Living by Faith
- Beth Mims
- Mar 20
- 4 min read
How do you live if you are not afraid of dying?
In Hebrews 10:38, the author quotes a line from Habakkuk 2:4, “The just shall live by faith.” We have heard that verse before, probably quoted many times. We flick it off our tongue from memory, but do we really think about what it means?
Beginning in that verse, we see an interesting sequence in the book of Hebrews. First, the statement. Then, in chapter eleven we see example after example of people who lived by faith, not by sight. People who took God at His word and moved forward.
Many are familiar to us. Abram, who left his home without knowing the end of his journey. Noah, who worked on an ark for 120 years when he had never seen a drop of rain. Sarah, who birthed a child when she was ninety years old. Joshua, who led thousands of people to march around a walled city for seven days, knowing the people inside were armed to the hilt. We have heard their stories, but have we really thought about what they went through as they lived by faith, as they recklessly followed God in obedience?
My favorite verses in this chapter of Hebrews are verses 32 – 38:
“32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gideon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: 33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions. 34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: 36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: 37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; 38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.”
These were real people, people who lived. Flawed people for sure, but people who dared to trust God and stake their lives on His word. They lived by faith.
But the story doesn’t stop there.
Chapter 12 brings it all the way to us, today. These people who followed God, who lived by faith, who gave their lives, were and are examples for us today. Hebrews 12:1 puts it this way:
“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,”
Their examples are included in scripture as an encouragement for us to run our race, to keep going, to live by faith. To trust what God tells us over what the world shows us. We are not promised an easy road, but their illustrations give evidence of the success of living by faith.
And we have an example and a relationship that they did not. They were still waiting on the promise, as Hebrews 10:39 – 40 tells us. We have Jesus.
“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds” (Hebrews 12:2 – 3).
Living by faith means living beyond the fear of death, because Christ has conquered death for us. It calls us to live unencumbered by the things and strings of this world, empowered by our Lord, and following the examples set before us.
It isn’t easy. Living by faith goes against our need for control, our human nature. It wasn’t easy for Jesus, and we haven’t endured a smidgen of what He did. But He saw the end goal – the joy – of what lies ahead, and we can, too.
Christ knew that whatever He suffered here was worth the prize. It still is.
The Father is waiting.
The crowds in Heaven are cheering us on.
Don’t stop now. It’s the end stretch of the race! We are almost home!
Grab the runner beside you and bring him with you.
Father, these words convict and excite me at the same time. I want to run this race with joy. I want to live by faith in you, unafraid of death or the future. Sometimes I fail, but I want to keep going toward the prize. I know that I only do that through Your strength and with Your grace. Living by faith is not for wimps, but it is for Your children. Your Holy Spirit empowers us to stand. When You return, may You find us standing for You. In Jesus’ name I pray.
How will living by faith impact your life today?
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