Coffee Please

            I am in awe of the faith of Noah, Abraham, and Moses.  I know that they were not sinless men, but they demonstrated an outstanding life of faith.  We cannot read Hebrews 11 without being made aware of their extraordinary lives serving God.

            When my obituary is read, I doubt anyone will read of me building an ark to save my family from a worldwide flood.  As a matter of fact, I am sure you will not read of another world-wide flood (Gen 9:11).    I am positive you will not read that I fathered a child when I was 99 years old due to faith in God’s plan.  It is also a safe bet that I will not lead God’s people through a parted Red sea. 

            But, I want a faith that matters.  I want a faith that is as precious in the eyes of my Lord as the faith of Noah, Abraham, and Moses.  I want a faith that will be rewarded by my Lord on the Judgment Day (Heb 11:6).  Is it possible that I can ever have a faith so powerful that it does not escape the attention of my Lord?

            The apostle Peter wrote as if we can possess that kind of faith.  When he wrote his second inspired epistle, he noted that his audience had “a faith of equal standing with ours” (2 Pet 1:1, ESV).  Peter believed their faith was going to appear just as precious as his in the eyes of the Lord.  No matter how short or long they had been a Christian did not make a difference.  What mattered was their faith in the saving work of Jesus Christ (John 3:16; Rom 10:9-10; Mark 16:15-16; Gal 3:26-27). 

            I need to remember that my faith matters to God even though I am not Noah, Abraham, or Moses.  My faith matters to God even though I may not ever perform the same works of such magnitude as these great men of faith.   Peter makes it evident that my faith will be of equal standing as theirs is before God.  I may not have the same resume as Abraham on the Judgment Day, but it will be okay with me as long as I have the faith.