Faith

"These all died in faith, not having recieved the promises, but having seen them far off, and they were PERSUADED of them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth .  For they that say such things DECLARE PLAINLY that they seek a country.  And truly if they had been mindful of that country FROM WHENCE THEY CAME OUT, they might have had opportunity to have returned.  But now they desire a BETTER COUNTRY, that IS, and HEAVENLY: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for He hath prepared for them a city."

Hebrews 11:13-16

Bro. Whittle:


"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for..."; that is, it is a REALITY, and not a fancy or figmanent of the imagination. It is the fulfillment of your dreams; it is heaven's answer to the longings and desires of the earth. It is that which is a SURE foundation...Faith is the ingredient that enables the trusting heart to act upon the promise as though they were fulfillment; it translates the uncertain future into the certain now; it transforms the invisible into what can be seen and known.

"Now faith is...the evidence of things not seen..."; that is, it is the facts established as legitimate proof. Faith is MORE than desire it is the fulfillment of desire. The foundation of faith is THE WORD OF GOD. Faith rests confidently in that which God declares. To believe, that God will do exactly what He promised in by no means presumption; it is FAITH in the INTEGRITY of GOD and HIS WORD.