Substance and Evidence
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1) Faithful believers walk by faith and not by sight, and we rejoice in that which has not yet appeared. We live in a constant state of expectancy, and the things we used to laugh at (because we were afraid to believe they were possible) we now believe and expect. Our faith in God must be substantial and evidential. In other words, we respond to God's promises with joy, patience, and hope. We work to keep a firm focus on Him, the Promise Keeper, while we confidently wait for that which He promised. Since God always keeps His word, we live as if we have what He promised, because we have it in our hearts, and we possess it by faith. That is why Abraham dwelled in tents and never built a house for himself in Canaan, even though God promised him the land. Yes, he looked forward to the day his children would own the land, but he received and believed God's word by faith, a...