CHOOSING BY FAITH

CHOOSING BY FAITH



By faith . . . choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasure of sin for a season, Heb 11:24-26.

The chapter before us, held in context with the following chapter, is a blessed revelation of our evidence of true saving faith. These two chapters give such a positive description of true saving faith with their focus on the faith of Jesus Christ.

Chapter 12 begins with an exhortation that, after having seen this great cloud of witnesses in chapter 11, we are to look unto the faith of Jesus, ". . . the author and finisher of our faith." If we are to understand true saving faith, we must first understand its author, object and the trials connected to it.

God is the author of all saving faith. As with Adam in his state of perfection, and all the witnesses of faith named in the chapter before us; so it was with Christ in His work of redemption. God placed before them the reward of the obedience of faith and then tried that faith to see if they would obey.

Of our Saviour it is written, "Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God," Heb 12:2.

It is recorded in PHL 2:8-11 how God the Father exalted the name of Jesus, because He was so glorified by the obedience of Jesus Christ who paid the penalty of our sin, as an act of obedience.

In the chapter before us we find that, "By faith, Moses," made his choice to forsake all the honor and riches of Egypt; because his eyes were fixed upon the object of his faith which was the reward. "For he had respect unto the recompense of the reward." What was that reward? "Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt."

When Christ is the author of our faith, then our faith will resemble His. Then from our heart we will cry out with the Psalmist, "I delight to do thy will O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart," Ps 40:8.

It is by saving faith that the power of sin in our life is broken. It is by saving faith that a man, "walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. His delight is in the law of the Lord; and in His law doth he meditate day and night." Ps 1:1-2.

It is by saving faith that we come to realize what a dreadful enemy sin is and desire to be freed from its damning power. It is saving faith that causes us to look out of our self and lift our eyes unto Jesus as the author of our faith.

It is only by saving faith that we can choose, ". . . rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasure of sin for a season." It is only through saving faith that we will ever esteem ". . . the reproach of Christ greater riches," than the pleasures of sin, or the honors and riches of this world.

Jesus said, "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me," Joh 12:32. Oh, beloved, when our eyes of faith are raised above the things of this earth, "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith," then we will understand the exhortation in Heb 12:3. "For consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds." Amen.

Living faith will still esteem
The reproaches of the Lamb,
Greater riches than this earth
Can afford the sons of mirth.

O for faith this choice to make,
And endure, for Jesus sake,
The reproaches of His cross,
Counting all things else but dross!