Journal Entry: Hebrews 11

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1

Scripture: Verse 13: All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth.

Observation: These are the heroes of the Bible. These heroes are the ones who died not yet having seen on earth the fulfillment of their hope. Why? How could they leave their lives on earth happily when they had not yet seen the fulfillment of what they'd spent their lives seeking based off of what God had promised? Because they knew that God's plan was bigger than what they could see at the present time. They understood that even if things were not deeply understandable, God had a higher purpose in what He was working out. And that was the confidence they had when they died not yet having seen the fulfillment of God's promises.

Application: When I cannot see the fulfillment of God's promises, and it seems like destruction is lying in wait outside my door; when the tears would be swallowed up inside me and my soul goes numb; the promises of God still exist, and He will never fail. Perhaps I will die someday without seeing the growth or development of seed I've spent my entire life sowing. It will still have been worth it, because there is more to God's plan than what is seen now.

It is easy to say this now, at a time in my life where I am blessed to see the fruit of my labors and watch prayers be answered before my very eyes. However, I would humbly hope that I can still say this with full confidence if ever I am physically  or otherwise suffering. That my eyes would be on the promises not yet fulfilled, but spoken of in God's word, as happening in the future.

Prayer: Father, thank you for this thing called faith that I do not fully understand. Thank you that I can have full assurance in something I have not even seen yet. Thank you that You are working out my salvation and that someday I will be with you in heaven. This is what is promised! The heroes of the Old Testament recorded in Hebrews 11 yielded their lives over to You, and worked tirelessly for You while they were on earth, because they knew that someday their efforts would be worth it. That "someday" would not be known to others until hundreds, in some cases thousands, of years after they had died. Dear Father, thank you that your plan is still perfect even when I do not fully understand it. In your precious Son's holy name, amen.