“By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks. By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised.” (Hebrews 11:4-11 ESV)
We have all read this wonderful chapter that is about faith. Faith as an act of obedience, supernatural faith, we can read all the great promises made to servants and chosen of God. It is amazing to read about all the supernatural miracles that each one experienced. It fills us with faith and hope to believe that God keeps his promises, and it is really like that, God does not lie, He is good and faithful to give and fulfill what He has promised us.
But throughout the chapter we read, not only the part of what God does, but something very important: the processes, the acts of faith and obedience that these people made. Each one had to give something, leave their own ways, take a step of faith, make a sacrifice, surrender totally before God.
I believe that we also have promises to be fulfilled, we are attentive waiting for the fulfillment of a promise in some area of our life, perhaps personal, emotional, financial, professional, health, etc. We are waiting to receive what we long for, but the question is: How many of us are willing to give? How many of us are willing to surrender our will to do the will of the Father?
People who received a promise from God were willing to give something, sacrifice, and even die to themselves to receive what God had for them. And it was there, in the process, where they received the most important thing: AN ENCOUNTER WITH GOD. Their lives were never the same after having lived that path with God, and the fulfillment of the promise was first given in their hearts and then they saw it with their eyes.
Sometimes we worry more about what God is going to give us, and we forget to live the path with Him. We are more anxious about God’s promises than about knowing THE GOD OF PROMISES.
It is on the path of surrender to the Lord that we meet our Father, our hearts are transformed, and through the process we live the promises of God in our hearts.
During this time, lets honor the God of promises, we should let go of control and surrender our lives to Him, bless the process and let the fulfillment be done His way.
