Hebrews 11:1

Hebrews 11:1 says, Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.  If we are to live by faith, then we must understand what faith is.  Faith is the basis of what we hope for, the everlasting life with God when Christ returns to claim His followers.  Faith is not something that we can prove by sight.  If we must always see a positive outcome before we act, then that is not faith.  We cannot demand to know the outcome before we step out in faith.  We are to simply act knowing without a doubt that God is in charge no matter what happens.  Verse two adds, For by it the elders obtained a good report.  Living by faith was not a new concept, but it was through faith that the elders, those people of God who lived before Christ came, obtained a good report.  It was not their own goodness, nor their obedience to the law that gave them a good report, but it was their faith in God that did.  Verse three continues, 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.  We can never really prove that God, by His word alone, created the heavens and the earth.  This is the same with the creation of all life.  We may see a lot of evidence that points to a Creator, but we can only know the truth of a Creator through faith.  We do not have to prove God exists, but we simply have to accept Him by faith.  We cannot really prove that Christ died for our sins in earthly, scientific terms, but we can only accept the fact by faith.  Verse four states, 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.  We might question why God accepted Abel's sacrifice and not Cain's, but it had to do with faith.  If we offer any sacrifice to God for any reason other than faith in Him, it will not be accepted.  We cannot buy God's grace but can only accept it in faith.  Verse five adds, 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.  Not many people can say they pleased God enough that they never died.  Just two that are mentioned in the Bible.  This does not mean that Enoch never sinned, but that he was totally dedicated to following God's will after he came to God through faith.  Verse six continues, 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.  Without faith in God, we cannot please God.  Works and sacrifices will never buy God's approval.  We can only please God by placing our faith in Christ.  Verse seven concludes, By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.  Noah was another person who found grace in the eyes of God.  Noah was not found faithful only after building the Ark but built the Ark because he was found faithful.  The gift of salvation through the grace of God will always come before doing works for God.  Works are an expression of our faith and not a means of obtaining favor with God.  The whole world may have thought Noah crazy, but he was faithful to God and built an Ark on dry land.