THE FAITH OF OUR FATHERS
Hebrews 11:1–40; Hebrews 12:1–2
INTRODUCTION
Today, I want to talk with you about faith — the faith we have received, the faith entrusted to us, and the responsibility we have to steward it well. In essence, I want us to consider how we will handle the inheritance that has been placed in our hands.
Now, when most people hear the word inheritance, they immediately think about wealth. They think about money, property, investments, family heirlooms, and other possessions…that are passed from one generation to another. And that makes sense. Because, when people work hard, and save carefully, they often want to leave something good to their sons and daughters (and those who come after them).
One example of this is found in the story of the late Ty Cobb. Some of you will be familiar with that name. He was one of the greatest baseball players to ever play the game.
He played the game during in the early 1900s and spent most of his career with the Detroit Tigers. He was a fierce competitor, noted for stealing bases 892 times. He had nearly 4200 hits, he scored 2,245 times, he had a batting average of .367, he won 12 batting titles, and he was the very first player ever inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
During his lifetime, Cobb became one of the most recognizable athletes in America. He was the kind of guy that men respected and boys wanted to be.
What most people don’t know is that his success off the field was just as great as his success on the field.After his playing days were over, he became an incredibly respected businessman. And through wise stewardship and careful investment, he accumulated a significant fortune.
And when he died (in 1961), he left the three-quarters of his estate (worth nearly 12 million dollars), to his children and grandchildren, and one-quarter to an Educational Foundation he had founded.
Now, most people would look at that and say, “Wow! What a legacy.” And they would be right!
There is something honorable about leaving resources behind to bless those who follow us. But as valuable as that kind of inheritance may be, there is an even greater inheritance we can leave to those we love. And, it’s a legacy of FAITH.
That’s what I want us to consider on this Father’s Day: what it means to receive an inheritance of faith, and what it means to leave one for others.
I’ve titled this message, The Faith of Our Fathers, and I want to look with you at Hebrews 11 and 12.
So, if you have your Bible, turn with me to Hebrews 11.
My hope is that what we’re about to study will empower you to live with a faith that honors God and impacts those who will follow you.
And so, my first challenge, is this:
1. Remember the Faith Behind You.
If I were to put this in the form of a question, it would be this:
Who has helped you get to where you are today? (spiritually speaking)
Hebrews 11 reminds us that there’s a long list of people who have come before us. But it begins by defining faith for us. As the writer of Hebrews says,
“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.” — Hebrews 11:1–2 (NIV)
That phrase, “the ancients,” (other versions say, “the people of old”),is really important. The writer is pointing us back to those who trusted God before us. He is reminding us that faith did not begin with you or me. We did not invent it. Faith has been lived, modeled, tested, proven, and passed from one generation to another.
Throughout this chapter we read some amazing stories. At first glance, it looks like a list of spiritual heroes, but that’s not what it is! Not because of their greatness, but because of their faith.
And so, the writer tells us, they lived “by faith.” We’re told:
- By faith, Abel brought God an offering.
- Noah built an ark.
- Abraham followed God’s lead.
- And the list goes on.
But, let’s be clear — these people aren’t remembered because of their perfection, or their holiness. They’re remembered because of their faith — their trust in God.
And THAT MATTERS, because none of them were perfect. In fact, if you go back and read their stories, you’ll discover they all made mistakes. They all had failures. They all struggled at times with doing good. Just to name a few: Noah got drunk. Abraham lied. Sarah doubted. Jacob was a deceiver. Moses lost his temper. And, Rahab was a prostitute.They all had a sinful and broken past!
And yet, God welcomed them, called them, used them, and allowed them into the story of faith!
So, Hebrews 11 reminds us that God’s not looking for perfect people! He’s looking for people who will trust Him. And Hebrews 11:6, speaks to this, when it says,
“…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.” – Hebrews 11:6 (NIV)
Listen, that’s the story of redemption: ordinary people with complicated pasts being rescued by an extraordinary Savior…through their faith and His substitutionary work on the cross.
Hebrews 11 tells the story of those in the Old Testament who longed for the fulfillment if that promise. So, it’s really a chapter of testimony. Because, their faith didn’t end with them. What they believed, and received, and lived out — they also passed on to the next generation.
They did so, through prayers prayed, and stories told, through sacrifices made, and their faithful lives lived. And their testimonies continued from one generation to the next — until it reached you!
So, somewhere along the way, somebody helped carry the faith to you. Maybe it was your father, or mother, or a grandparent, or a Sunday School teacher, or a youth leader, or maybe a pastor. But someone was involved in leading you to Jesus. And realizing that — recognizing that, ought to produce gratitude in your heart.
But there’s a very real danger in our culture, today. And it’s the tendency to become so inward focused that we forget to honor those who have come before us. And that’s why Hebrews 11 is so important. It reminds us that we all stand on the shoulders of someone else.
So, take some time today, and remember. Take time to give thanks.
If the people who shaped your faith are still living, make a call, send a note, give them a visit, and express thanks while you still have the time. Tell them, “Thanks,” for introducing you to Christ!
And if they’re already gone on to be with the Lord…then thank God for them!
Maybe tell someone about them. And make sure their faithfulness is not forgotten.
So, remember the faith behind you!
But don’t stop there. Hebrews 11 also challenges you to:
2. Run the Race Before You.
If I were to put this challenge in the form of a question, I’d ask:
What are you doing with the faith you’ve received?
It is one thing to inherit a spiritual legacy. It’s another thing to steward it faithfully!
Hebrews 12 begins with the word, “Therefore.” And that word matters. It connects everything in chapter 12 to everything said in chapter 11. So…
— Because of the faith of those who came before us…
— Because of the testimony of those who trusted God…
— Because we have received this great inheritance of faith…
Now it’s our turn. We’re called to run. So the writer says:
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,” — Hebrews 12:1 (NIV)
The image of a RACE is a powerful image. And that’s the way the Christian life is described. It’s a RACE. The writer doesn’t describe our faith as a momentary feeling or a brief season of excitement. He describes it as a RACE. In other words, faith isn’t something we begin (when we feel inspired), and quit (when things get hard). It’s something we keep running with endurance. It’s a RACE — and it requires discipline, and perseverance, and commitment!
And here’s the thing…every one of us is called to run OUR RACE. Abraham had his race. Moses had his race. David had his race. Paul had his race. And now, you and I have ours.
While the race you’re running may look different from theirs, it’s equally as important. You’re called to follow Jesus, you’re called to remain faithful, you’re called to raise your family, and to serve the Lordin a culture that doesn’t.
So, while your challenges may be different — your calling is the same. You’ve been called to run the race of faith! So, do it! Run you RACE!
But notice what else the writer says (at the end of verse 1). If you’re going to run well, you’ve got to:
“…throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.” — Hebrews 12:1 (NIV)
In other words, there are SOME THINGS that you’ve got to lay down. Something that you cannot carry if you’re going to run the RACE well.
— Some of those things aren’t wrong, they’re just distractions. But they’ll slow you down and trip you up. Things like: misguided priorities, or maybe busyness. Maybe the distractions of a loud world and the constant noise of your life. Or maybe it’s your pursuit of stuff — toys and wants and possessions. Again, not necessarily BAD things, but things that can slow you down.
So the writer says, “…throw them off!”
— But then, he also mentions something else. He says, if you’re going to run the RACE well, then you’ve also got to throw off “…the sin that so easily entangles.” And with that, he reminds us that it’s possible to proclaim faith in Jesus, while still trying and hold on to sinful things.
Now, I don’t know what it might be for you — but if there’s some sinful habit you’ve been holding on to, it’s time to let it go.
Maybe it’s something obvious, maybe…a sinful habit you’ve had a long time. Or maybe it’s something else, that you’ve not really given much attention to. Maybe it’s: pride or arrogance, or bitterness against someone. Or maybe it’s a lustful habit, or unforgiveness in your heart. Or something else. Whatever it might be, the Bible calls you to lay it down! If you want to run your RACE well, you’ve got to let it go!
And that’s where FAITH REALLY BECOMES PERSONAL.
- Because no one else can LIVE YOUR FAITH for you.
- No one can RUN YOUR RACE for you.
- No one can HONOR GOD for you.
- No one can become OBEDIENT TO GOD for you.
At some point, the faith that’s been passed down to you — must become practiced by you.
Because, you can’t live on your Daddy’s faith. You can’t survive on your grandmother’s prayers. You can’t live off of your Mama’s love for Jesus. At some point, you have to choose for yourself, that you’re going to serve the Lord. And faith has to become personal!
I have heard it said, “God doesn’t have any grandchildren.”
He only has sons and daughters. And that’s because, every generation has to know Him for themselves. Every generation has to decide if the faith they received will become their faith!
So the question isn’t only, “Did you receive a good inheritance?” The question is, “What are you going to do with what you received?”
So, Remember the faith behind you…and, Run the race before you!
But there’s one more part to this story…and it leads to the third challenge. Which is:
3. Reach the Generation Beyond You.
And if I put this into the form of a question, I’d say it like this:
What kind of faith will you leave behind?
It’s clear you’ve been presented with a witness of faith.
You’re being here today tells me that someone has sought to pass on their faith to you…the question is, what will you seek to pass on to those who come after you?
When your race is finished, what will remain?
- What will your children remember?
- What will your grandchildren inherit?
- What will your friends, or co-workers receive from you?
Near the end of Hebrews 11, the writer tells us that many of these heroes of faith died without fully seeing everything God had promised. They believed that a savior would one day come.
And they spent their lives waiting, and watching, and longing for Jesus to come and save the world. But they died waiting.
Hebrews 11:39–40 says of them,
“These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.” — Hebrews 11:39–40 (NIV)
In other words, they lived for something bigger than themselves. They were willing to live their lives trusting in the promises of God, and even though they never saw Jesus — they were willing to live well and leave a spiritual legacy for those who came after them.
FOR US! For you and me.
A person who understands legacy realizes that their greatest impact may not be something they accomplish personally. It may be what happens in those who come after them — because of what they invested, modeled, prayed, and passed on.
And that’s the call for you and me, today! The goal of the Christian life isn’t just to FINISH your race. It’s to help someone else BEGIN theirs!
That is why Scripture repeatedly calls us to teach the next generation. But, spiritual legacy always begins with personal faithfulness. It begins when we surrender our heart to Jesus, and we live a life submitted to His Word, and we trust Him with each day we live.
And what we discover in FAITH, and what we learn to live in FAITH, we then pass on to those around us…day by day, moment by moment, step by step. It’s not about being perfect — but it is about being intentional in how we live.
So I challenge you to live your life for Jesus — and lead your family to do the same. That doesn’t mean you need to be a preacher, or have the answer to every spiritual question your son or daughter may ask. And it doesn’t mean you have to be perfect. But it does mean that you need to let your children see you living for Jesus!
One day, your children may not remember every lesson you’ve taught them, or remember every gift you’re bought them, or every event you attended. But they will remember if your faith in Jesus was authentic or not.
So, live your life for Jesus. Honor Him, and let them see you doing so.
Paul said it this way in 2 Timothy 2:2. He said:
“And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.” — 2 Timothy 2:2 (NIV)
That’s a picture of spiritual legacy.
Learn for yourself, and then model it for others! And let your faith carry on from generation to generation.
Faith was never intended to stop with us. It was given to us to be passed on to others.
Well, the writer of Hebrews has taken us on a journey.
— He has called us to look backward with gratitude.
— He has called us to look around with responsibility.
— And he has called us to look forward with intentionality.
CONCLUSION
But in Hebrews 12:2, the writer tells us, the most important place to look is to Jesus. As he puts it:
“Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.” — Hebrews 12:2
I end with that this morning, because I want to remind you that your faith didn’t originate with that list in chapter 11. And it didn’t originate with your father. It originated with God. And every faithful father, mother, and grandparent ultimately points us back — far beyond themselves. They point us to Jesus!
So today, I remind you:
The faith of our fathers has brought us this far, but now the baton is in our hands. So, let’s run our race well. And let’s finish strong! (Amen?)
CLOSING PRAYER
Well, before we close, let me say this: You’ve heard a lot today about faith and leaving an inheritance to others — but it all begins with you putting your faith in Jesus, and receiving the inheritance He’s provided for you. And the only way to receive it, it by taking a step of faith and surrendering your life to Him.
If you’ve never done that, or if you need to make things right with God today, I invite you to pray with me now, and invite Jesus to forgive you if your sin and make you right with Him:
Heavenly Father, I admit that I have sinned and chosen my way over Yours. Today, I turn from my sin and put my faith in Jesus. I believe He is the Son of God, that He died for my sins and rose again. Forgive me. Save me. Make me new. Let Your Spirit live in me. In Jesus’ name, amen.
If you just prayed that prayer — I AM SO PROUD OF YOU! That’s the greatest decision you’ll ever make.
And now, for the rest of us…let’s pray:
Heavenly Father, today we thank You for those who have gone before us — all those who invested in our lives and helped shape our faith. We acknowledge that we are beneficiaries of sacrifices we did not make and prayers we did not pray.
But help us not only admire their faith, but to follow their example. Give us the courage to run the race You’ve entrusted to us and remain faithful in our generation. And we ask you to help us leave behind a faith worth following. May those who come behind us find us faithful! And may the greatest inheritance we leave be a living faith in you! We ask this in Jesus name. Amen.