Here’s how can know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and be sure heaven is your eternal home. Click the link to read my personal story of accepting Jesus –My Story.
Disclosure: I am an Amazon affiliate. If you purchase using the links in the article I receive a small commission.
Books: Click on BOOKS to see some of the books I’ve written or where I’ve been a contributor.
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
Hebrews 11:1 (KJV)
Early in our marriage, we only owned one car. My spouse rode to work with a friend. Her friend was glad to get the money my wife gave her each week. The cash helped with the price of gasoline.
After I finished graduate school, we moved halfway across America to a new job. We only owned one car. My work required me to use it to visit the many hospitals in the greater metro area. My wife decided she would stay home with our two preschool age sons.
Not having a second car left my wife stranded at home with the young children. She could only go shopping in the evenings. She couldn’t do routine life maintenance activities like doctor’s appointments or attending an exercise class with either juggling our schedules and car usage or getting help from a friend.
One day, I suggested we consider getting a second car. Yes, the increased cost of insurance, fuel and maintenance, not to mention the purchase price, would be expensive.
“We need to pray about purchasing get the car. God’s leadership can tell us if we should go in debt for a new car or try to see what we could afford with our small savings,” I said.
She agreed. So we prayed and waited.
The very next Sunday at church, a HAM radio friend of mine (we were both FCC licensed amateur radio operators) approached me. He was a deacon in our church, a bachelor, and twenty years older than me.
“Jim,” he said. “I’ve ordered a new car. The dealer said it’ll take forty-five to sixty days before it arrives.”
“Great,” I replied. I hadn’t connected the dots of our prayer for a car and this conversation.
“I was wondering if you’d like my old car. It’s low mileage, doesn’t have much wear with me not being married. Besides, I’ve seen your wife buying groceries in the evening when I do my shopping.”
I listened intently.
His next words were, “God, impressed on me to offer you my old car. I don’t need two.”
I hesitated.
He continued, “The dealer offered little for it as a trade in as it’s ten years old. The mileage is low. It has new tires, and I had the oil changed. I thought maybe you’d like a second car. You can give me ten dollars a Sunday for the next two years. I’ll even pay for the title transfer to help.”
Only God.
“I need to check with my wife,” I said.
“Let me know,” he replied.
“Thank you,” I added.
My wife agreed.
God was meeting our needs. God provided us with a second car.
The author of the Book of Hebrews in the New Testament of the Bible is unknown. Many scholars attribute the book to the apostle Paul because of an internal reference to “our brother Timothy” in Hebrews 13:23. Some scholars have disputed this attribution since the second century and there is no decisive evidence for the authorship.
The exact date of the Book of Hebrews is unknown. The last half of the first century is the date most scholars assign to its writing.
The context of Hebrews 11:1 is the broader theme of faith. This theme runs throughout the Book of Hebrews.
The author of Hebrews is writing to a group of Jewish Christians who are facing persecution and considering abandoning their faith in Jesus Christ. He is encouraging them to hold fast to their faith and to trust in Jesus. A reminder that Jesus is the ultimate high priest and mediator between God and humanity runs throughout the Book of Hebrews.
In chapter 11, the author provides examples of men and women from the Old Testament who showed great faith in God. These examples include Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, and Rahab. The author highlights how each of these individuals showed their faith in God by acting in obedience to Him, even when it was difficult or unpopular.
The verse itself emphasizes that faith is not just a feeling or a hope, but a conviction of things that are not seen. It is a trust in the promises of God, even when we cannot see them with our physical eyes. Faith gives us assurance that the things we hope for will come to pass, even if we do not see them in the present moment.
Faith in biblical terms refers to a firm belief or trust in God, His promises, and His word as revealed in the Bible.
It involves a confident assurance in God’s character and a reliance on His power and grace. We often describe faith as the “substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1), showing that it involves a confident trust in things that are not understood or experienced in the present.
In the Bible, we often link faith to obedience and action, as manifested in one’s trust in God.
“Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”
James 2:17
This means that faith manifests itself by actions that show one’s trust in God and willingness to obey His commands.
Faith in biblical terms is a foundational concept. It underlies the Christian worldview. Faith informs the way believers understand and approach their relationship with God.
“The substance of things hoped for” refers to the assurance or confidence that believers have in the promises of God, even though they have not yet seen their fulfillment.
It is the substance or foundation of their hope, which gives them confidence and motivates them to persevere in their faith.
Faith is the conviction or belief in something that is not apparent or observable. It involves trusting in the existence or reality of something that is unproven or not seen with the naked eye. Faith is the assurance or confidence in the truth of something, even if not visible.
Hebrews 11:1 means that faith is the proof of things that are not visible or tangible. It is the confident trust in the promises of God, even though we cannot see Him or understand how or if those promises will happen. Faith is the foundation of our hope in God, and it gives us the strength to endure trials and challenges regardless of potential reward.
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
Hebrews 11:1 KJV
“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”
Hebrews 11:1 NIV
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:1 ESV
This verse gives encouragement by reminding us we can have faith in things that we cannot see or understand.
Here are a few ways that Hebrews 11:1 can give encouragement:
This verse speaks to the power of faith, which can apply to our daily lives in various ways. Here are some ways to apply this verse:
Applying Hebrews 11:1 to your life involves having faith in yourself, trusting in God, overcoming fear and doubt, and focusing on the positive.
Dear God,
I come to you in faith, believing that you exist and that you reward those who seek you. Help me hold on to this unwavering faith, even when things are difficult and uncertain. May my faith be foundational to my life, giving me the courage and strength to overcome any obstacle that comes my way. Help me trust in your plan for my life, even when I can’t see the way ahead. Thank you for the assurance that faith provides and the hope that it brings.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
This prayer acknowledges the truth of Hebrews 11:1, which says, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” It asks God to help the person praying to have this kind of faith, even in challenging times. The prayer also expresses gratitude for the hope and assurance that faith provides.
Now, we understand it is impossible to please God without faith, because faith plays an important role in the life of a believer. Things around you will change if you have faith in God.
Commitment to works also in the realm of the invisible and of the impossible because there will be no glory for God if it is possible. Human possibilities end where faith begins. Testing of faith in God occurs in times of trials and calamities to see if the faith we claim we have is authentic. Have faith in God and trust in His words. He is not a liar.
Today’s article is from the forthcoming book: “Hope: How to Have Hope During Times of Hardship | The Bible Speaks to Life Issues, Book Three” by Jimmie Aaron Kepler, Ed.D. form Poetry and Prayer Press (c) 2023
Books by Jimmie Aaron Kepler are available online at SEE JIMMIE’s BOOKS
Photo Source: All photos and videos were taken by the author unless noted in the photo caption, unless otherwise credited.
Disclosure: I am an Amazon affiliate. If you purchase using the links in the article I receive a small commission.
Just wanted to check in and remind you all to be extra careful with the freezing rain around. I’m wearing a black turtleneck sweater to help chase the cold away. Stay warm!
Guess what, I rescheduled this afternoon’s dentist appointment for mid-February, so I won’t risk sliding off an icy road or slipping and falling on ice. I confess, at sixty-nine years old I fear falling and all the bad things that could happen if I take a tumble.
This morning, I had the best start of my day with my daily Bible reading. I love underlining the meaningful passages, and I’ve got a picture to prove it! It’s the above photo I posted. Yes, that’s me in the picture.
Today is all about cozy moments at home with my coffee bar. I’ve got the best kettle that lets me brew tea, coffee, hot chocolate, you name it. And I’m a total tea/coffee snob, as you can see from my coffee beans, grinders, and multi-size pour over coffee pots in the below photo. Yes, that’s my coffee bar.
Don’t feel sorry for me being stuck in the house today. Oh, no, please don’t. I’ll be spending my day writing from home and staying safe. And as fun as I find writing, I’ll also get to sit in the recliner and read for a few hours. Few things give me more pleasure than reading and enjoying a hot beverage.
Later, I’ll be joining the Writer’s Guild of Texas meeting via Zoom from 7 to 8:30 PM, so that’s something to look forward to! By the end of the meeting, I should know if Mother Nature encased North Texas in ice, as some are forecasting.
Take care and enjoy a cup of your favorite brew. Maybe even crack open your Bible and see what insights you can find.
Cheers,
Jimmie
Photo sources: All photos are by Jim Kepler.
Hello Everybody. Can you believe it’s already Friday? As I grow older, the week seems to zoom by as fast a as school holiday evaporated when I young. Even though I am officially retired, I try to make the best use of each day I have.
Reflecting on something I heard Coach Joe Gibbs (member of the NFL Hall of Fame and the NASCAR Hall of Fame) say. His words, “If we view life as a football game, at my age I’m in the fourth quarter. Not only is it the fourth quarter, but the two-minute warning has been given. I’m now running the hurry-up offense to accomplish as much as I can.”
I turn 70-years old later this year. As a child in Sunday school and church I learned Psalm 90:10. The verse tells what are expected life-span is. The verse says, “The days of our years are threescore years and ten (70 years); and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years (80-years), yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.”
Each day is precious. My mother made four score and one and my father made four score and ten. I have an urgency to avail myself to use each day fully and to continue to share my Christian faith. I don’t fear death. I know that heaven is my destination because I am a Believer in Jesus Christ. I just want all of you to spend eternity with me in heaven. So, you’ll hear me share stuff about Jesus from time to time.
Here’s how can know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and be sure heaven is your eternal home. Click the link to read my personal story of accepting Jesus –My Story.
Disclosure: I am an Amazon affiliate. If you purchase using the links in the article I receive a small commission.
If so, consider giving them a book – along with flowers and taking them out to dinner – for Valentine’s Day this year.
Here are some books published since 2020 you may buy for your girlfriend, wife, or self for Valentine’s Day.
The Push by Ashley Audrain: A novel that tells the story of a new mother struggling to bond with her baby and the dark secrets of love and obsession that threaten to tear her family apart.
There are over 36,000 ratings on Amazon with an average of 4.3 out of 5 stars. You can click on the below link to learn more about the book. There’s no obligation to buy. It only provides more detailed information and reviews.
The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett: this novel tells the story of twin sisters who grow up in a small, southern black community, and the choices which lead them to different lives and experiences. It’s a story that explores the concept of identity, race, and family.
Amazingly, this novel has over 98,000 ratings on Amazon with an average rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars. You can click on the below link to learn more about the book. There’s no obligation to buy. It only provides more detailed information and reviews.
The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah: a historical fiction novel that tells the story of a woman who must make a tough choice to save her family by leaving her Texas home during the Great Depression and start a new life in California. It’s a story of hope, resilience, and the unlikely friendships she forms along the way.
The Four Winds has over 129,000 ratings on Amazon with an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars. You can click on the below link to learn more about the book. There’s no obligation to buy. It only provides more detailed information and reviews.
The Code Breaker by Walter Isaacson: It’s the story of Nobel Prize in Chemistry winner Jennifer Douda. The book explores the revolutionary technology of CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing and its implications for the future of humanity. It focuses on the work of biochemist Jennifer Doudna, who co-invented the CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing tool and has been at the forefront of research on its potential uses. It delves into the ethical, social, and scientific questions that arise from this powerful new technology and its potential to change the course of human evolution.
You can click on the below link to learn more about the book. There’s no obligation to buy. It only provides more detailed information and reviews.
The Sanatorium by Sarah Pearse: Set in a remote Swiss sanatorium, this psychological thriller published in 2020 a detective as she investigates a murder that occurred in the snowy peaks which bury secrets and lies.
This is book one on the Detective Elin Warner Series. You can click on the below link to learn more about the book. There’s no obligation to buy. It only provides more detailed information and reviews.
The Code for Love and Heartbreak by Jillian Cantor: A contemporary fiction novel, published in 2020, the book tells a story of love, loss, and the unexpected connections which can change everything. Emma is a math genius. She and her coding club co-president, George are tasked with brainstorming a new project. The project’s results? The Code for Love is born. It’s a contemporary romcom retelling of Jane Austen’s Emma.
You can click on the below link to learn more about the book. There’s no obligation to buy. It only provides more detailed information and reviews.
Disclosure: I am an Amazon affiliate. If you purchase using the links in the article I receive a small commission.
We can experience hope because of God and in God. God gives hope to the hopeless.
He shines His light in the darkness. He heals the broken hearted and the broken world. Hope exists because of His redemption.
The Book of Psalms are full of hope. The Psalms point to a celebration of hope we have in the Lord God.
Psalms strengthen our faith. They can lighten our heart and heartache. They can also give us hope for the future and a clear vision of the hope we have in the Lord.
Here are ten Psalms that share the hope we have in the Lord.
I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord. Psalm 27:13-14 KJV
Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.
Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.
But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation. I will sing unto the Lord, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.
Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all. He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken
I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.
The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.
My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved.
Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.
Man or woman’s ultimate hope comes from knowing Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
Do you know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord? If you died tonight, would you go to heaven?
Here’s how can know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and be sure heaven is your eternal home. Click the link to read my personal story of accepting Jesus – Jimmie’s Story.
Disclosure: I am an Amazon affiliate. If you purchase using the links in the article I receive a small commission.
Do you know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord? If you died tonight, would you go to heaven?
Here’s how can know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and be sure heaven is your eternal home. Click the link to read my personal story of accepting Jesus – Jimmie’s Story.
Have you ever considered reading the Bible through in a year? I know, scary thought. Maybe reading sounds overwhelming. Maybe you might consider listening to the Bible on audio. It takes less than fifteen minutes a day. You can even break it down into listening a few minutes in the morning and a few minutes in the evening if finding a dedicated block of time is too tough. You could listen with your morning coffee or on your commute to or from work.
The Bible is the word of God, and by reading it, you can gain a better understanding of his message and teachings.
Listening to the Bible on audio allows you to take it with you wherever you go, making it easy to incorporate into your daily routine. You can listen to the Bible for free on CBN.com at http://bible.cbn.com/#!/reading-plan/1/1?p=audio. The link gives you a daily plan. They also have an option where you can sign up for a dail email to remind you to read your Bible. The email has a link to that day’s reading/listening. You can sign-up for the email at https://www1.cbn.com/course/general-bible-courses.
Reading the Bible through in one year helps you to gain a comprehensive understanding of the entire text, rather than just isolated passages.
The Bible contains timeless wisdom and guidance that can help you navigate life’s challenges and make better decisions.
Listening to the Bible on audio can be a calming and uplifting experience, helping you to find peace and clarity in your life.
Reading the Bible through in one year is a great way to grow in your faith and deepen your relationship with God.
The Bible contains many stories of inspiration and encouragement that can help you to persevere through difficult times.
By reading the Bible through in one year, you can join a community of believers who are also committed to studying the word of God.
