Becoming A Hero of the Faith

Down the ages throughout the world, men and women have influenced entire generations by obeying God and turning vision into action. How can a generation be changed? How can an ordinary person be used by God in such an extraordinary calling of becoming a hero of the faith? Hebrews 11 is the great “Hall of Faith” in the Bible, where the people who by faith gave their lives and are honored throughout the Church. The book of Hebrews lists people whom God used mightily. But does God still want heroes of the faith today?

As we read the Bible, we can discover many similarities between the conditions in Bible times and those of today. There was and continues to be a tremendous spiritual battle going on in the world. If there weren’t, there would be no need for heroes of the faith. In fact, there would be no need for faith. Before we dig deeper on becoming a hero of the faith, we need to understand first the meaning of faith and its importance.

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1). According to this verse, faith is a sort of substitute for sight and possession. Faith gives to invisible things a substance. Spiritual concepts that previously had no form become embodied through faith. That which was once invisible becomes concrete and tangible. More than give reality to things we do not see, faith makes us look differently at visible things around us. Faith enables us to realize our true positions as sojourners on this planet. As I heard one preacher said, through faith we understand that we are not physical beings having a spiritual experience but spiritual beings having a physical experience. Christian faith is having nothing, yet possessing everything. We may become sorrowful, yet we are able to rejoice. We are poor, but we are rich. The New English Bible renders Hebrews 11:1 this way: “And what is faith? Faith gives substance to our hopes and makes us certain of realities we do not see”. Faith is what will enable us to see God as a God of love at work through hurt and hardships in our lives. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.

It was a fact that most heroes of the faith in the Bible became martyrs. But also, throughout the Bible we see how God took hold of men and women during a time of crisis – whether personal or national – and made them heroes of the faith. Their struggles were written down for our benefit to help us discover the true character of God. Romans 4:23-24 says, “But the words…were written not for (Abraham’s) sake alone, but for ours also”, When we continue to study God’s Word, we see how God stepped into situations of old by calling a man or woman or a nation, and we see that whatever God did in that instance to change the world, He is likely to do again today because He is always true to His own unfailing Word. The world today is hungry for real heroes – people whose lives are built on a solid foundation, who do not waver when the going gets tough. One of the most dramatic accounts in Scripture of coping with crises is the story of Job. He exceeded all the other Bible heroes in the amount and suddenness of calamity that befell him. Job was a man who lost everything. But Job was also a man who knew God. Even his great loss, his overwhelming sorrow, his agonizing pain could not shake his fundamental trust in who God is. He knew God was there. God had been the central focus for Job. God was still there, and that was enough for Job to hold onto. He did not allow the disasters, his pain, or his inability to understand what was happening to him to unravel his certainty of God’s existence. He also knew God was righteous. Job was also strengthened by his vision of God’s righteousness and his own family’s need for forgiveness. Sometimes we have an exaggerated idea of what it takes to be a hero of the faith – crossing dangerous borders, preaching to large crowds, winning whole nations for Christ. No, faithfulness begins at home. A hero is a father or mother who has children sanctified by the blood of the Lamb. Finally, Job knew that God accepted him. He knew he was a sinful man, but he had kept his accounts straight with God. That’s why even in the midst of terrible troubles, Job was able to rest securely in God’s acceptance of him.

Isn’t it a good feeling to know that right now, because of the atoning sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, God is proud of you? You and I have no righteousness in ourselves. But no matter how many fingers point at us, no matter how many storms try to beat us down, we are accepted by God, and our sins are covered by the blood of Jesus. So let’s keep our accounts straight with God. Really taken to heart, wouldn’t that make anybody a hero of the faith?

God still want heroes of the faith today. In fact, more than any other time in history, there was an overwhelming need for heroes of the faith today. How’s our faith and devotion to God? How’s our relationship with God our Father and his Son Jesus Christ? God puts tremendous trust in His heroes of the faith, enabling them to change the course of history not only on earth but also in the heavenly realms. In the same way, God places so much confidence in us that He gives us His Word and the responsibility to carry that Word, preach it, and most of all, live it before all the world so others can come to know the God who is righteous.

The world is experiencing crises today. Do you struggle with your life so much that your heart is full of doubts and fears? Have courage, God is faithful. When all else fails us, God is there. God has provided a way for us to stand before Him, just as Job did, forgiven and fully accepted. The only way we can stand before God is by allowing Jesus to enter the door of our hearts and trust Him to be our Savior and Lord. The decision is yours to make. If you let Him in, you can be covered by His redemptive blood so that you’ll be able to stand before God, forgiven and fully accepted. If you take this step of faith, God can work mightily in your life today!