Hebrews 10 crescendos into what is known as the faith chapter. In this materialistic age, we all need more faith! Jesus Christ even questioned whether, at the time of His Second Coming, He would find faith on Earth (Luke 18:8). So this is a crucial subject for true Christians to understand.

Paul begins with a definition: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1).

Herbert W. Armstrong explained this beautifully in “What Is Faith?”, a chapter in his booklet The Plain Truth About Healing. “Now notice, faith is the substance—the marginal rendering says ‘assurance’—of things hoped for (Hebrews 11:1). So faith comes before possession. Once you have received the possession, you no longer hope for it. But even before you receive it, you have it in substance; and that assurance that you shall possess it—is faith.”

“Faith has only to do with God’s Word!” Mr. Armstrong continued. “The one question is, Has God promised it in the Bible? If He has, then probabilities, possibilities, feelings, convictions, impressions, have nothing whatsoever to do with it. God has a thousand ways we know nothing of, of answering and providing whatever He has promised. We don’t need to see how He is going to do it or even when!

“And that’s another thing: He almost never will do it the way we expect. So don’t try to figure out how it is possible for God to do it. You are trusting supernatural power! God works in mysterious ways His wonders to perform. What He promised He will perform; but He will do it His way and in His time. Leave all that to Him and just trust Him. Rely upon His Word.”

Faith is spiritual power, founded on biblical truth. You must educate your faith.

I urge you to read the Autobiography of Herbert W. Armstrong to learn how God tested his faith through 28 years of poverty and in countless other ways. Every time all hope seemed crushed, God worked miracles to sustain Mr. Armstrong and the Work. God will do the same in your life. This is the way you must learn to live, now and forever. (We would be happy to send you a free copy of this wonderful book.)

“For by it [faith] the elders obtained a good report” (verse 2). The heroes of the Bible would never have chosen to suffer as they did, in many cases even losing their lives, unless they were absolutely sure of God’s promises.

“Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear” (verse 3). Look around you at the glorious creation. Admire pictures of the universe captured by the Hubble Space Telescope. Even your own mind and body are marvels of creative genius, impossible for humans to replicate. The invisible God has created all this. We cannot understand the incredible human potential until we recognize Him. It is beyond the scope of the five senses.

“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (verse 6). Do you believe God? It is impossible to please Him if you lack faith! God wants to build in you the same faith that Jesus Christ had on this Earth. That is a lot of faith! And think of all that Christ was able to accomplish by that faith!

Look how God rewards those who diligently seek Him. We are the most blessed people on Earth, with all the rewards God gives us as we seek Him. He wants to fulfill your every desire, as long as it is good for you spiritually. He wants to raise the lowly of this world to the positions of highest honor. He wants to anoint you a world leader! Soon, people will be begging God’s loyal people to lead them (see Zechariah 8:20-23). They will learn through hard experience how incapable they are without God. Man cannot rule over man—but God’s Family can.

For more, read my free booklet The Book of Hebrews: What Jesus Christ Is Doing Today.