FAITH IS THE VICTORY
Contemporary Christian “faith” is often “faith for” something for our earthly life like a new vehicle, healing, a spouse, a child or a job. It typically reflects the earthly-mindedness of American Christians whose definition of “blessing” is in the “more, bigger, faster, better,” and the comforts, of the things that make life good in our distorted minds.
But then there’s the “heroes of faith” of Hebrews 10:32–11:40 whose faith was “in” God, not faith “for” something of the world. It disarmed the things and the events of the world and robbed them of power over ones’ soul or spirit. And it empowered them to trust Him regardless of the outcome as they lived with a greater love for God and their future/eternal reward than for earthly rewards in their few years on the earth.
Original sin disconnected man from God’s Abundant Life that had flowed from the Father through their Spirit-to-spirit intimacy in the Garden, and redefined “the good life” as things of the earth where Satan rules. However, even though Jesus reconnected us to the Father and we can again receive Abundant Life from Him, many Christians seem to still prefer to seek it in Satan’s territory.
Our Hebrews heroes of faith trusted God in a way that empowered them to accept life or death, captivity or freedom, scarcity or abundance, nice homes or holes in the ground. Their simple faith in Him allowed them to hear His voice and to walk out His plan for them without the deceptive and intimidating voices of the world and the flesh.
Nothing mattered to them more then to walk in God’s way with an uncluttered mind, soul and spirit, and when they did, they could hear His voice and receive His power to do great things like escaping a flood in an ark or taking down the walls of Jericho – or enduring being sawn in two.
Such faith is being practiced by countless persecuted but faithful saints in distant lands today – our brothers and sisters in Christ whom most Christians choose to abandon, and there is no reason to think that we Americans will escape similar testings.
Read Hebrews 10:35-39 and dare to ask God if anything lies between you and faith that would lead to the preserving/saving of your soul in trials.
Is it time for life-altering, II Chronicles 7:14 repentance among us for being earthly minded and spiritually shallow – or is that an unjust judgment?
Ken Stoltzfus
Kidron, Ohio USA
January 31, 2026
Printable pdf at: www.10minas.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/26-11.pdf