Things Hoped For, Things Not Seen

Hebrews 11:1 ¶ Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

1Peter 1:7-9 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

Eph 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

I have long loved the first verse in Hebrews 11. Then I was reading 1 Peter 1 and our pastor is preaching through Ephesians and I discovered these three passages of scripture dove-tail quite nicely. In Hebrews 1 we can ask the question, "What are the things hoped for and not seen?" The verses in 1 Peter and Ephesians tell us. The things hoped for and not seen are the appearing of Jesus Christ whom having not seen we love and Ephesians tells us we have an inheritance through Jesus Christ waiting for us. 1 Peter 1:3 also tells us a little more about our hope. It's an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, that fades not away reserved in heaven for us.
We have to remember that when the Bible speaks of the Christian's hope it's a sure thing already reserved for us in heaven. It's not an "I hope so" sort of thing". It's a done deal!

Faith is the substance of these things. What does faith look like? What is it's substance? It is believing, rejoicing with joy unspeakable and full of glory in spite of being tried by various hardships and difficult circumstances. It's a focus on the promises of God and our future in heaven with Him. It's realizing that the troubles we have to endure here are nothing compared to being with Jesus and the glorious inheritance that awaits us in heaven.

How does faith like this come through? It will point others to Christ when we are in tough times. It will be to the praise, honour and glory of Jesus Christ at His appearing.

Dear Father, I ask that You would help me to develop this kind of faith-- the kind of faith that overcomes in difficult circumstances. Help me to always lean on You. In Jesus' Name, Amen.