Faith is Absolute Because God is Faithful

Hebrews 11:1-3 

1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. 3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

Faith.  It is no mere intangible wish, wanting an outcome but unsure if it will come to pass.  No, the faith God gives and we rely on to exercise is an absolute certainty because it is based on God’s perfect and trustworthy character, as well as His promises demonstrated by example in the scriptures.  By taking God at His word, we go against the disbelief of Adam and Eve who did not fully believe and obey God; we instead rely on the word we hear and respond with action, no matter the cost.  That is trust, that is the faith described here.  We hold firmly in our hand what He has not yet given, and we are convinced by the evidence of what He tells us even though our senses do not perceive the things promised yet.  This is how those examples in scripture testified of God’s work and reliability.  Wuest says verse 2 literally reads, "for by it the elders were borne witness to." He describes this saying, “God bore witness to them that their faith gained victory for them.”  The examples show us we also ought to reflect His glory in our actions, testifying to His faithfulness.  We know that Genesis and other passages testify to God’s creation of everything out of nothing (ex nihilo), picture perfect in the way God spoke the physical universe into existence according to His perfectly intended design.  All we see from the smallest pieces of atoms to the furthest immense galaxy, all these came out of nothing except God’s will expressed by His word.  How can we not then trust Him completely, taking Him at His word by assent and action?  He is faithful and His word is certain.  This is the rock (Matthew 16:18) that the church stands upon!