Today’s passage is Hebrews 11:1-12 Apollo defines faith as the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Then begins the recitation of a long list of Biblical events all beginning with “By faith”, starting with by faith we understand that God created the universe. He goes on to Abel’s sacrifice, Enoch’s translation to heaven, then to Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac and Jacob. Without faith we cannot believe in God and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
What is your “by faith” story?
What foundations do you trust in--God’s or yours?
Abraham lived in a tent but he looked to the city of God whose foundations God laid and whose design and construction God made (10).
There’s a beauty in the contrast of Abraham’s situation.
He lives in the most temporary and flimsy of dwellings while his heart and mind and spirit look to the eternal permanence of the city of God.
He trusted God. So did Enoch, who pleased God so much that God took him to heaven directly, bypassing earthly death.
And David too, a man after God’s heart, sought the Lord almost continually.
But me, how am I looking to God’s foundations in my life?
Part of my job as principal of my school is to lay the foundations of the school by creating a vision and then bringing that vision into being.
Because of the reality of my situation, my vision is limited to insubstantials: the spirit of the school, the philosophy, the teaching, the curriculum, the programs, the internal organization.
I feel like I’m living in a tent because of it.
For permanence I must look to God, but too often I look no further than myself.
I’m surrounded by people--teachers and staff--who are superb at managing details.
They do it so well and so efficiently that I sometimes wish that could be my job too.
Today I got my wish because my grade 4 teacher was sick and I took over his duties for the day, becoming the grade 4 teacher and losing myself for a day in the details of teaching reading, social studies, math and science.
It wasn’t all pleasure, of course, because there were always behavioral issues to deal with, but I was so busy with the details that I didn’t have time to think about how to forward the vision of the school.
It wasn’t until the end of the day that I had to return to my tent and feel humble in face of what I have to do over the next few months.
But I didn’t feel overwhelmed or depressed because “by faith” and “by faith” and “by faith” suddenly sounded in my ears as the Bible passage of the day came rising up to greet me again.
God is in charge. He’s the master designer and builder.
My real work is to seek him and trust to his foundations, not my tent.
Application: make time for the important tomorrow and not be bulldozed by the urgent.
Lord, let me keep my eyes and heart on you as I walk my path to you. Keep me focused on what I can’t see but which gives meaning to all that I do see.
