God calls His people to be Faith Heroes
God has an amazing plan for your life! He has commissioned each of us for a specific purpose that will require much bravery. It will also take great faith as God expects you and I to step out of our comfort zones and become His faith heroes. He wants each and every one of us to live with a sense of destiny and have a higher purpose in life. Why? Because He loves us, and His all-encompassing love compels us to be an example to others, influencing them to make the correct decisions about eternity. He also wants to use us to encourage the people in our circle of influence to follow God wholeheartedly and extend His Kingdom. In short God expects each of us to be a role model for Him.
We all need people we can look up to and learn from. How important it is to have and to be godly role models. Iron sharpens iron and God expects us to encourage and inspire each other to reach higher and go further. The Bible is full of faith heroes and no matter who you are, you will find someone you can identify with on a personal level. If you are a young woman perhaps you will see yourself as an Esther. God called her for a specific time and season. Young men with a giant to kill may relate to David the shepherd boy. The faith heroes of the Bible include people of all backgrounds and age is of no consequence to God. He can use you whatever stage of life you find yourself in. Look what Abraham and Sarah achieved in their old age, as just one example.
The Hall of Faith
Hebrews 11 is the extraordinary chapter of the Bible known as ‘The Hall of Faith’. It is here that we read about many Bible heroes and the amazing thing is that many of them had severe failings. This shows us that God uses imperfect people and He can use you and I.
This chapter never fails to inspire me when I read its list of Bible heroes. However, it is clear the list is unfinished. Hebrews 11:39 says, “And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets.” The list is still being written. It could include the names of all those “who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword.” This would add everyone “whose weakness was turned to strength“, who “faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment.” Perhaps it could even include you or I in our stand for Jesus in the face of ridicule from the people around us?
May God find us faithful
Hebrews 11 concludes by saying that these Bible figures “were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.” How can we be better off than these heroes of the Bible? The answer lies in the fact that if we have been born again we have God living inside of us and we cannot fail. We have a spiritual authority in the Name of Jesus that the Old Testament figures did not.
So, wouldn’t it be wonderful if your name was added to the Hall of Faith? Yes it would. But, it would be even more wonderful if you added others as well because of your example, your perseverance, your unfailing witness of God’s goodness. Our greatest desire should be, that God will find us faithful to all He has called us to do. Our heart’s cry should be to live our lives for Christ and influence others to do the same.
Heroes of the Faith
Hebrews 11 records the Biblical ‘Hall of Faith’. The world would call it the Hall of Fame. However, we know that faith is far superior to fame as faith lasts forever, with eternal benefits for those who believe.
It is amazing to consider all that the Old Testament saints accomplished without the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit. As born-again believers, we have God living inside us and He calls us to rise up and be His examples today as we share our testimonies of salvation, healing, and deliverance. He has equipped and empowered us. From David to Esther, God uses imperfect people. He can take your life and turn it around for good if you just submit your life to Him. And, it is never too late to be a role model for God. Every testimony of a life transformed is valid and a huge encouragement for others.
Be a Role Model for God
Stay tuned to GOD TV and increase your faith. Also, read GOD TV’s blog post Who Are God’s Generals and Why Have Some Failed? These stories of contemporary faith heroes will inspire you further.
