But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

By faith Abraham obeyed … Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude—innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.

These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. Heb 11:6-13

Noah saw it before he saw it. Abraham saw it before he saw it...faith sees it, then faith believes it, faith embraces it and confesses it. They saw thru, not the eyes of God but the Word of God. God spoke to Noah, the scripture calls it "divinely warned" of things not yet seen. Noah saw it because God said it. That is how we see today...thru His Word. We see it because He said it. Faith can only be placed in what God has said.

God spoke to Noah about things he had never seen. He had never seen a rain cloud, never seen a flood...I’m not sure the word "rain" was even a word at the time. But Noah "saw it" by faith he could act upon it. He could walk by faith because he had spiritual sight. He believed what God said and he acted upon what God said. Faith is an unwavering commitment to God regardless of circumstances.

The journey of 120 years of faithful ark building only began after he "saw it" by faith in what God had spoken. I’m not sure what kind of tools were available and there is no evidence of what "gopher" wood was. Some believe it was Cypress...regardless, a monumental task was set before Noah and his three sons but what Noah did know is that God had spoken and he set out to obey. He saw it by faith, believed it, embraced it and confessed it. One hundred and twenty years … by faith. God had put something in his heart enabling him to say...it’s BOAT TODAY but it’s FLOAT TOMORROW.

When God speaks something to your heart you can embrace it! We can only imagine the multitude of difficulties that Noah dealt with, but faithfully he obeyed. One day the ark came safely to rest on Mt. Ararat. Boat today float tomorrow. His faithfulness got him a place in the faith hall of fame. There, as promised God had delivered his family and his faith stirs the heart of every believer who has also "seen" thru God’s Word. When God speaks it to your heart embrace it and start walking!

Hebrews 11 is called the great Faith chapter of the bible, it tells us what faith is and what it is not. It tells us that if we are to be heirs of righteousness that it must be by faith. It shows us what can be accomplished by faith and tells us clearly that without faith it is impossible to please God. What a strong statement.

Faith is not hard, you see it, believe it, embrace it and confess. Look at Abraham. "By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God."

He just started walking. He didn’t know where he was going but he knew how to get there. Think about that. Most of the time it’s the opposite, you know where you’re going but don’t know how to get there. He walked by faith. He looked for a city because he had seen it by faith.

In his journey God had put something in his heart that allowed him to say, "YEAH, IT’S ROAM TODAY BUT IT’S HOME TOMORROW." And he kept walking Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude—innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.

By faith, I am called a child of Abraham. I am an heir of the promise thru Christ. Faith according to scripture is a journey that involves us "seeing thru God’s Word", believing with assurance, embracing and confessing what God has spoken to our hearts. But what about the Junk on the Journey?

That’s where our faith is challenged. Do you suppose Noah had any "junk on his journey"...like cutting down a tree, like making planks, like...oh, forget the physical difficulties. What about the 120 year grind of keeping his family convinced that God had spoken, the mockery from the neighbors and passers-by. Put your faith up to that challenge...he dealt with it all and kept on walking.

The instructions he had been given in Genesis 6:15 was that the ark was to be 450 feet long, 75 feet wide and 45 feet deep. One scholar says this is equivalent to "8 freight trains of 65 cars each." It is the length of 1 1/2 football fields...it is equivalent to a 4 story building. What a task, what ridicule he must have endured. But, he kept walking. Faith finishes.

God is not only the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, but of Joseph. He is the God of not just my father, but of me and my sons. What do you suppose Joseph felt when his brothers turned on him and left him to die in a pit. Have you ever been hurt by those you felt were close to you? Have you ever been in a pit of despair? God had a plan for Joseph and had put something in his heart that he affixed to, he saw the palace though he was in the pit. The prison and Potiphar’s wife was some of the "junk on the journey". If you can’t "see" by faith the junk on the journey will be a distraction of detour. He could say, "Yeah it’s PIT TODAY BUT IT PALACE TOMORROW."

Somehow God instilled in the hearts of the Israelites that He would deliver them. By faith they believed "yeah, we’re making bricks today, but we’re making tracks tomorrow. When you feel like you are stuck in an unfair and hopeless situation "by faith" see your way out.

Faith sees thru God’s Word. Remember faith can only be placed in what God has spoken. Faith is a commitment to God that does not waiver - regardless of circumstances. BRICKS TODAY-TRACKS TOMORROW.

Moses became God’s deliverer and was able to stand in the faith of God’s Words and God’s unique call on his life. The "junk on his journey" was great but God was greater. When God speaks something to your heart He puts something there that you affix to and keep on walking. Moses could say in spite of everything. "YEAH, IT’S PHARAOH TODAY BUT IT FAREWELL TOMORROW."

There are scores of testimonies recorded in God’s Word of men and women who "saw" by faith. Think of Stephen as rocks were bouncing off his head, he had something he affixed to that caused him to see "YEAH, IT’S HEADACHE TODAY BUT IT’S HEAD HOME TOMORROW." He died forgiving those that killed him.

All of the apostles but John suffered a martyrs death John was sent to the lonely isle of Patmos, he would die there. In his heart he could say, "YEAH IT’S BANISH TODAY BUT IT’S VANISH TOMORROW." They had all seen that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth looking for a city not made by hands eternal in the heavens.

The great apostle Paul, stoned, imprisoned, 195 stripes, on death row...he could say, "YEAH IT’S BEAT UP TODAY BUT IT’S BEAMED UP TOMORROW."

Jesus Himself could see that is was "CROSS TODAY BUT CROWN TOMORROW". In the midst of today’s problems, whatever yours may be, wherever you may live, as born again believers we can say by faith, "YEAH IT’S RUPTURE TODAY BUT IT’S RAPTURE TOMORROW." And keep on walking…

Just for Jesus,

Don