Wednesday June 24 2026
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Hebrews 11:1-Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Hebrews 11 provides us so many beautiful examples of faith!
The men and women listed in Hebrews 11 show us that even in the worst and most difficult of times, we can have full assurance in the reality, goodness, and wisdom of our God. This is made especially clear in verse one of this remarkable text of Scripture. Notice the words “substance” and “evidence.” Missler provides a fantastic breakdown of these words.
In our culture, faith is frowned on as mere imagination – the hopes and wishes of the common man. Evidence is what matters, we are told – and not just any form of evidence. We’re told we can only “know” things after they have been demonstrated time and again through stringent scientific method, and even then future experiments might change up what we thought was true. The Bible offers a different position. True faith is substance. It is evidence. The word “substance” in Hebrews 11 is ὑπόστασις – hypostasis – and it means “confidence” or “assurance.” It has the connotation of a foundation or substructure, something stable and unmoving on which things can be built. It is substance that gives real existence. The word hypostasis was used in ancient title deeds as a guarantee of ownership. It refers to the real essence, the real content. Faith is the essence of a future reality, despite the appearances of the physical world around us…As a scientific term, hypostasis is antithetical to lack of knowledge. Hypostasis is the substance, the reality. It’s something proven. It’s the evidence of things not seen. The word ἔλεγχος-elegchos-is a legal term for evidence that is accepted for conviction. It’s what makes us certain about something. In 2 Timothy 3: 16 it is translated “reproof,” but it is the information that leads to our being convinced, that gives us conviction. The person of faith lives out his belief based on what his mind and spirit are convinced is true. (Dr. Chuck Missler, Beyond Perception: The Evidence of Things Not Seen, 4-5 (Kindle Edition): Coeur d’Alene, ID: Koinonia House)
It is especially when we are going through the uncertain and difficult times of life that we can find solace, security, and success in the strength and stability of the God of creation.
Hebrews 11:32-40-And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: 33 who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked 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, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 35 Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. 36 Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, 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 mountains, in dens and caves of the earth. 39 And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, 40 God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.
Whatever hardships you are facing, bring them with confidence and boldness to the throne of the Almighty. He will bring you through the storm!
Lord, build our faith. Amen.