noah that the destruction of all flesh was at hand. Such a warning was not an occasion for reverence but for fear.
The Christian teachers of today speak of reverence rather than fear. They are willing to revere God as they would a great man, but to fear God requires humility. The spirit and doctrine of humanism has fostered in mankind an arrogance toward God. This is most unwise and unrealistic. God is God, and all the proud boasting of men produces no change in God or in His power to do as He will.
Noah was moved with fear, not with reverence, as he contemplated the impending destruction of the peoples of the earth. He was afraid for his family and himself. Noah feared God.
People can stand in reverential awe before a national monument. While doing so they may carelessly throw sandwich wrappers on the lawn. If they knew fire would flash from the monument and consume anyone who threw paper on the grass they would be careful not to do so. Fear will accomplish what respect, reverence, good intentions, and awe will never produce.
We have lost faith in God and therefore we talk about reverence and love for God rather than the fear of God. But the God of the Old Testament, of the Tabernacle of the Congregation, has not changed.
The righteous fear God. This is one of the principal reasons why they walk in faith, behaving in a godly manner.
Noah "became heir of the righteousness that is by faith." Noah was justified by faith. But God commented on his righteousness, not on his faith.
And the Lord said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation. (Genesis 7:1)
To be continued.
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