God
Rewards Those Who Diligently Seek Him!
Hebrews
11
"Now
faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of
things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.
"By
Faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word
of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of
things which are visible.
"By
faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than
Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous,
God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead
still speaks.
"By
faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, 'and
was not found, because God had taken him' (Geneses 5:24),
for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased
God. But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for
he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is
a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
"By
faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen,
moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his
household, by which he condemned the world and became heir
of the righteousness which is according to faith.
"By
faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place
which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out,
not knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land
of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with
Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for
he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder
and maker is God.
"By
faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed,
and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she
judged Him faithful who had promised. Therefore from one man,
and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of
the sky in multitude, innumerable as the sand which is by
the seashore.
"These
all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having
seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and
confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek
a homeland. And truly if they had called to mind that country
from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity
to return. But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly
country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God,
for He has prepared a city for them.
"By
faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he
who had received the promises offered up his only begotten
son, of whom it was said, 'In Isaac your seed shall be called,'
concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the
dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.
"By
faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
"By
faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of
Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.
"By
faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure
of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning
his bones.
"By
faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by
his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and
they were not afraid of the king's command.
"By
faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the
son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction
with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures
of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than
the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.
"By
faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king;
for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible. By faith he
kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who
destroyed the firstborn should touch them.
"By
faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas
the Egyptians, to do so, were drowned.
"By
faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled
for seven days. By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with
those who did not believe, when she had received the spies
with peace.
"And
what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell
of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David
and Samuel and the prophets; who through faith subdued kingdoms,
worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths
of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge
of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant
in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women
received their dead raised to life again.
"Others
were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might
obtain a better resurrection. Still others had trial of mocking
and scourging, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were
stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with
the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins,
being destitute, afflicted, tormented- of whom the world was
not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens
and caves of the earth.
"And
all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith,
did not receive the promise, God having provided something
better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart
from us."
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