Heroes Hall of Fame

Faith – “sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see”. (Hebrews 11:1) What is it you hope for? Truly hope for? Way down deep inside? Do you dare to speak it? Do you dare to dream or hope that one day it will come to pass? What is that you do not see that you need to be certain of? In this uncertain, ever changing world, how can anyone be certain of anything? Isn’t that just plain foolishness?

God’s Word says it is not foolishness… that we can have faith that those things, for which we hope for, will come to pass. That we can be certain of what we do not see. Now I’m not talking about that million dollar lottery, or the vacation home in Sedona…. but those too could come to pass. I am referring to those things that make a difference in the lives of others for eternity as we put "feet to our Faith". God is the only one who knows what that might look like in your life, or mine. Perhaps it will be as we pray for healing for someone; as we pray for salvation for a friend or loved one; as we take a stand against injustice; as we choose to put family first above career, money, prestige and success. Or maybe it will be as we sit at the bedside, of a hospice patient reading or just sitting quietly holding their hand. Maybe it will be as we provide water or food to the homeless, or offer a ride to someone who is unable to drive. For each of us, how we put "feet to our faith" will be different, and uniquely designed by God.

When my husband was called here to Arizona, to take on the position of Pastor to Senior’s at CrossPoint, we left behind a church family we loved, an active ministry, our friends, our families, and all we were connected too. Part of the family we left behind was our son and his newly married bride. This is the same son who had a life altering accident only 2 years before. There is not time to go into detail but Jason has many mental challenges. He does not drive and does not always comprehend even simple things. Leaving our son was the most challenging part of our faith walk to Arizona. We had many friends who told us not to worry that they would look out for him. We left Northern California knowing that God would be faithful to watch over him, and we were blessed by the many who would be standing in our place to help when needed (as we would be too far away). I would love to tell you that the many are still watching, but while well intentioned and good-hearted as they were, only one has been faithful to what was promised. Only one has continued, through all these years, to be faithful. She has kept going when the going was not easy, but hard. She has put self aside (for almost 7 years now) and has continually relied on God and put "feet to her faith". This friend has chronic-fatigue-syndrome and can end up in bed for days at a time… yet she has gone above and beyond as she has watched over, been there in times of trouble, driven him to get groceries, run a myriad of errands over the years, and provided food when he was jobless and had no income. She has driven him to doctor’s appointments and emergency rooms. She has put up with inappropriate phone calls from a wife who is lonely (as our son works the night shift) and she has had too much to drink. My faithful friend has prayed for me, and with me, as we have agonized over their poor choices and their alcoholism. We have prayed together for my daughter-in-laws salvation and for my sons faltering walk with the Lord. She is a true, living example of putting “feet to your faith”, of having hope and being certain of what we do not see. She is faithful not for a moments time, not only when it is convenient, not for what she can get in return, but out of love; the long-haul agape/agapao love. She is faithful out of her love for the God she serves! She is in my Faith Heroes Hall of Fame!

The Book of Hebrews, chapter 11, is often referred to as the Bible Heroes Hall of Fame. Here God has provided us with a written record of others who have come before us, faced many challenges, believed God, and came out the other side. This chapter starts at the very beginning “By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible”. The phrase “by faith” is written 20 times or more in this chapter. There are over 16 references to men and women who responded in faith, and have been found righteous as a result. By the worlds standard many of them would not have been considered successful for that which they hoped for and were certain of did not come to pass in their life time… yet they were faithful. They believed and they walked by faith not by sight.

Verse 4 says “By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice then Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.” Abel didn’t so something huge or out of the ordinary to receive such recognition or honor. Abel was simply being obedient to God as he went about his daily living. Yet he was commended as a righteous man, and because of Abel’s faith his life still speaks to us today! Abel left a legacy.

I can’t really say what kind of legacy I will leave behind. But I pray, I hope that at the end of my journey, here on earth, someone will be able to say “by faith Sandra made a difference”… if not in the many, at least in the life of one”.