Sustained

“All these died in faith [guided and sustained by it], without receiving the [tangible fulfillment of God’s] promises, only having seen (anticipated) them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. Now those who say such things make it clear that they are looking for a country of their own. And if they had been thinking of that country from which they departed [as their true home], they would have had [a continuing] opportunity to return. But the truth is that they were longing for a better country, that is, a heavenly one. For that reason God is not ashamed [of them or] to be called their God [even to be surnamed their God–the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob]; for He has prepared a city for them.”
‭‭HEBREWS‬ ‭11:13-16‬ ‭AMP‬‬ http://bible.com/1588/heb.11.13-16.amp

There is so much to comment on about faith.

We know that faith pleases God.

We know that The Just, that’s us, as believers are supposed to walk by Faith.

Rahab, Abraham, David, Abel, Noah… the list goes on, are all mentioned as heroes of faith in this chapter of Hebrews,

but I want to zone in on the first part,

they died in faith, guided and sustained;

Jesus poses a question in Luke 18:8

“I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?”

Jesus was teaching about the importance of continuing in prayer and petition, using an earthly example of someone’s persistence getting what they desired.

But then he asks if when He returns, will there be the same persistence in faith?

We see staggering faith all around us. People who started out believing God, but have grown cold to the promises.

Faith is an endurance run. Not a sprint.

The people mentioned above made it to the big end… (we call it, in the racing world)

How?

Faith sustained them.

Faith guided them.

They never stopped living by faith.

To those of us that have latched on to the promises of God, and are tempted to give in, I assure you, that if you keep looking to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of your faith, He will give you the grace to sustain and guide you.

He is the captain, the very origination of our faith.

He put that desire of the promises you’re believing Him for in your heart to begin with.

He is faithful to see it to completion.

Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: Philippians 1:6

“The steps of a [good and righteous] man are directed and established by the LORD, And He delights in his way [and blesses his path]. When he falls, he will not be hurled down, Because the LORD is the One who holds his hand and sustains him.”
‭‭PSALM‬ ‭37:23-24‬ ‭AMP‬‬ http://bible.com/1588/psa.37.23-24.amp