1Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, proof of things not seen. 2For by this, the elders obtained approval. 3By faith we understand that the universe has been framed by the word of God, so that what is seen has not been made out of things which are visible.
4By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he had testimony given to him that he was righteous, God testifying with respect to his gifts; and through it he, being dead, still speaks.
5By faith Enoch was taken away, so that he wouldn’t see death, and he was not found, because God translated him. For he has had testimony given to him that before his translation he had been well pleasing to God. 6Without faith it is impossible to be well pleasing to him, for he who comes to God must believe that he exists, and that he is a rewarder of those who seek him.
7By faith Noah, being warned about things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared a ship for the saving of his house, through which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.
8By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go out to the place which he was to receive for an inheritance. He went out, not knowing where he went. 9By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a land not his own, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise. 10For he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
11By faith even Sarah herself received power to conceive, and she bore a child when she was past age, since she counted him faithful who had promised. 12Therefore as many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as innumerable as the sand which is by the sea shore, were fathered by one man, and him as good as dead.
13These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them and embraced them from afar, and having confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. 15If indeed they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had enough time to return. 16But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
17By faith, Abraham, being tested, offered up Isaac. Yes, he who had gladly received the promises was offering up his only born son, 18to whom it was said, “Your offspring will be accounted as from Isaac,” 19concluding that God is able to raise up even from the dead. Figuratively speaking, he also did receive him back from the dead.
20By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even concerning things to come.
21By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.
22By faith Joseph, when his end was near, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones.
23By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment.
24By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25choosing rather to share ill treatment with God’s people than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a time, 26considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he looked to the reward. 27By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. 28By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, that the destroyer of the firstborn should not touch them.
29By faith they passed through the Red Sea as on dry land. When the Egyptians tried to do so, they were swallowed up.
30By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days.
31By faith Rahab the prostitute didn’t perish with those who were disobedient, having received the spies in peace.
32What more shall I say? For the time would fail me if I told of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets— 33who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked out righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, grew mighty in war, and caused foreign armies to flee. 35Women received their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured, not accepting their deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. 36Others were tried by mocking and scourging, yes, moreover by bonds and imprisonment. 37They were stoned. They were sawn apart. They were tempted. They were slain with the sword. They went around in sheep skins and in goat skins; being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated— 38of whom the world was not worthy—wandering in deserts, mountains, caves, and the holes of the earth.
39These all, having been commended for their faith, didn’t receive the promise, 40God having provided some better thing concerning us, so that apart from us they should not be made perfect.
These Earthly Tents
Map With a Travel Route
Years ago, I took my two sons camping at Big Bend National Park. We took the twelve-hour drive out from South Central Texas, where we live, to one of the wildest places I have ever been. We had a little Toyota Prius jam-packed with our camping gear. Once we got to the park entrance, it was another hour just to drive to the main campground. We set up our little tent, and I noticed that it had some wear and tear at the seams. We got all settled in, and then we went down to a pavilion to listen to a welcome lecture by the park ranger. He went to great lengths to explain to us that bears had migrated back to the park, and we should be careful not to leave any food outside that might attract them, as bears have been known to attack people. In addition, mountain lions were regularly sighted in the park, so we should be extremely careful around them. He added that although they have not been known to attack campers, we should exercise caution. So much for a good night’s sleep.
As we got back to our feeble little tent, we lay down to sleep. I couldn’t sleep at all. I put a pistol under my pillow. The wind began to howl, and that little tent began to shimmer and shake. The tent began to rip along its weak spots. I knew we were in very fragile housing that would probably never last for another camping trip. I threw the tent away when we got home. As we travel through this life, Paul tells us that we are in frail tents. I think it’s interesting that he uses the term tents. We all understand how temporary a tent really is. Each day that we live, our tent is dissolving. We live in “earthly tents”. But, Paul adds that we have a “building made by God, a house not made by hands, eternal, in the heavens.” Our tents here take on diseases and illnesses from the broken world in which we live, but we have a better day coming. There will come a day when this tent in which we live will be totally worn out. We will live our last day. Our time on this earth will be done. And then, in the end times, our souls will have a new body that is made in heaven. It will no longer be corruptible, but will be incorruptible.
I think a good takeaway from this passage is that we are just on a short camping trip in this life. We are camping in tents that are falling apart. Some translations of the Bible describe Abraham as a “sojourner in the land” searching for a city not made with hands. The writer of Hebrews tells us, “9 By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a land not his own, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. (Hebrews 11:9 WEB) Reader, you and I are heirs of the same promise. Paul tells us that someday we will no longer dwell in these tents, but we will live in a city in a new body, both of which are incorruptible. Enjoy the journey today. Serve God. Love your neighbor, but realize that this is temporary and we will have a permanent home someday. In that home, we will walk and talk with the Lord Jesus. Oh, what a joy that will be!