Living by Faith?

I guess at the end of the day, I am like most of you, I just want to know how I am to live. I feel like God has been speaking to me a lot lately. And it appears He has been addressing that very question. In my study time this week, he led me to Hebrews 7, where it speaks about the priest Melchizedek. I am sure most are familiar with the story. Through the next three chapters, the author leads us on a wonderful explanation of why God did all that He did through Jesus. If you are ever wondering about the old covenant and the new covenant, this would be a great read. However, what struck me this time was when I got to Hebrews 10:38. It is a quote from Habakkuk 2:3-4, which states, “Those who are right with me will live by faith.” If you go back and read Habakkuk, the prophet complains a second time to God about the wicked prevailing on this earth. He asks this question, “Will he (the enemy) keep on taking riches with his net? Will he go on destroying people without showing mercy?” Then, in chapter two, the Lord answers Habakkuk. He commands him to write it down on a tablet. In other words, what the Lord is about to show him is important. The Lord says, “It is not yet time for the message to come true, but that time is coming soon (referring to him sending Jesus); the message will come true. It may seem like a long time, but be patient and wait for it, because it will surely come; it will not be delayed. The evil nation is very proud of itself (referring to the Babylonians); it is not living as it should. But those who are right with God will live by faith.” I want you to catch this. I believe there is great significance in this quote. Habakkuk’s message was speaking of Jesus’ first coming. However, the author of Hebrews uses this quote in referring to Jesus’ second coming, as he speaks to you and I today, living in between the first and second coming. The author of Hebrews says, “So do not lose the courage you had in the past, which has a great reward. You must hold on, so you can do what God wants (His plans and purposes for our lives) and receive what he has promised (eternal life). For in a very short time, The One who is coming will come and will not be delayed. Those who are right with me will live by faith.”
So, the real question is how do we live by faith? I don’t think the author is referring to a faith that means to believe. Rather, he is referring to a type of living that goes on what God says, rather than what we know or can see. This type of faith requires action that doesn’t necessarily make sense in our own knowledge and culture. In 2 Corinthians 4:16, Paul begins a passage about living by faith. In verse 18, it says, “we set our eyes not on what we see but on what we cannot see. What we see will last only a short time, but what we cannot see will last forever.” To back up his point about living by faith, the author of Hebrews takes the time to give an abridged history lessons of those great people of faith who have gone before us. Their type of faith led to action. Below is a look at what we can do if we live by faith . . .
1. Offer pleasing gifts/sacrifices to God (Abel)
2. Please God (Enoch)
3. Hear God’s warnings (Noah)
4. Obey God’s call (Abraham)
5. Become a father/leader (Abraham)
6. Pass God’s tests (Abraham)
7. Bless our children’s future (Isaac/Jacob)
8. Give prophetic words (Joseph)
9. Walk in God’s protection (Moses)
10. Follow God where He leads (Israelites)
11. Tear down strongholds (Israel at Jericho)
12. Carry out God’s plans (Rahab)
Then, the author asks, “do I need to give more?” Then, we are given another short list this time to do the study on our own versus have the author tell us what their faith produced. These include . . .
13. Gideon
14. Barak
15. Samson
16. Jephthah
17. David
18. Samuel
19. The Prophets
In between numbers five and six, the author makes this point, which I think is the foundation to living with this kind of faith. He states, “those who live by faith live as those who are looking for another country that will be their own. They live as visitors and strangers on earth.” What would it look like if we lived that way today in the United States?