Abel, Enoch & Noah by Mitchell Skelton

Reading Hebrews 11 is like walking through a portrait gallery full of all your favorite heroes. It is here we see a portrait of our heroes of faith. Beginning our walk through Faith's Hall of Fame, the Hebrew writer reminds us that God does not expect us to believe without evidence. Biblical faith is not blind faith. God has not asked us to believe without evidence of his power and proof that he will do what he says he will do.

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. 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. By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than 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. By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith (Hebrews 11:1—7).

Abel's Faith in Worship

The Hebrew writer informs us that Abel's offering was accepted because it was offered in faith. Does this mean that Abel's brother, Cain, did not believe in God? We know that Cain believed in God, so what was the difference between the two. Paul explains how one comes to faith in this way, "Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ" (Romans 10:17). From Paul's explanation, we realize that Abel's offering was made in accordance to God's revealed will or "by faith." Cain obviously ignored God's instructions as is evident from God's rejection of his offering. Abel's example of faith speaks to us yet today. In all matters, we should listen to God's word. We certainly should worship God according to his will. "Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth" (John 4:23,24).

Enoch's Faith in Life

Enoch's life was lived according to the will of God. "Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away" (Genesis 5:24). The praise of Enoch by the Hebrew writer shows that faith in God and living a Godly life are requisite to please God. "This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God" (1 John 5:3-5).

Noah's Faith in God's Word

Noah took God at his word, no matter how unbelievable it seemed. God told Noah some unbelievable things. The earth had never flooded before and destruction of this type was unheard of. Yet, Noah's faith moved him to act.

It is our faith that moves us to do good works. "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith -- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God -- not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do" (Ephesians 2:8-10). A faith without works is no faith at all. "What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, 'You have faith; I have deeds.' Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do" (James 2:14-18).

It has been said, "There are thousands of ways of pleasing God, but not one without faith." A faith that pleases God is one that worships him, walks with him and works for him.