The Journey of Faith

  

 

By Faith -6

TITLE: The Journey of Faith

TEXT: Hebrews 11:8-16

THESIS: The journey of faith requires embracing the unknown, living as pilgrims in a world that is not our home, and holding steadfast to God’s promises.

 

TRUTH: In the 1950s, Jim Elliot, along with a group of friends, felt called to share the Christian faith with the people of Ecuador, particularly the Huaorani (or Waodani), who were known for their resistance to outside contact.

 

Jim Elliot and his companions -Nate Saint, Ed McCully, Peter Fleming, and Roger Youderian -prepared extensively, learning the language and culture, all the while believing that their mission was divinely ordained. The Huaorani lived deep in the jungle and had little interaction with the outside world, leading a lifestyle that was both rich and yet marked by violence and fear of outsiders.

 

After months of planning and a few successful initial contacts from the air, the group decided to make direct contact with the Huaorani. They landed on a beach near the Huaorani territory, hoping to build a relationship. Their faith drove them into this unknown territory, and they were willing to share their message despite the risks.

 

The initial contact went well; they exchanged gifts and communicated through gestures. However, tragically, during a subsequent visit, the missionaries encountered hostility. On January 8, 1956, Jim and his friends were killed by Huaorani warriors. Many viewed this as a heartbreaking end, but it was also the beginning of something remarkable.

 

Transition

 

The largest section of the Hebrew history of the OT faith is devoted to Abraham. Five events in Abraham’s life are described as occurring “by faith”: (a) Abraham’s departure from his original homeland for an unseen inheritance (v.8): (b) his (and Isaac’s and Jacob’s) sojourn as strangers in the Promise Land (vv.9-10): (c) Sarah’s conception of Isaac (vv.11-12): (d) the patriarchs’ death in hopeful expectation of a distant, heavenly country and city (vv.13-16): € Abraham’s readiness to sacrifice Isaac in faith that God could raise him from the dead (vv.17-19). (Dennis E. Johnson, Hebrews, 165). We will look at Abraham’s sacrifice of Isaac next week.

 

Faith sustained every generation of the patriarchs, and just as Noah took action “by faith” when warned of the coming flood, so Abraham, when “called” by God, “obeyed” by “going out” of his homeland. Therefore, we see that……

 

  

I.                             Faith Requires a Journey into the Unknown.

Isaiah, in reference to Abraham, wrote, “he is the rock from which you were hewn and the quarry from which you were dug.” The story of Abraham is an interesting one. He was a pagan who grew up in an unbelieving world, a truly idolatrous society. Joshua 24:2 states, “And Joshua said, to all the people, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, long ago, your fathers lived beyond the Euphrates, Terah, the father of Abraham and of Nahor, and they served other gods.”

 

His native city was Chaldean, in Mesopotamia, between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. It was fertile land and was culturally advanced. It was near where the Garden of Eden was located and was some 140 miles from where the great city of Babylon would one day be built.  (MacArthur, 327).

 

It was here in this spiritual condition that God called him. The phrase “he was called” is a present participle, so “when he was being called.” In other words, as soon as he understood the call, he started obeying. It was instant obedience. His whole life was to be driven by this call. Every decision he made was in pursuit of his call. He was called to make a definitive break with the unbelieving world and its whole set of values. He was called to live for a heavenly reward that he could not see any more than we can. Yet, he obeyed.

 

Faith always beckons us to step out of our comfort zones and trust in God’s leading, just as Abraham did when he left his homeland without knowing his destination. We are reminded in Proverbs 3:5-6 to “trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding.”

 

The promises in these verses were given to Abram for his benefit primarily, but for the benefit of the whole world. His faith was manifested by obedience to the revealed will of God.

 

Most recently, for me, was the trip to Bangladesh. I really had to pray that through. My flesh rebelled against the idea. All I could think about was my stomach, joints, and the length of the trip. But I knew they were not legit reasons, only excuses, so I continued to pray, and once I heard from God, I moved. I still don’t know how it’s all going to go, but I believe in God's promises and desire to obey His commands. Therefore, I am at peace.

 

II.                         Faith is a Pilgrimage, not a Permanent Settlement.

As a pilgrim, Abraham was immediately willing to give up his homeland, his friends, his business, his past, literally everything, to follow God. The author of Hebrews specifically states that they “dwelt in tents.” This was the mode of travel for strangers and nomads. Think about it, they were in the land that God had promised them, but they were not to settle. Instead, “He lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land.”

 

Abraham never saw the promise fulfilled; he just waited and waited, which is often the hardest part, yet he remained faithful in anticipation.

 

Like Abraham, who lived in tents and awaited God’s promises, we are reminded that our true citizenship lies in Heaven, prompting us to live with a sense of urgency and anticipation. Settling is something that the Lord never calls us to. This can be seen as early as Genesis, even before the fall. God’s will was for Adam to stretch the tent string of His holy presence to the four corners of the globe. Those who tried to settle experienced the discipline of God.

 

As a matter of fact, the command continues to all the patriarchs and still stands to this day. We are on an image-bearing journey. On this pilgrimage, we are to bear the image of God wherever we go. In light of the coming of the Lord, Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.”

 

At the beginning of the book Pilgrim’s Progress, Christian carries a heavy burden on his back, symbolizing his sin and guilt. This burden represents the weight of his past and the realization of his need for salvation, motivating him to embark on his pilgrimage. Next, he faced the muddy bog of despondence, which represents despair and doubt. Christian nearly sinks in the depths of despair, faced with feelings of inadequacy and hopelessness. His struggle to escape the bog highlights the emotional and spiritual challenges we face. Next, on his travels was the city of Vanity Fair, where Christian is confronted with temptation and sin in the form of materialism and worldly distractions. We must remain true to our identity. Then, he approaches Doubting Castle, where he and a friend are imprisoned and faced with hopelessness. Yet they escape, symbolizing the victory of faith.

 

 

III.                      Faith Sees the Invisible and Holds onto God’s Promises.

The key to Abraham’s patience lay in his hope for the ultimate fulfillment of God's promise. He knew his true home was in a realm that cannot be seen by the human eye -Heaven. As important as the physical land was, he looked for something greater. John MacArthur wrote, “There is no greater cure for discouragement, fatigue, or self-pity than to think of being in the presence of the Lord one day and spending eternity with Him.” (MacArthur, 329).

 

It is only when we concentrate on things here below that things go wrong. By focusing there, we overcome what’s here. When we look at the miracle of Isaac’s birth, the Genesis account gives no evidence or indication that Sarah ever showed much faith in God. They are both laughing at the thought of it. Yet, even though his faith was small (like a mustard seed) and at times extremely weak, it grew into trust in God.

 

The Faith of Abraham and Sarah hinged on their ability to envision the unseeable, showing us that true faith allows us to embrace God’s promises even when circumstances seem impossible. From them, the promises were as good as the reality. The faith that pleases God and receives his promises may struggle, but it does not let go.

 

If you are a Christian, you live this way already. Think about it, did you see God speak the world into existence? Did you see the Red Sea part? Have you ever met one of the Apostles? Did you witness Christ crucified and risen from the dead? The answer is no! But you believe them and stake the eternal salvation of your soul on them. So too, believe in God’s future promises.

 

IV.                     Faith in God’s Promises Fuels Our Longing for a Better Home.

Abraham and Sarah knew the promised land was not their true inheritance, but was only preparation, a foreshadowing of their true home. They looked forward to a heavenly city built by God; we, too, are called to live with a longing that transcends this world, reminding us that our fulfillment is found in His eternal kingdom.

 

Similarly, we are called to cultivate a longing that transcends our current experiences. In a world often filled with chaos and impermanence, it is easy to become consumed by immediate concerns and distractions. However, when we fix our eyes on the eternal kingdom promised to us, our perspective.

 

Spurgeon describes heaven as a “perfect abode” where the faithful will experience the fullness of God’s presence. It is a place prepared by our loving Creator, where beauty, peace, and joy abound. Spurgeon continued, “The glory of heaven is all centered in Christ; the glory of heaven is the presence of Christ.” Here, the struggles and heartaches of life melt away in the presence of divine love. It is the place of complete satisfaction and perfect rest.

 

Remember, the word of Paul to the church at Corinth, “For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands” (2Cor. 5:1).

 

TAKE-AWAY: The story above doesn’t end with their deaths—the news of their martyrdom spread, sparking a significant response from Christians around the world. Jim’s widow, Elizabeth Elliot, and his sister, Rachel, felt a compelling urge to return to the Huaorani people. They believed that the message of reconciliation and love they sought to share was necessary, notwithstanding the recent tragedy.

 

When they returned to the tribe, their faith transformed into action. They lived among the Huaorani, learning their language, sharing stories, and demonstrating forgiveness. Over time, many in the tribe came to embrace the message of Christ, leading to the tribe’s true transformation.

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