“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1)
Such a simple verse at the beginning of “The Hall of Faith” in the Bible. It is a great definition of faith. The first part, the substance of things hoped for — this is that saving faith, the hope. The Bible uses “anchor” to symbolize hope in Hebrews 6:19, take a look at it in context:
That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. Hebrews 6:18-20
An anchor of the soul, sure, steadfast and enduring … that is the “blessed hope” that Paul talks about in Titus 2:13-14. It is salvation!
Part two of faith is “the evidence of things not seen”. This is those things that we see God do in our lives and the lives of others that bear evidence that He is God. It is all those things that can not be explained. It is what some would call co-incidence. It is those things that I call faith-builders — you see it and know that it must be of God.
