This month will finish the exploration through the book of Hebrews. What an amazing book, which focuses on the superiority of Christ and His sacrifice. We have seen in the past few months how Christ was superior to all created beings and how He is our High Priest. Finally in chapter 10, the author expresses how Christ’s sacrifice is superior to that of the old covenant and that those who live by faith will preserve their souls.

But what does it mean to live by faith? In chapter 11, the author defines faith by “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” But what does such faith look like? What is an example of “living by faith?” Fortunately for us the author describes such faith through the lives of Old Testament people. The author provides for us examples of faith so that we can then examine our own lives and see how we match up.

We know of Abraham and his faith at Mt. Moriah as he was ready to sacrifice his son knowing that God could raise people from the dead. His actions revealed his faith. Consider the faith of Moses’ parents who hid their son from pharaoh’s soldiers that if caught they and Moses would surely die. Following God’s will was more important then their own lives.

Moses displayed faith by choosing to associate with God’s people than with the riches of pharaoh’s daughter. Instead of living in comfort, Moses lived in reproach through the eyes of the Egyptians. What an important lesson for us today in that are we willing to put aside money and reaching the higher echelons of society to follow Christ? The author of Hebrews considered Moses’ faith as a greater treasure than that of all of Egypt.

In chapter 12, the author sums up the previous chapter by stating that we have a cloud of witnesses that we can learn from. For as we struggle, so did they, but yet they succeeded through the trials of life in regards to their faith. How are we measuring up?

The author continues in that we need to remember the past heroes, but also fix our eyes on Jesus because it is He who is the author of our faith and the one who perfects it.
Therefore when trials and tribulation come upon us, it is how we respond to them that reveals our faith. It is through these trials that Christ is perfecting our faith. The author gives the analogy of how a father disciplines his son to illustrate how God works in the lives of His people to strengthen their faith.

Finally in Chapter 13 we see how Christ, who made all, is superior to all, is also changeless. What He said stands forever, what he accomplished stands forever. Therefore let us examine our character to see how it matches to His. Let us examine our faith in comparison to those of old. Let us put aside those desires that conflict with His character and strive for godliness.