Because of their faith, These men acted. They performed the work. “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” Suppose you were at a restaurant and the waitress/waiter leaned up against the wall staring at you, Expecting you to serve yourself, Are they waiting on you? Sure, go on, give them a great tip. To wait on someone is to serve them… So we see these men acted on their faith. Why? Because “Faith without works is dead.” There would be no nation from Abraham, Noah would have drowned.
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for, being convinced of what we do not see. Heb 11:2 For by it the people of old received God’s commendation. (Praise, Approval) Merriam Webster.
Heb 11:3 By faith we understand that the worlds were set in order at God’s command, so that the visible has its origin in the invisible. Heb 11:4 By faith Abel offered God a greater sacrifice than Cain, and through his faith he was commended as righteous, because God commended him for his offerings. And through his faith he still speaks, though he is dead. Heb 11:5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he did not see death, and he was not to be found because God took him up. For before his removal he had been commended as having pleased God. Heb 11:6 Now without faith it is impossible to please him, for the one who approaches God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. Heb 11:7 By faith Noah, when he was warned about things not yet seen, with reverent regard constructed an ark for the deliverance of his family. Through faith he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith. Heb 11:8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place he would later receive as an inheritance, and he went out without understanding where he was going. Heb 11:9 By faith he lived as a foreigner in the promised land as though it were a foreign country, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, who were fellow heirs of the same promise. Heb 11:10 For he was looking forward to the city with firm foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
Romans 4:19 Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. 20 Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God,
14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. 20 You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is uselessd]? 21 Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,”e] and he was called God’s friend. 24 You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone. 25 In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? 26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
Heb 11:13 These all died in faith without receiving the things promised, but they saw them in the distance and welcomed them and acknowledged that they were strangers and foreigners on the earth. Heb 11:14 For those who speak in such a way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. Heb 11:15 In fact, if they had been thinking of the land that they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Heb 11:16 But as it is, they aspire to a better land, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. Heb 11:17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac. He had received the promises, yet he was ready to offer up his only son. Heb 11:18 God had told him, “Through Isaac descendants will carry on your name,” Heb 11:19 and he reasoned that God could even raise him from the dead, and in a sense he received him back from there. Heb 11:20 By faith also Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning the future. Heb 11:21 By faith Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph and worshiped as he leaned on his staff. Heb 11:22 By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, mentioned the exodus of the sons of Israel and gave instructions about his burial. Heb 11:23 By faith, when Moses was born, his parents hid him for three months, because they saw the child was beautiful and they were not afraid of the king’s edict. Heb 11:24 By faith, when he grew up, Moses refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, Heb 11:25 choosing rather to be ill-treated with the people of God than to enjoy sin’s fleeting pleasure. Heb 11:26 He regarded abuse suffered for Christ to be greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for his eyes were fixed on the reward. Heb 11:27 By faith he left Egypt without fearing the king’s anger, for he persevered as though he could see the one who is invisible. Heb 11:28 By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that the one who destroyed the firstborn would not touch them. Heb 11:29 By faith they crossed the Red Sea as if on dry ground, but when the Egyptians tried it, they were swallowed up. Heb 11:30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell after the people marched around them for seven days. Heb 11:31 By faith Rahab the prostitute escaped the destruction of the disobedient, because she welcomed the spies in peace. Heb 11:32 And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets. Heb 11:33 Through faith they conquered kingdoms, administered justice, gained what was promised, shut the mouths of lions, Heb 11:34 quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, gained strength in weakness, became mighty in battle, put foreign armies to flight, Heb 11:35 and women received back their dead raised to life. But others were tortured, not accepting release, to obtain resurrection to a better life. Heb 11:36 And others experienced mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. Heb 11:37 They were stoned, sawed apart, murdered with the sword; they went about in sheepskins and goatskins; they were destitute, afflicted, ill-treated Heb 11:38 (the world was not worthy of them); they wandered in deserts and mountains and caves and openings in the earth. Heb 11:39 And these all were commended for their faith, yet they did not receive what was promised. Heb 11:40 For God had provided something better for us, so that they would be made perfect together with us.
To the centurion Christ said, “Go thy way, as you have believed, so shall it be done unto you. What had the centurion done to cause Christ to marvel so as to say, I have not found so great faith, no not in Israel? He traveled to see Christ. No, he did not jump in his air conditioned auto, turn up his favorite music and text all his bffs. Hey, I’ve got this really sick servant, on my way to see this new guy, Jesus something, see what he can do. I’ll keep you posted. Cheers. His faith was so certain he traveled to Christ and advised Him/Christ there was no need to make the journey, simply command and healing would occur. Our faith should be so absolute that we act on it.
Ephesians 2:8-10For by grace you have been saved through faith; and hat not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
Rev 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. 21. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
See Also
Time, Creation and the big Bang
The rich man and Lazarus a parable?