Faith is Looking for Something From God you Can’t See - Hebrews 11-13

Hebrews 11:39-40 (ESV Strong's)
And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

Faith is Looking for Something from God you Can’t See

In chapter eleven of Hebrews we have what is often referred to as the Hall of Faith.   The chapter outlines believers from the Old Testament that followed God in faith.   The clear picture drawn from them is found in these snippets from the chapter:

1.  Abraham was looking for an inheritance - that is something you can’t see:
Hebrews 11:8 (ESV Strong's)
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.

2. Abraham was looking for a city he could not see - Hebrews 11:10 (ESV Strong's)
For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.

3. At 99 years old Sarah was looking for a baby she could not conceive in her womb or her mind - Hebrews 11:11 (ESV Strong's)
By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised.

4. Each was looking for something out in the distance - Hebrews 11:13 (ESV Strong's)
These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.

5. Moses was looking for something invisible - Hebrews 11:26-27 (ESV Strong's)
He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible.

Faith is defined early in the chapter:

Hebrews 11:1 (ESV Strong's)
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Each of these people lived by faith because there eyes were not on the past or the present.  Their eyes were not on the temporal or the transient.   Their eyes were not on their circumstances or situations.  The eyes of faith looks to the promises of God of what He will deliver to us in his time.   As a result they pleased God ... the only one they wanted to please.