By Faith You Understand

The eleventh chapter of Hebrews is definitive in becoming a true worshiper, one who worships the Father in spirit and truth. It is one of those chapters in the Bible that you return to on a regular basis for insight and understanding into the ways of God.

The third verse reveals why so many struggle with the Bible. It simply says, “By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.”

This verse teaches one of the ways of God. God works by His word. The simplicity of this causes some to stumble. God creates by His word. He speaks, then acts according to what He just said. This is called being faithful. God is faithful to His own word.

When you act according to God’s word it is because God’s word has created something in you and with you. He creates your faith. It is a personal faith. No one else has your faith. It is unique as a person, and God creates your faith according to His word. Romans 10:17 says, “Now faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” When God speaks into your life, your faith is created in the same way that God spoke into the deep void of Genesis 1:2 and created light.

It is by faith, your faith, that you then begin to see everything else that God is saying and doing, just as it happened in Genesis when God created all there is. Faith gives sight and insight into God’s word. One of the ways of God is that you hear by seeing in the light of your faith, and you see by hearing the word of God! Hallelujah!!! God’s ways are higher than our ways.

The problem many have is that they want to understand what God says without faith. Impossible. They get discouraged reading the Bible because it does not make any sense, according to their understanding. But understanding God’s word is created by God, by faith, your faith that God created, according to His word. And He gives understanding, insight, as you act upon His word more and more.

Unbelievers have always tried to support their unbelief with their own understanding of the way things are. This is possible by not recommended because it denies the work of God in life. In the end, the unbeliever is left only with what they have said and done in a life without God, and then, on into eternity. Not recommended. Jesus called this the outer darkness where there is weeping and the gnashing of teeth without the light from God’s word.

But by faith, which comes from God’s word, light is created and understanding is given, and it begins to make sense, spiritual sense. The opposite of weeping and the gnashing of teeth is joy and the jaw-dropping wonder of knowing God.

Today, meditate on Hebrews 11:3 by first memorizing it, then consider all that God has created in your life, not by what you have, but according to His word.