“By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible” ( Hebrews 11:3 )

By faith we understand that the universe was made by the spoken Word of God. However, faith also had an incredible role in the creation of the world. God spoke creation into existence when nothing was. This took faith on His part, He believed His Words would form the physical and it did.

Faith is a key element in how the kingdom of God works. God himself operates in this way. This is an important lesson for us, by it we see two amazing truths. First, as in our example from creation, faith has the power to bring what does not exist into existence. Secondly, we see that speaking in faith is what unlocks that power to bring it to pass ( Romans 4:17 ). We can speak the Word of God with authority to any situation, being confident that it will change the circumstances and the outcome. It may seem odd, but that is why faith is required.

The previous verse describes faith as “being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see” ( Hebrews 11:1 ). Meaning the substance behind faith cannot be seen or understood with the five senses, but there is a certainty to it. Just as in our example from creation, the substance supporting faith is the Word of God. When we have a Word, we have the means to get us to where our hope is realized.

God spoke the universe into existence by faith. He instructed His Word to go and produce, believing that it would happen and the rest is history. In the same way, we can have such confidence in the Word of God because we also have a wonderful promise concerning it, “As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it” ( Isaiah 55:10-11 ).

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for” ( Hebrews 11:1-2 )

In the natural realm, faith doesn’t make sense. Because faith cannot be seen, understood or explained when situations beyond human control require its use. And yet faith is absolutely necessary for the believer. In fact, faith is the first and only thing required of us when we come to God (Ephesians 2:8-9). Later on in this chapter the writer draws attention to the fact that without faith we cannot please God, which means it is absolutely necessary (Hebrews 11:6).

Paul told the believers in Corinth, “We live by faith, not by sight” (II Corinthians 5:7). If this is the case, it is important to know what faith is, so that we can regulate and conduct ourselves in faith, not by what we see, taste, touch, hear or feel.

This passage in Hebrews is the mere definition of faith. It is being sure, certain and confident of the things we hope for. The King James Bibles tells us that faith is a substance. And the Amplified Bible puts it best when it calls faith the title deed of the things we hope for. If we have the title deed to something we own it.

The Amplified goes on to explain it this way, “NOW FAITH is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses]” (Hebrews 11:1). Faith is what assures and having faith is perceiving as real what is not yet evident in the natural realm. The ancients had it; otherwise they would not have seen nor done the things they did.

Faith is what carries you from point A to point B. You can hope for something but faith is the substance that moves you forward until you experience it. Take salvation for example. We receive this by faith. Being saved is not something that you can see, hear, smell, touch or feel. However, chances are if you’ve experienced it no one can talk you out of it because your faith is the substance that testifies to you that it is real and genuine. The hope of salvation hasn’t been realized yet, in the sense that we still are on this earth, but faith is what assures us that salvation is a done deal and one day very soon the hope of salvation will be realized.

This same principal applies to all situations in the believer’s life. This is why the writer declared at the end on Hebrews 10, “But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved” (Hebrews 10:39). Why? Because we have faith! We have the title deed to the things that God has promised us. All we need to do is believe them until the hope of them is realized. “This is what the ancients were commended for” (Hebrews 11:2). They believed God when all seemed lost and obtained a good report.

It is important to stand firm in what you know, not letting anyone or anything talk you out of faith. Faith is believing God and resting in His promises until fulfillment comes. Let faith convince you of reality even before you see what has been promised in the natural. This is what pleases God (Hebrews 11:6).