Download the UBF brochure here
Weekly Message | January 3rd, 2010
Passage: Hebrews 11:1-7
Key Verse(s): 6
Happy New Year! As we pray and plan for this year, it is important to clarify some essential aspects of this life. First, our happiness depends on us. It is not the situation, other people, and or anything else; but our own attitude, approach, and perspective which determines our happiness. Second, the quality of life depends on whom we try to please. If we merely seek to please ourselves only, either we become quite self-centered or selfish. On the other hand, if we focus on pleasing others, our life would be quite superficial in that our joy rises and falls on the passing opinions of people. Hebrews 11:6 suggests a different kind of life. It is a life that pleases God. If our intent is to please God, then we pursue a truly rewarding life. The title of today’s message is, “By faith it is possible to please God.” Heb 11:6 says, “Without faith it is impossible to please God.” Then, the entire chapter shows, how by faith it is possible for people to please God.
First, three foundations of faith—hope, confidence, and understanding (1-3). Look at verse 1: “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Here, the object of faith is not some impersonal idea, state, or things. Rather, the object of faith is God. Therefore, faith is being sure of God we hope for and certain of God we do not see. Faith is being sure of God whom we will clearly see in the future and certain of this invisible God that we experience now.
Look at verse 2: “This is what the ancients were commended for.” The ancients refer to many people of God in the Bible. The ancients, who lived thousands of years before us, lived by faith. By living by faith we join these people of faith throughout the ages that went ahead of us. We take their wisdom of life as our own for today.
Look at verse 3: “By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.” The essential foundation of faith is about understanding God’s creation. By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command. Out of nothing, God created everything by his command such as: “Let there be light...” then it was so. By depending on the Creator God we can engage in an exciting life of creation as well. With faith in Creator God we can explore this world and study the laws of nature. Jesus had creation faith so he said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Mt. 19:26)
Second, by faith we come to God (4). Look at verse 4: “By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.” The author of Hebrews skips the first man Adam and the first woman Eve. They failed. They lost the Garden of Eden and lived in a world where thistles and thorns flourished. They had to sweat to eat and they had to die. Thinking about the painful reality of life and their miserable destiny was hard. Yet, they taught their children about the holy God, their disobedience, God’s gracious provision for their return to the kingdom of God through the Messiah. (Ge 3:15) In due time, their two children grew up. Later, Abel became a shepherd and his brother Cain a farmer. They had different attitudes toward God and life. Cain was an angry and rebellious man. Abel, on the other hand, was a godly man.
Look at verse 4a: “By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did.” One time both offered offerings to God. Abel’s offerings were some of the firstborn of his flock that involved a blood sacrifice. Cain offered “some” of the fruits of his crop. One can go into the details about the offerings themselves. Many commentators relate this to the detailed sacrificial system in Leviticus and the sacrifice of Christ. They conclude that God did not accept Cain’s offering because it did not include a blood sacrifice. Anyway, to God, Abel’s offering was a better sacrifice. Abel loved God who is invisible. He did not blame God for a hard life. He did not argue with God, saying, “Lord, why should we work hard and toil here for the sin of my parents?” Instead, he probably said, “O Lord, thank you for giving us the hope of returning to the Garden of Eden someday through the seed of a woman. Help me to live by faith.” Abel loved God and honored him and accordingly offered a sacrifice with sincere faith.
Cain was very upset because of God’s rejection of him and his offering. So he entertained murderous thoughts in his heart. God visited him and said, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.” (Ge 4:6-7). God did not mention a word about Cain’s offering. God only spoke about Cain. God’s advice for him was to do what is right. Therefore, the real issue seems to have more to do with the heart condition of Cain. Anyway, Almighty God explained the reason for his rejection and counseled him in order for him to change, Yet, Cain was too proud to listen to God’s advice; so he rejected it right away. Instead, he killed his brother Abel in the field.
Then how does Abel still speak to us? Look at verse 4b: “By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.” What does Abel’s life say to us? Abel’s life seems to be too short. One may ask, “What is so wonderful about being murdered by his brother? Why should Abel, a righteous man, leave the earth so young? Couldn’t he defend himself? Couldn’t he run?” Cain was a murderer and yet lived a long life building his own civilization. Abel’s life teaches that God is pleased with our coming to him—having a sincere and sacrificial life. Abel’s life speaks a truth that a seemingly untimely but righteous death is better than a long and ungodly life on the earth. In a sense, our life is the life of offering to God. Abel’s life was a success because he loved God and offered himself to God.
At the YDC one young man attended. His father had died early. Through his marriage he had three children. Then, he died. This young man, rightly so, keeps asking, “What is the point of living by faith and dying so early?” As he looks at all his other friends, he wonders, “Why did God take my father so early?” What is clear is that through his father God sent three children who are growing in faith. The seemingly untimely death of his father planted this question and yearning in his soul—for love, for his father, and for God. We come to God with questions—unanswered questions. Even so, God is pleased with his people who come to him.
In the movie, “Titanic,” the band plays the song, “Nearer My God to Thee” as the ship sinks. As we conclude this life, the essence of this life can be summarized in one phrase, “This life is to come near to God.” Apart from God, death is such a sad reality. With death everything ends. However, with God, death is the gateway to glory. Without faith by death everything ends. By faith with death everything starts totally new. That’s why a seemingly untimely death is so heartbreaking to us. However, in the other side of eternity such death is also a path of glory. Then, how can we come to God? We come to God by faith. From a human point of view, Jesus himself died an untimely death on the cross. Yet, to many, Jesus’ death on the cross speaks more powerfully than his long life. His righteous death on the cross is the foundation of our salvation. What does the cross of Jesus do primarily? It enables sinners to come to God. We come to God, by faith in Jesus. The first important way to please God is to come to him. This year my first priority each day is to come to God. By faith I come to him—daily. By faith we come to God—this is the first important way to please God.
Third, by faith we walk with God who exists (5). Look at verse 5: “By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.” After Abel’s death, Adam and Eve had another son, Seth. Through Seth new lines of God’s people continued. Enoch is from the line of Seth. Enoch was taken from this life. He did not experience death. Why such a reward? Enoch was a prophet (Jude 14-15). As a prophet he preached the message of God’s judgment. People did not like to hear it. His life was hard among the ungodly. He experienced death every day until he could not endure any more. God had mercy on him and one day took him away. God spared him from the pain of death. The prophet Elijah was another one whom God took him away (in a chariot of fire). Such a glorious departure was the result of a life long walk with God.
When he was 65 years old, Enoch’s first son Methuselah was born. (Genesis 5:22-24) It is not clear what his faith was like before that. However, with the birth of his son, Enoch was much more serious about his spiritual life. He decided to walk with God. Certainly, by his example of daily walking with God he taught faith to his son. In that sense, his son became a 1:1 Bible student.
What was so great about Enoch’s faith? His resume is short. Enoch walked with God. (Ge 6:21-24) What was so wonderful about that? To “walk with God” means to be in “fellowship with God.” To “walk with God” means to keep in step with God. Every step of his way he included God. He lived a life of faith for a long journey one day at a time. His walk with God was so steady and fruitful that before his departure he was commended for his faith. As a spiritual giant he knew the heart of God. Enoch’s life teaches us the blessed life─being with God.
God is pleased with those who believe in his existence. Those who believe in his existence live in the presence of God. They walk with God knowing that God is with them. God is walking by them. Walking with God is about trusting God who is near. It is life that rejoices! Paul says, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness is evident to all. The Lord is near.” (Php 4:4-5). God is near. It is good to walk with God. It may not occur right away.
Enoch’s life demonstrates that the sound habit of walking with God is the best gift we can pass on to our children and the people we love. That’s why one of the key spiritual trainings is to be able to do daily bread─mediate on God’s word, and engage in prayer no matter what happens. Jesus also confirmed this truth when he said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (Jn. 15:5-6) All of God’s blessings come through this vital walk with God. David also made a same conclusion. David speaks about his joy of walking with God, “Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” (Ps. 23:6) To David, to walk with God and to be with God was the greatest joy of life. What do we do this year? By faith we walk with God. We live in the presence of God. We are conscious of God in our lives.
Fourth, by faith we believe God’s reward and earnestly seek him (7). Another hero of faith is Noah. The description of Noah’s generation was corrupt, violent, and evil. “But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD. This is the account of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God.” (Ge 6:8-9). Noah was different from that generation. Why? God showed him favor in his eyes—in the eyes of the LORD. He was righteous and blameless among the people of his time. He walked with God. God preserved Noah in his generation.
Look at verse 7a: “By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family.” Noah had one message to the people. It was about the holy God and the impending judgment on the world. Noah’s life was not that easy. As a preacher he prepared and delivered messages. He did not have a large congregation to support his living expenses. As a farmer he had to work hard to feed his family and get the sufficient funds to build an ark. Moreover, he had to raise his children among such an ungodly generation. Building an ark was not a petty project. The ark was not a toy; it was as big as the UT football stadium. So it was a life-long project. It took many years.
Look at verse 7b: “By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.” Noah was not an angry man. Probably, he was a very gentle and generous man. He did not condemn the world. He did not have to. People could laugh at his work, but they could not hate him. They allowed his project to keep going. Then at the right moment, God condemned the world. Just before the flood came, God himself shut the door of the ark. Too late, people cried and wept. God rewarded Noah’s faith by saving him and his family members.
The life of faith is about building something in this life. A Life of faith is one of earnestly seeking—putting our heart—into the work we do. By faith we learn to work hard! By faith students study eagerly! By faith Bible teachers study and teach eagerly. As we do our work eagerly, there is reward—God’s reward. This New Year this is what we will do. Whatever we do, we will do eagerly. We will put our heart into it.
Before we end the discussion of this lesson, we need to think about the wives of Enoch and Noah. What were their roles in God’s history? The Bible is silent about this. However, it does not mean that they are unimportant. It is clear that Noah could obey God with the cooperation and encouragement of his wife. That is true with Enoch’s life. We praise God for the faith of the wives of Enoch and Noah.
The common point of Abel, Enoch, and Noah is that by faith it was possible for them to please God. By faith Abel offered a better sacrifice to God. By faith Enoch walked with God. By faith Noah built an ark and saved his family. These three people─Abel, Enoch, and Noah─were the first group of the blessed people in Hebrews chapter 11. They pleased God. In this first Sunday of this year we affirm that by faith it is possible to please God. By faith we come to God. By faith we walk with God. By faith we put our mind and heart to building something that will save the world—our family, the people around us, and the world we live in. By faith is it is possible to please God. May God help us to believe in the living God and his abundant reward so that we may be able to please God.
January 3, 2010; Dr. Paul Hong; Toledo, UBF
Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.
