Our highest aim in life should be that of “pleasing God.” How do we do this? The answer is by FAITH. Read carefully Hebrews 11:6, “And without FAITH it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must BELIEVE that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.”
Faith is more than intellectual consent that God exists. It is truly believing in God, trusting him fully and then obeying his commands. Note both words “faith” and “believe” occur in our passage, one being a noun the other verb.
What does FAITH do? How does BELIEVING act?
FAITH is a lifestyle. “But my righteous one shall live by FAITH, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him” (Heb. 10:38). Both Enoch and Noah “walked with God’ (Genesis 5:24; 6:29). A way of life.
FAITH obeys God. It is impossible to claim to have a saving faith without carefully obeying God. A FAITH that does not obey is no faith at all. “For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also FAITH apart from words is dead’ (James 2:26). “By FAITH Abraham obeyed God 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” (Hebrews 1l:8).
FAITH makes right decisions, even choosing suffering over treasures. “By FAITH Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of a Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin” (Hebrews11:24,25).
Finally, like Abraham our FAITH will be counted as righteousness (Romans 4:22). How wonderful to please God by living and walking in FAITH!
Clinton Storm
Merced, OK