The other side of FAITH

Heb 11:39And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:

These all, are referring to two groups in Heb 11, also known as the faith chapter. While through all of heb 11 the author is listing heroes of faith that experienced great miracles, he ends it with a list he call “others”. They don’t even have their names recorded. The “others” are the group of people that never experienced deliverance. This is some of the things that was said about the “others”:

36And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:

37They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented

Doesn’t seem like they had great faith. No miracles. No healings. No deliverance. Still, the Bible says they ALL….including the “others” received a good report for their faith.

You see, having faith is not always resulting in a miracle. Or not having a miracle, is not always a sign of little faith. As a matter of fact, it takes greater faith to believe when nothing seems to happen. When it seems like God doesn’t hear, and you still believe. When you have waited for a son, and your wife is almost a hundred years old, but you still believe like Abraham, then you really have faith.

The other side of faith, is believing when God chooses for some reason not to do the miracle.

Lie the three Hebew children said: Our God is able to deliver us. But of not….. If he chooses not to deliver, even though we KNOW he is able, we will STILL belive. Now, THAT is what I call faith.