The Journey of Faith in Hebrews 11 wraps up by giving a cursory mention to 6 more people by name and then alludes to several other unnamed heroes of faith. I think it’s fair to ask how these people ended up being included in Hebrews 11 because they all have what I would call an imperfect faith. But if you’re like me, you can relate to people who struggle with their faith because we understand how imperfect we all are, including our faith.
We often talk about people having a lot of faith, but I would suggest that is a wrong way to think about faith. The scriptural dynamics of faith are summed up in Matthew 17:20 “. . .Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” Small faith can do great things when the object of that faith is in our BIG God. Likewise, the faith of the people in the closing verses of Hebrews 11, as imperfect as it was, was placed in the God of heaven and resulted in God doing great things.
The faith equation has to work like this: I can do nothing, but I believe God can do everything. Sometimes our frailties will result in a wavering faith, but as long as that faith comes back to the belief that God, as the object of our faith, can do anything, God will keep his promises. Faith is confidence in what we hope for and the assurance about what we do not see. This week we will see people that struggled with an imperfect faith in a perfect God who is working in our lives to accomplish the completion of our faith in Christ.

It is easy to be defined by the worst thing you have ever done in your life. I’m sure we are all familiar with the “Coldplay kiss Cam” incident where two people, married to two different people, were caught in a romantic pose on a live kiss Cam at a Coldplay concert. Unfortunately, those two people will be defined for a very long time, if not the rest of their lives, for that very public indiscretion. Society through the media and social media may peg people with a certain identity, but that is not what the Gospel does. The Gospel provides a way to be free from past indiscretions and find a new identity through our relationship with Christ.
On the Journey of Faith this week we look at Hebrews 11:31 and the person of Rahab. Rahab is identified in Scripture as a prostitute, but the fact that she is included in the Hall of Fame of Faith in Hebrews 11 means that she overcame that identity to be known as a person commended for her faith. Rahab is an example for us that no matter how colorful our past may be, through faith we can have a better Second Act. If you have been held captive by something from your past, know that it is God’s desire to provide a better future for you. Your life does not have to be defined by the worst thing you ever did, but through faith in the Gospel of Christ, God will write a second act to your life that glorifies him. Join me this Sunday to see how God writes a better second act for your life.

It is good to be back home after a quick trip to South Asia. Thank you for sending me and praying for me while I was away. I thank God that my travel and accommodations went smoothly and, by God’s guidance, I was able to accomplish all of what I wanted to do, as well as some additional opportunities.

This Sunday we continue on the Journey of Faith by looking at just one verse from Hebrews 11 – verse 30, on the life of Joshua. If you read that verse you will notice there is no mention of Joshua, so why am I preaching on him? Even though he is not mentioned, the reason the people of Israel were victorious over Jericho was because they followed a leader who lived out genuine faith and challenged them to live by faith. That leader was Joshua.
Joshua had some big shoes to fill, Moses. Joseph was not like Moses, but he didn’t let that deter him from influencing the lives of others to accomplish great things in God’s name. Joshua is one of the best examples in all of ancient leadership literature that properly motivates others to do what they otherwise would not do. As you read this, you may be thinking, “This is all fine, but I’m not a leader.” You may not have a leadership title or position, but I guarantee you that each of us have people we influence, and Joshua is a great role model of giving faith inspired influence on others; our children, grandchildren, neighbors and younger believers in the church. Joshua lived his life in a way that prepared him, no matter the circumstances, to be a godly influence on other people. Join me this Sunday as we look into the life of Joseph to help us be a godly influence on other people.