GodReflection: Faith Certainties
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1
In Hebrews chapter eleven as the roll call of the great cloud of witnesses begins, the writer lists eighteen people who knew that God always answers His promises. They reached a point in their lives where certainty was a solid descriptor of their faith.
One of the eighteen was Enoch. A short vignette in a Genesis five linage list is all we know about him:
When Enoch had lived 65 years, he became the father of Methuselah. After he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked faithfully with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters. Altogether, Enoch lived a total of 365 years. Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away (Genesis 5:22-24).
The story is highlighted in Hebrews eleven:
By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.” For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him (Hebrews 11:5-6).
To have faith is to please God and from that very faith overflows confidence and certainty of expectation that God rewards hearts that connect with Him.
Enoch passed into the presence of God without the death experience. Unless Jesus returns during the short life I have left I too will pass through death—unlike Enoch. Yet, like Enoch faith assures me I too will reside in the presence of God.
I have always believed in heaven. To tell the truth throughout most of my life I didn’t have a visual picture that was clear. I’m not sure how spirits can sing without voices and how an eternal song service is all that desirous. But, maybe spirits will sing on the right key.
Sure, God will be present but that still sort of left me with the spirits of angels, God, Jesus, Holy Spirit and we humans floating around.
Three years ago all of that changed. My reward took on new and visual meaning. When I read a couple of times a book by Randy Alcorn with the title Heaven, I realized that up until then my theology of heaven lacked examination.
The basic premise of the book was to begin with Genesis and track the realities and implication of creation, and the restoration after the fall, through the “new heavens and a new earth” of Isiah 65:17, and on through Jesus teaching of eternal life, until the “I am making everything new” of Revelation 21:5.
So three years later here I am. Perhaps it’s influence by age but I find more so than any time in my life I now look forward with faith-confidence to the reward of resurrection.
I was made for the next reality.
I can hardly wait to live again in a perfect body with a sinless spirit to enjoy a brand new earth under new heavens with God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and God’s people from all of history.
It will be an earth like God created in perfection prior to Satan’s destructive action.
And we will all experience the Holy Wonder that results from faith that pleased God, while loving Him and from assured belief that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).
I would love to set a coffee time with you in the next reality. That would just add to my reward.
Stay tuned.
Dr. Gary J. Sorrells
A GodReflection on God Rewards Faith
God Reflection 