I have been thinking a lot about faith and it’s role in being ushered into the presence of the Lord. Let’s start by looking at a few scriptures.
Hebrews 11:3-6
3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
Very interesting choice of words. “That things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.” So, if the worlds were made physically through and by spiritual means, we too need to start creating our lives through and by spiritual means.
4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
First of all, let’s be clear that it was his faith that made the difference in his offer than that of Cains. Two important things come up next and the first is, “by which he obtained witness that he was righteous.” Dictionary.com defines “witness” as a verb: “to see, hear, or know by personal presence and perception” and as a noun: “an individual who, being present, personally sees or perceives a thing; a beholder, spectator, or eyewitness.” Now, hold that thought and let’s look at the next part of the sentence that will give us a clue as to who he witnessed or saw or was in the presence of. “God testifying of his gifts.” So, Abel was a witness of God and God also testified to him of his gifts. Really powerful. I wonder what his gifts were. Here is a possible one, and that is the gift of eternal life. Very likely, Abel received his calling and election made sure and was an eyewitness to the glories of the eternities. I would not doubt if He was shown all things, like Adam, Noah, Moses, and “even the least Saint may know all things as fast as he is able to bear them. …” (Teachings, p. 149.). Speaking of his gifts, “and by it he being dead yet speaketh.” Interesting choice of words again. I am going to take a stab at this. First he is authorized by God to speak, who else is authorized to speak for God or testify of God, you guessed it, prophets. I would guess that Abel is one of the noble and great ones that Abraham saw and likely one of the great prophets who testify of God to many nations, tongues, and people; even a great servant or ambassador of Christ.
5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
Enoch is always known for being translated which is a holy and high status, but what happened “before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.” Not a testimony, but “this testimony,” which is the testimony of which Paul is talking about and that is of those who overcame while in the flesh.
6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
So, there is faith, and belief that God is a “rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” And how does he reward them, by having them be a witness of Christ and appearing unto them and empowering them to be an even greater servant for God.
Hebrews 11:27
By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
Who is invisible to the world? Christ, who is mightier than the king, even all the kings.
I will close this post with some words from John Pontius’s book, Journey to the Veil.
“As this year draws to thundering conclusion and we prepare to walk away from the struggles and strains of 2010, I want to have the record show that I have seen and I do know that there are great things, glorious things, divine gifts, and heavenly manifestations that are ours to claim. I am not guessing or hoping. These are things that I know. The Lord of Salvation stands ready, delighting in our importuning pleas to part the veil and invite Him to dwell with us.
Just as beginning tomorrow we must train our fingers to write “2011,” let us begin tomorrow to train our hearts to believe. Let us make this year our year of knowing, of parting the veil, and of kneeling at his feet. Let us make this the greatest year in our history, because it is the year when we invited Christ to return— not so much to cleanse the whole world, but to cleanse our souls, and to redeem us back into His presence, into that very real world of divine things seen presently by faith alone.
That will make it the greatest year indeed.”
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