11 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
In 2017 I was chosen as the speaker for a General Education Diploma (or GED) Graduation. My topic was There’s a “Hope” in Front of Me. I had a short outline and was not sure what I would say in the end. Many times, God works this way with my sermons…but for what I consider a “Speech” this was unusual.
I intended to talk about on Danny Gokey, who is a former contestant on American Idol. He wrote a song titled “Hope in Front of me”. If you heard his story, you know that his first wife died of a heart condition. he had promised his wife, Sophia, he’d audition for ‘Idol. Four weeks after his first wife died he had the audition for American Idol confirmed. From an interview I read, Danny Gokey indicated that
As he thought about it he said to himself “something I’ve always wanted was the point of Hope in Front of me”. Something good can come from this or any bad situation. And realized that even through his Dark times there was something good that came about of the bad.
As I listened introduction of each graduate. Each one indicated an issue, problem, challenge, or something that they went through that brought them to this moment. As I listened, I realized that there was definitely a connection to the Danny Gokey song and his experiences.
The students would say something like. I had a son who got in with the wrong crowd and was killed at a young age, I want to help parents who may need help with their sons. Or I was never a good student and I want to become a teacher in the future to help other students, like me, to become better students.
Just like Danny’s testimony these students in their life. That helped them to move to the place where they are now. What they experience may have led to the delay in them getting their degree, but what they experience also helped them shape and hope for something beyond this high school diploma. But as I take a wider look beyond these graduates beyond Danny Gokey and into what Hebrew says is the triumph of our faith. Just like those who were. In the Old Testament. Who had challenges? Issues, situations. But yet it was by their faith, in their hope in God. That led them to a greater glory. So we see it is our faith and our hope in God that leads us also to a greater glory. We have been formed and molded by our experiences. And God wants to take those experiences and move us to another level in him. If we follow his word. For Hebrews 11: 1 (NASB 20) says now Faith is the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things not seen. Another way to say it:
-Now Faith is being sure of what we hope for, and certain of what we do not see.
I can be sure of what I hope for, not because of me, but because of God!! God has put himself into my story. He has taken my stuff, my experiences and add his strength to it…Now what he desires to happen will happen, Can you trust God?
Heb 11:1 (NASB 20)
Now faith is the certainty of things [fn]hoped for, a [fn]proof of things not seen.
Heb 11:2 (NASB 20)
For by it the people of old [fn]gained approval.
Heb 11:3 (NASB 20)
By faith we understand that the [fn]world has been created by the word of God so that what is seen has not been made out of things that are visible.
Heb 12:1 (NASB 20)
Therefore, since we also have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let’s rid ourselves of every obstacle and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let’s run with endurance the race that is set before us,
Heb 12:2 (NASB 20)
looking only at Jesus, the [fn]originator and perfecter of the faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and